One Tree Hill star Paul Teal, who played movie star Josh in the drama’s seventh season, has died at the age of 35.
His partner Emilia Torello confirmed on Instagram that Teal had passed away on November 15.
“The most thoughtful, inspiring, driven, self-disciplined, loving man passed away on Friday, November 15, 2024,” Emilia wrote in her social media post. “Paul, you were my soulmate, my soon-to-be-husband, my rock, and my future. You filled my lungs with laughter, my stomach with butterflies, and my heart with love. You were taken too soon, in a battle that you fought bravely without fail.”
“While a part of me died with you, I promise to fight to find joy in life as hard as you fought to live every single day,” Emilia added. “The world is lucky to have even had a moment with Paul Teal, and I am the luckiest person in it, because I got to call you mine. I will love you forever.”
Bethany Joy Lenz, who played Haley James Scot on the show, also shared a tribute to Teal.
“My heart is heavy,” Bethany wrote in a Nov. 17 Instagram post. “Paul Teal was the kind of guy who lit up a room without trying. His bright smile, infectious laugh and kind heart made you want to be near him.”
“He was shy and funny and so so comfortable on stage,” she explained. “Like his second skin. You couldn’t take your eyes off him. Later, I was giddy to be directing an episode of One Tree Hill where I’d get to cast a new recurring character, Josh—the sleazy movie star.”
“With his self-effacing sense of humor and willingness to dive fully into any character, Paul was perfect for the part.”
“Paul, your time here was like a summer romance for all of us who knew you especially if only for a season. Bursting, exciting, deeply moving, and unforgettable.”
During his career, Teal appeared in a seven-episode arc on One Tree Hill, where his character dated Jana Rae Kramer’s character Alex before coming out as gay. His other significant roles include Ben Affleck and Ana De Armas’ 2022 film Deep Water and two episodes of Outer Banks in 2021.
In September, it was reported that One Tree Hill is set to return after 12 years with a Netflix sequel.
The original series ran for nine seasons from 2003 to 2012, first on WB and then the CW. The show followed the lives of teenagers in the fictional North Carolina town of Tree Hill and the drama that ensued as they came of age.
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