One Tree Hill Actor, Paul Teal, Passes Away at 35
Hollywood is mourning the loss of Paul Teal, the talented actor best known for his role as Josh Avery on the iconic young-adult drama One Tree Hill. Teal passed away on Friday at the age of 35 after a courageous battle with cancer.
The heartbreaking news was confirmed by his representatives at STW Talent Agency, who shared the statement, “His exceptional talent and kind spirit touched the hearts of everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. The void he leaves behind will be deeply felt.”
Teal’s partner, Emilia Torello, shared the heartfelt tribute: “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.”
The Wilmington, North Carolina native established roots in the local theater community, where he shined in productions like The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson, and The Producers. These performances earned him several local acting awards, proving his immense talent.
While he had screen credits in The Staircase, Outer Banks, Deep Water, and Descendants: Rise of Red, Teal found his breakthrough role in One Tree Hill. His portrayal of Josh Avery, a successful but closeted actor, left a lasting impression on fans of the series’ seventh season.
Bethany Joy Lenz, a longtime One Tree Hill star, shared her admiration for Teal in a touching Instagram post. She reflected on casting him as Josh while directing an episode of the series, writing, “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. 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.”
Lenz also reminisced about their earlier collaboration on The Notebook: The Musical, where Teal played Noah. “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 concluded her tribute by sharing a video of Teal performing a song from The Notebook, writing, “I’ll miss you, Paul. Thank you for sharing your light with us.”
Teal’s legacy as an actor and kindhearted soul will continue to inspire all who knew him.
