‘One Tree Hill’ alum Paul Teal dead at 35, co-star Bethany Joy Lenz pays tribute

Paul Teal, who had a reoccurring role on “One Tree Hill,” died last Friday. He was 35.

Teal’s partner, Emilia Torello, confirmed the news of the actor’s passing in a heartbreaking Instagram post Sunday.

“The most thoughtful, inspiring, driven, self-disciplined, loving man passed away on Friday, November 15, 2024,” Torello wrote along with several photos of the late TV actor.

Torello shared that she and Teal were going to be married soon.

“Paul, you were my soulmate, my soon-to-be-husband, my rock, and my future,” she wrote. “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 added.

Torello said that “a part of [her] died” with him but that she promised to find joy in life — the same way he lived life “every single day.”

“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,” she concluded.

Teal’s former CW co-star Bethany Joy Lenz paid tribute to Teal in an Instagram statement on Sunday.

“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,” she wrote in the lengthy post honoring his memory.

Lenz, who starred in all nine seasons of “OTH” as Haley James, shared that she worked “closely” with Teal for several months when they collaborated on her musical production of “The Notebook” in 2006.

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“He was shy and funny and so so comfortable on stage. Wow. Like his second skin. You couldn’t take your eyes off him,” she said.

Lenz helped cast Teal on “One Tree Hill” as a “sleazy movie star” named Josh Avery when she got to direct an episode.

“With his self-effacing sense of humor and willingness to dive fully into any character, Paul was perfect for the part,” she said. “He was a joy to work with in any environment and so generous.”

Lenz said that they stayed in touch “on and off” but wished they had communicated 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 said.

She ended her post by sharing that she will miss Teal and thanked him for “sharing [his] light with us.”

Teal was featured in seven episodes of the teen drama in 2010. In the show, he portrayed the love interest of Jana Kramer’s character, Alex Dupre, and throughout his character development, it was later revealed that Josh was gay.

He also appeared in episodes of “Outer Banks”, “The Walking Dead: World Beyond,” “American Rust,” “The Staircase” and “George & Tammy,” according to his IMDb.

Teal also appeared on the big screen, playing Deputy Clark in Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas’ 2022 movie, “Deep Water.”