Share and Follow
Chad Michael Murray became a big star thanks to his appearance as one of the main stars on One Tree Hill. So, everyone was shocked when his character, Lucas Scott, was written off the show long before it ended.
The series’ success made Murray a big player in the entertainment industry but did his career turn out how fans expected? What has Murray been up to since the success of One Tree Hill, and how has his life changed since?
9 Why Did Chad Michael Murray Leave One Tree Hill?
The reason Chad Michael Murray left One Tree Hill in the Season 6 finale is reported to have been due to a pay dispute. According to The List, Murray had requested more pay for Season 7 but was denied. He was not happy about this decision, and the show ended up going on without him.
While fans were saddened by the news of their favorite character Lucas Scott being written out of the series, this move gave Murray a chance to make a name for himself away from the show.
And he has worked hard on several projects to ensure that he is not only associated with the show that gave him the impressive platform that he has.
8 Has Chad Michael Murray’s Acting Career Ended?
Chad Michael Murray has continued to work in Hollywood, but his roles have arguably not been as memorable as his time on One Tree Hill. His IMDB page shows some of the projects he has been involved in, including TV movies and a recurring role on Riverdale as Edgar Evernever in 2019. He also played Sam Phillips in the television series Sun Records in 2017 and the part of Jack Thompson in the series Agent Carter.
It is clear that he has not disappeared from the limelight, but in recent years, it seems he has been making a big comeback. And many of his fans could not be happier to see him get more screen time as a leading man.
7 Chad Michael Murray Stars In Sullivan’s Crossing
Chad Michael Murray’s most recent recurring role is with the television series Sullivan’s Crossing, released in 2023. The synopsis for the show is described on IMDB as this: “Neurosurgeon Maggie Sullivan reconnects with her small-town past after a scandal causes her to leave her professional and personal life behind in the city.”
Murray is one of the main characters and has spoken about playing the character Cal Jones. In an interview with CTV Atlantic’s Katie Kelly, he said: “Cal is, as we’ve come to know him, is the mystery man.” Sounds interesting, right?!
6 Why Chad Michael Murray Hasn’t Acted In Much Since One Tree Hill
From the success of One Tree Hill, his fans may have wondered why they did not see more of Chad Michael Murray. This could be because he is very picky when choosing his roles, and this is because they don’t always align with his religious beliefs.
In an interview with Fox News Digital (via The Independent), Murray explained, “I stick to the things I believe in. Let’s just say a piece of material were to come across my desk, which has happened plenty of times over the last 22 years, that I don’t necessarily feel is what I believe or what I’m selling – then that’s not for me.” This also means that he can better commit to the characters he does portray.
5 Chad Michael Murray Got Married And Became A Father
When Chad Michael Murray is not working, there is another role he takes seriously; fatherhood. He and actress Sarah Roemer married in 2015 (at the time, they had only been dating for a year, but when you know, you know). “I’m a romantic. I’m a family guy. I want that core,” he told E! News. “I tend to keep everything quiet. I love my life. That’s the part that I keep for myself.”
Read Related Also: Connie Britton Opens Up About Her Romance With David E. Windsor Like Never Before
Their wedding was very private (it was the second marriage for Murray, who was previously married to his co-star Sophia Bush), and this is how the couple prefers to live their lives. Very far away from the limelight. Murray and Roemer also share two children, a son, and a daughter. According to People Magazine, they have kept their children’s lives private, not even revealing their names.
4 Chad Michael Murray’s Role As A Father Has Inspired Some Of His Roles
Interestingly, Chad Michael Murray has been more open to taking on roles like in Lifetime’s holiday movie Too Close for Christmas because he is a father. He revealed as much during a 2021 interview with Hollywood Life.
“I think a big part of it is I’m a dad,” he told the publication. “I’m a family guy. Put God and family first, that’s how we run, and these cater to that in a significant way. They’re family films. I believe in that. It’s better than my kids going to school in the upcoming years and having their dad’s posted up someone’s locker or something like that. It feeds the soul for the current place that we’re in, and I personally think that the world needs more of it. I think the light there is good for the world. It feeds the spirit, and that’s what we need.”
3 Chad Michael Murray Published A Graphic Novel
In 2011, Chad Michael Murray published a graphic novel called Everlast. It was published by Archaia Entertainment and is a project that the actor had spent years working on. He told Reuters, “I’ve been writing for years, but this was the first thing I ever followed through with.”
The story follows the character Derek Everlast who hopes to save people from the apocalypse. His story was inspired by a man who knocked on his door in North Carolina. “The man said 144,000 people would be left to survive the end of days, and it spurred a lot of ideas. What if that was true? How would you choose these people?” Murray revealed.
2 Chad Michael Murray May Be Open To A One Tree Hill Reboot
Perhaps most interesting is that Chad Michael Murray is not opposed to reappearing on One Tree Hill. So, if a reboot was to happen in the future, it is entirely possible that he would be a part of it.
“I believe at some point, I’m sure there will be some new iteration of One Tree Hill,” he told Us Weekly in 2021 of a possible One Tree Hill reunion. “Who knows? But I think it would have to be taken under new guidance and let out into the world. Who knows? I’ve always heard things over the years, but nothing ever came to fruition. But hey, you never know.”
This would have to be without creator Mark Schwahn who has been accused by several female stars of the show of inappropriate behavior.
1 Chad Michael Murray Won’t Re-Watch One Tree Hill
You will be mistaken if you think Chad Michael Murray has been rewatching his old performances on One Tree Hill. According to JustJared, during an interview at the 2022 Christmas Con, he revealed why this was.
“It’s a section of my life that I deleted. A lot of development, a lot of growth as a human being, and [I] just deleted so much of it,” he said. “I think we have hard drives, right? I’m probably like, you know, when you get an iPhone that holds like 264 gigs: I’m down on a 32 gig phone because of old information, so booting everything up. So I think I’m deathly afraid.”
