One Tree Hill actor Paul Teal died aged 35 as co-star Bethany Joy Lenz paid tribute

One Tree Hill actor Paul Teal has died at the age of 35.

Teal – who played movie star Josh Avery in season seven of the WB series in 2009 – passed away on November 15 after a battle with cancer. His death was announced on Sunday by his fiancée Emilia Torello in an Instagram post.

She wrote: ‘The most thoughtful, inspiring, driven, self-disciplined and loving man passed away on Friday, November 15, 2024.

“Paul, you were my soulmate, my husband-to-be, 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.

“Even though a part of me died with you, I promise that I will fight to find joy in life just as hard as you fought to live every day.

“The world is lucky to have even had a moment with Paul Teal, and I’m the luckiest person in that because I get to call you mine. I will love you forever.”

One Tree Hill actor Paul Teal has died aged 35 – pictured with fiancé Emilia Torello in August

Teal – who played movie star Josh Avery on season seven of the WB series in 2009, died on November 15 after a battle with cancer (pictured with Jana Kramer as Alex Dupre)

His former co-star Bethany Joy Lenz — who played Haley James Scott on the show — posted a tribute on Nov. 17, saying she was “gutted” by the loss.

She wrote: ‘My heart is heavy. Paul Teal was the kind of man who lit up a room without even trying. His bright smile, infectious laugh and kind heart made you want to be around him.

‘I worked closely with Paul for months when he played Noah in my and @ronaniello’s musical production of The Notebook in 2006. He was shy and funny and so comfortable on stage. Wow. Like his second skin. You couldn’t take your eyes off him.

“Later, I got giddy when I had to direct an episode of One Tree Hill, in which I got to cast a new recurring character, Josh, the sleazy movie star. With his self-effacing sense of humor and willingness to fully immerse himself in each character, Paul was perfect for the role. He was a pleasure to work with in every setting and so generous.

‘We kept in touch every now and then. I wish it had been more. I wish I had called all the times I wanted to but got distracted. Life is short. I keep thinking that this week. Life is short.

“Here’s a video of the few photos I have on my hard drive of Paul as the iconic Noah Calhoun in our little black box production. And the song is “Sunday Train,” Noah’s big solo, which we recorded that year with Paul singing.

‘Now that he is 35, he has taken a different train. He was too young to die. Way too young. I’m gutted.

“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.

Emilia wrote: ‘Paul, you were my soulmate, my husband-to-be, 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.”

He appeared in two episodes of Outer Banks in 2021 and played Deputy Clark in Ben Affleck and Ana De Armas’ film Deep Water.

His former co-star Bethany Joy Lenz — who played Haley James Scott on the show — posted a tribute on Nov. 17, saying she was “gutted” by the loss

Teal is pictured with Emilia in 2023

The Wilmington, North Carolina-based Opera House Theater Company confirmed that Teal had passed away after a “courageous” battle with cancer, writing: “The lights are a little dimmer this week as one of our brightest stars is gone.”

@nicholassparks wrote this in the novel The Notebook:

“Summer romances end for all kinds of reasons. Ultimately, they have one thing in common: they are shooting stars. A spectacular flash of light in the sky. A glimpse of eternity. And in a flash… they’re gone.”

‘I’ll miss you, Paul. Thank you for sharing your light with us. @paulteal.’

The Wilmington, North Carolina-based Opera House Theater Company confirmed that Teal had passed away after a “courageous” battle with cancer, writing: “The lights are a little dimmer this week as one of our brightest stars is gone. A Wilmington native, Paul graced countless local stages with his imaginative performances and dazzling talent, leaving an indelible mark on the theater community.

“Known to many as ‘JoJo,’ he was loved not only for his artistry, but also for his warmth and kindness. His legacy will live on in the hearts of his loved ones and in the countless stories he brought to life, both on stage, on screen and in our lives. He was not only a great talent within our acting family, but also a very dear friend. Paul was 35 years old.

‘We’ll be sharing clips from some of Paul’s cherished performances this week in honor of the monumental man and performer he was.’

One Tree Hill was Teal’s first acting credit and saw his character Josh dating Jana Kramer’s character Alex Dupre before coming out as gay

One Tree Hill was Teal’s first acting credit and saw his character Josh date Jana Kramer’s character Alex Dupre before coming out as gay.

He appeared in two episodes of Outer Banks in 2021 and played Deputy Clark in Ben Affleck and Ana De Armas’ film Deep Water.

He played Brad Wolgamott in the 2021 series The Staircase alongside Colin Firth and Toni Colette.