'One Tree Hill' Actor Dies at 35 After Battle With Illness

Actor Paul Teal, best known for a recurring role on the teen drama One Tree Hill, died over the weekend at age 35 after an apparent battle with an unspecified illness.

Teal portrayed Josh Avery for six episodes of the seventh season of the long running show in 2010; a successful actor who was initially seen as a love interest to Jana Kramer’s character Alex Dupre. In an attempt to hide his sexual orientation Josh makes a sex tape with Alex, however it's later revealed that the character is gay.

Teal’s partner, actress Emilia Torello, broke the news of his passing in an emotional Instagram post on Sunday.

"The most thoughtful, inspiring, driven, self-disciplined, loving man passed away on Friday, November 15, 2024," Torello wrote. "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," she continued. "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."

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Bethany Joy Lenz, who played the character Haley James Scott for nine seasons on One Tree Hill, likewise paid tribute to the late actor on Instagram. Before he appeared on the series, Lenz had worked with Teal in a musical adaption of The Notebook in 2006 that she cowrote with producer Ron Aniello.

"My heart is heavy. 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," Lenz wrote. "He was shy and funny and so so comfortable on stage. Wow. 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," she continued. "With his self-effacing sense of humor and willingness to dive fully into any character, Paul was perfect for the part. He was a joy to work with in any environment and so generous."

"Paul, your time here was like a summer romance for all of us who knew you, especially if only for a season," Lenz added. "Bursting, exciting, deeply moving, and unforgettable."

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In addition to One Tree Hill, Teal's other acting credits include minor television roles such as George & Tammy, The Staircase, Outer Banks, and The Walking Dead: World Beyond. He also played Deputy Clark in the 2022 psychological thriller Deep Water starring Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas.