Chad Michael Murray, born on August 24, 1981, in Buffalo, New York, is an acclaimed and globally popular actor, writer, and fashion model.
He gained his prominence in 2003 after playing Lucas Scott in “One Tree Hill,” the W.B./C.W. drama series. He also had a recurring role in “Gilmore Girls” in 2000, where he played Tristan DuGray. In addition to this, he was featured in the fifth season of “Dawson’s Creek,” the W.B. series, as Charlie Todd in 2001.
He played supporting roles in commercially successful feature films including “Freaky Friday” in 2003, “A Cinderella Story” in 2004, “House of Wax” in 2005, and “Fruitvale Station” in 2013. He was also featured in “Agent Carter,” the Marvel/A.B.C. series, and had a recurring role on “Riverdale” in 2019, playing Edgar Evernever. He has received several Teen Choice Awards as well as nominations since he started his career playing teenage roles and making a niche for himself. Chad Michael Murray is an astute actor, writer, and former fashion model who has become a household name in the Hollywood industry.
He created a niche for himself by playing teenage roles while still doing adult roles. He is an extraordinary entertainer and we are excited to celebrate him today.
Growing up, his mother left his family at a young age and, since then, he had to help take care of his younger siblings, together with his dad and brother. While working his way through adolescence, he learned a lot about work ethic which eventually builds his character. His growing up with only a father made him become his idol and once he said in an interview that he could call him anytime of the day whenever he needs help as his father is his rock.
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Chad started his working life as a paper boy where he would deliver newspapers around the neighborhood before working as a janitor at Donut World. Chad was only working there for a few days when he lost his job because he was shooting Skittles into the deep-fryer. Chad has also worked as a receptionist at a limousine company.
When he was 15, he had a resection of his small intestines, which were so twisted they had to be cut out, but there were some complications causing him not to be able to eat for three months. Chad had also broken his nose when he was jumped at a Burger King outlet which then got him into the hospital. It was there where he met the person who inspired him, his nurse.
His nurse was a model and she told Chad to start modeling, but Chad only wanted to act. Not long afterward, Chad got a Tommy Hilfiger campaign which paid his bills and that was when he thought he could really focus on acting. He started out in the first season of Gilmore Girls (2000) with the role of the rich brat Tristin DuGrey.
After that, he portrayed Charlie Todd on Dawson's Creek (1998) in its fifth season (2002), where he met two of his following One Tree Hill (2003) co-stars, Hilarie Burton, who ironically was then cast to portray his major love interest in the series and also became his best friend, and Lee Norris. Then, he turned into Lucas Scott, the main male protagonist of the above mentioned popular teen drama, where he met best friends James Lafferty and Tyler Hilton.
Murray attended Clarence High School in Clarence, New York. He became a fan of literature and played football. As a teenager, he worked at the Dipson Theatres in Eastern Hills Mall. In his late teens, he broke his nose.
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In 2000, he guest starred as Dan on the MTV drama anthology series Undressed on the episode "Scared Stiffy" which aired on March 8 as part of its second season. Later that year, Murray was cast in the role of rich kid Tristin DuGray on The WB television series Gilmore Girls as a recurring character in the first season which debuted on October 5 and in an episode of the second season the next year. The series became a hit and Murray would go onto become a staple actor on the network for the rest of the decade.
In 2001, he was cast in a television pilot for The WB, the family drama Murphy's Dozen, which revolved around 12 children and their parents in an Irish American family in New Jersey. The lead actress Kathy Baker signed on in March and the pilot was screened for the network in May but was not picked up for the fall season. Murray portrayed the role of teenage David Alexander in Christian Apocalyptic fiction film Megiddo: The Omega Code 2 which released on September 7.
Murray was cast in the role of womanizer Charlie Todd on The WB's hit television series Dawson's Creek as a recurring character in the fifth season which premiered on October 10. In 2003, Murray began the year appearing in the family drama television film A Long Way Home, also known as Aftermath, playing the role of Sean in a family trying to reconcile following domestic sexual abuse. He next played the lead role of Luke Hartman on The WB's western television film The Lone Ranger which aired on February 26 and served as a backdoor pilot for a potential series run.
