Mark Salling has died at the age of 35, his lawyer has confirmed.

The actor, best known for starring as Noah Puckerman in Glee, was awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to the possession of child sex abuse images last December.

According to TMZ, Salling's body was discovered by a riverbed near his home in Sunland-Tujunga, Los Angeles.

Although the cause of his death has not been officially confirmed, sources in the US claim the actor committed suicide by hanging himself.

(Image: REX/Shutterstock)

(Image: Fox)

Before his body was discovered on Tuesday, the actor had been on bail after 50,000 child abuse images were found in his possession.

He was expected to receive his sentencing in March this year.

The actor, who played Noah 'Puck' Puckerman on the hit Fox show, struck a plea deal in the case in October.

Under the deal, prosecutors agreed that the appropriate sentence for Salling would be four to seven years in prison, with 20 years of supervised release, according to US reports.

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Police were reportedly tipped off about the images on his computer by one of his ex-girlfriends.

He was arrested in December 2015 and later released on bail for $20,000.

The case was then passed onto federal authorities when police realised the severity of the images.

(Image: FilmMagic)

(Image: Fox)

As part of Salling's release, he was registered as a sex offender and not allowed to live within view of any school yards, parks, public swimming pools, playgrounds, video arcades, or any other places that are regularly visited by people under the age of 18.

Lieutenant Andrea Grossman, commander of the LAPD Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, said at the time: "It doesn’t matter who you are or what you do, if you hurt a child you will be held accountable."

She added: "These images are more than photographs, they are child abuse."

(Image: PacificCoastNews) (Image: PacificCoastNews)

In August 2017 it was alleged the actor had tried to take his own life before accepting a plea bargain.

It's said that the shamed Glee star cut his wrists in an attempted suicide in the bedroom of his LA home on August 22.

Salling apparently "freaked out" after doing it, before screaming for his roommate who found him bleeding and called for emergency services.

Paramedics rushed to his home where they treated him before taking him to hospital, reported TMZ .

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