Paul Teal, ‘One Tree Hill’ Actor, Dies At 35

Paul Teal, who joined the cast of the teen-populated drama One Tree Hill in season seven as Josh, has died following a battle with cancer. He was 35.

“The most thoughtful, inspiring, driven, self-disciplined, loving man passed away on Friday, November 15, 2024,” wrote his partner, Emilia Torello, on Instagram. “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.”

"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."

Teal appeared in seven episodes of One Tree Hill, which was his first onsceen credit, according to IMBd. Other television guest spots included the series Goode Behavior, Shots Fired, the reboot of Dynasty, The Walking Dead: World Beyond, Outer Banks, and George & Tammy.

He was also known for his theater roles, appearing in Newsies, Sweeney Todd and Rent across the country. And Teal is also part of the upcoming Starz drama The Hunting Wives as Pastor Pete, which is expected to premiere in 2025.