Murray was cast in the role of love-interest Jake in the Walt Disney Pictures comedy film Freaky Friday, starring Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis, which released in theaters on August 6. Later that year, he was cast in the lead role of Lucas Scott on The WB series One Tree Hill which debuted on September 23, 2003. The first-season finale garnered 4.50 million viewers. The series was one of The WB's most successful programs the year it began and continued with impressive ratings after the network merged with rival UPN to become The CW in 2006. The series earned Murray six Teen Choice Award nominations over the years, including winning Choice TV - Breakout Actor in August 2004 and Choice TV Actor - Drama in August 2008.
In 2004, Murray starred as Austin Ames in the romantic comedy film A Cinderella Story alongside Hilary Duff which released in July 16. The film was a box office success, earning $70.1 million worldwide, but was panned by critics. The film earned Murray the award for Choice Movie - Breakout Actor in August 2004 and several more nominations at the 2005 Teen Choice Awards. He is the first person to win their awards for Breakout Actor in both the TV and Movie categories in the same year.
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He next co-starred as Nick Jones in the horror film House of Wax which released theatrically on May 6, 2005. The film earned Murray two more Teen Choice Award nominations, including winning Choice Movie Actor - Action/Thriller in August 2005. Murray was listed as one of "Fall TV's Sexiest Guys" by People magazine in September 2005, and was the cover model for Teen People magazine that same month.
He played the role of Private Jordan Owens in the Iraq War drama film Home of the Brave, alongside Samuel L. Murray was listed at #12 on AOL Television's list of "TV's 50 Hottest Hunks Ever" on November 4, 2008.
In May 2009, it was reported that Murray would not be returning to One Tree Hill for its seventh season. A video of Murray was recorded in which he was telling fans that they did not want him back because they wanted to save money.
In 2010, Murray played the love-interest of Alicia Keys in her music video for "Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)" which premiered on BET's 106 & Park on May 12. The video depicts the burgeoning romance of a young interracial couple reimagined across different eras, from the 1950s through the 2000s. It won Outstanding Music Video at the 42nd NAACP Image Awards in March 2011.
Murray played the role of Ethan McAllister in the drama television film Lies in Plain Sight which aired on Lifetime on October 3, 2010. On August 29, 2011, The CW announced that Murray would return for a guest appearance as Lucas Scott in the final season of One Tree Hill. The episode aired on February 22, 2012, as part of the concluding ninth season. He then played the male lead Jamie Tworkowski in the biographical drama film To Write Love on Her Arms which premiered on March 11, 2012, at the Omaha Film Festival where it won the Encore Award. He next played the role of Thatcher in the short film The Carrier which premiered on April 27, 2012, at the USA Film Festival.
On March 12, it was reported that he was cast to play the male lead Spider Elliot in a television pilot for ABC, Scruples, with Claire Forlani playing the female lead Billy Orsini and with Natalie Portman serving as an executive producer.
In 2013, Murray played the role of Officer Ingram in the biographical drama film Fruitvale Station, which chronicles the last day of Oscar Grant, portrayed by Michael B. Jordan, who was shot and killed by a BART Police officer in Oakland, California. The film premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival on January 19 before releasing theatrically on July 12, becoming a critical and box office success, earning $17.4 million from a budget of under a million.
Murray next played male lead Andy Wyrick in the horror film The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia which released on February 1. The film, inspired by the true events surrounding the Wyrick family, is Murray's first role playing a father. He guest starred as Officer Dave Mendoza in the crime drama series Southland on two episodes during its concluding fifth season which premiered on TNT on February 13. It marked his on-screen union with its co-star Ben McKenzie (Officer Ben Sherman), who had played Ryan Atwood on popular teen drama The O.C.
On October 9, 2013, it was reported that Murray was cast to join action-thriller series Chosen on Crackle. He played the lead role of Jacob Orr in the second season which premiered on December 12 that year and in the third season which released on April 15, 2014. Murray played the role of Jay in comedy film Cavemen which premiered on October 26 at the 2013 Austin Film Festival before a limited theatrical release on February 7, 2014. He played the role of Tanner McCoy in comedy film A Madea Christmas which released theatrically on December 13, 2013. Murray next co-starred in the apocalyptic thriller film Left Behind, playing the role of Cameron "Buck" Williams, alongside Nicolas Cage and Jordin Sparks.
