One Tree Hill star Paul Teal died at the age of 35 following a battle with cancer, his bride-to-be announced. His costars are mourning Paul’s loss and sharing memories about him.
“The most thoughtful, inspiring, driven, self-disciplined, loving man passed away on Friday, November 15, 2024,” Paul’s fiancée, Emilia Torello, wrote in a Sunday, November 17, Instagram post next to a picture of her kissing the smiling actor on the cheek.
“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,” she continued, promising to “fight to find joy in life as hard as you fought to live every single day.”
Paul joined One Tree Hill in 2010’s season 7, playing closeted actor Josh Avery. The character dated Jana Kramer‘s Alex Dupre before coming out as gay.
Bethany Joy Lenz previously worked alongside Paul in a 2006 stage production of The Notebook prior to him joining OTH. She also directed him in an episode of the CW series.
“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,” Joy, 43, wrote in an emotional Instagram tribute on Sunday, November 17.
“We stayed in touch on and off. I wish it had been more. I wish I’d called all those times I meant to but got distracted. Life is short. I keep thinking that this week. Life is short,” she continued.
Joy shared a video showing photos of Paul playing Noah Calhoun in their production of The Notebook, over the song “Sunday Train,” which she said was “Noah’s big solo, which we recorded that year with Paul singing.”
“Now at 35, he’s taken another train. He was too young to die. Far too young. I’m gutted,” she added. “I’ll miss you, Paul. Thank you for sharing your light with us.”
Sophia Bush shared an article about Paul’s death to her Instagram Stories on Monday, November 18. She wrote over it, “Incredibly saddened to hear about the passing of Paul Teal.” The Chicago P.D. alum, 42, noted how she and Joy are “just starting to watch” his One Tree Hill episodes on their “Drama Queens” podcast, saying “he’s such a talent” along with broken heart emojis.
Sophia also shared another Story with a link to a Meal Train donation page for Emilia and her family. They relocated to his native Wilmington, North Carolina, where One Tree Hill was filmed, after Paul became sick.
The description read, “Paul Teal was a dear friend and loved by so many. He and Emilia moved back to Wilmington when they got his cancer diagnosis, and she and her family were with him for his fight over the past 8 months.”
It continued, “To help them over the next few weeks, we’d like to organize a meal train to take one thing off their plate as they grieve and try to heal. Please be sure to check the dietary/allergies information. Home cooked meals are wonderful, but if you’d like to help and don’t have the time to cook, I’m sure a delivered meal from a local spot would be just as appreciated. Sending you all love.”
Friends and fans were able to donate money towards meals, as well as schedule meal drop offs for his family. The donation page showed Joy generously donated a $200 gift card.
In addition to appearing on One Tree Hill, Paul starred in three episodes of the 2022 Max miniseries The Staircase, as well as two episodes of Outer Banks season 2 in 2021.
