 David " Dave " Karofsky , often referred to as Karofsky , is a recurring fictional character from the Fox musical comedy @-@ drama series Glee . The character is portrayed by actor Max Adler , and has appeared in Glee since its first season episode " Mash @-@ Up " , first broadcast on October 21 , 2009 . Initially known only by his surname , Karofsky was introduced as a bully and a member of the McKinley High hockey team who slushies football captain Finn ( Cory Monteith ) , and who teams with fellow athlete and bully Azimio ( James Earl ) to torment various fellow students , usually members of the school glee club , New Directions . Later in the season , he is identified as a member of the football team , and is a football player in the second season . Karofsky is revealed to be a closeted homosexual early in that season , and is still closeted at the end of the season , though he has stopped being a bully , and has won the election for Junior Prom King . He transfers to another school for his senior year , but is outed there and after being bullied by his classmates he attempts suicide , though he is saved by his father . 