Later in 2015, he guest starred on the Fox black comedy series Scream Queens on a November 24 episode during its first season, playing Chad Radwell's older brother Brad. Murray starred as the male lead "P.K." in the romantic drama film Other People's Children which premiered on August 15 at the Columbia Gorge International Film Festival where it won the Best of Festival award. Murray starred as Henry in the western film Outlaws and Angels which premiered on January 25 at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, before a limited theatrical release on July 15.
In 2018, he played the male lead Brett Beauchamps in the drama television film The Beach House, alongside Minka Kelly and Andie MacDowell, which premiered on the Hallmark Channel on April 28. He next played the male lead Jack in horror film Camp Cold Brook which premiered on August 25 at the HorrorHound Film Festival, before a limited theatrical release on February 14, 2020.
In 2021, he starred as Joel Sheehan in the film Colors of Love which received a limited theatrical release on February 4, before premiering on GAC Family on October 23 under the title An Autumn Romance as its first original movie. The film, based on the 2014 novel Tycoon's Kiss authored by Jane Porter, is the second with Murray and Lowndes together. He starred as Brody Bradshaw in the television film Sand Dollar Cove which premiered on the Hallmark Channel on June 26. He starred as Gabe on the television film Angel Falls Christmas which premiered on GAC Family on November 26, marking the third film between Murray and Lowndes. He starred as Kevin Vaughn on the television film Toying with the Holidays which premiered on Lifetime on December 18.
Murray authored a graphic novel, Everlast, which released in November 2011. In November 2017, he released American Drifter: An Exhilarating Tale of Love and Murder, which he co-authored with novelist Heather Graham.
Chad got married, when he was 23 years old, to his One Tree Hill co-star, Sophia Bush. The wedding took place on April 16th, 2005 in Santa Monica, California. After only five months of marriage, to be precise in September 2005, the couple announced their separation, which was then made official in 2006 with a divorce, despite Sophia wanting an annulment, but it wasn’t granted.
Chad then became engaged to Kenzie Dalton on April 4th, 2006. Despite their seven-year age difference, Chad was very protective of her and mentioned in an interview that Kenzie is somewhat like a diamond. In 2014, Murray began dating his Chosen co-star, Sarah Roemer. The two got married in January 2015 and four months later their son was born. The couple also welcomed two daughters in May 2017 and August 2023 respectively. Married to actress Sarah Roemer since January 2015.
Personal Life and Interests
Chad Michael Murray is not only a talented actor but also a multifaceted individual with various interests and passions. Here are some interesting facts about his life:
- Favorite Book: His favorite book is Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger.
- Early Career: Before breaking into acting, Murray did some modeling for clients like Skechers, Gucci, and Tommy Hilfiger.
- Accidental "Nose Job": He got an accidental 'nose job' during his earlier modeling career! He was 'jumped' in a fast food restaurant and got his nose broken and had to have surgery.
- Role on "The O.C.": Was originally up for the role of Ryan Atwood on The O.C. (2003), but turned it down precisely to take the role of Lucas Scott.
- He is pro-mental health: Growing up, he was a reserved person because of his emotional and mental breakdown. This prompted him to raise awareness of mental wellness. He also attributed the drug problem in America to kids who have not been allowed a chance at life.
- His favorite accessory is a hemp necklace: His favorite fashion accessory is a hemp necklace that he was given by his father.
- He is a Buffalo Bills fan: Buffalo being his hometown, he is a massive fan of the Buffalo Bills team.
- He was attacked at 18: He was attacked at Burger King when he was 18 years old and broke his nose in the incident.
- His name means ‘warrior’: His first name, Chad, means to be ‘warlike;’ a ‘warrior.’
- He delivered newspapers: His first paying job was delivering newspapers at 10 years old.
Chad Michael Murray's journey from a small town in New York to the bright lights of Hollywood is a testament to his talent, hard work, and dedication. From his early roles in popular teen dramas to his success in film and as an author, Murray has proven himself to be a versatile and enduring figure in the entertainment industry. As he continues to evolve both personally and professionally, fans eagerly anticipate his future projects and contributions.
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