'One Tree Hill' actor Paul Teal dies at 35; cause of death revealed

Actor Paul Teal, best known for his role as Josh Avery in Season 7 of the hit teen drama 'One Tree Hill', has sadly passed away at the age of 35.

His fiancee, Emilia Torello, confirmed the news in a heartfelt social media post, announcing that Teal passed away on November 15. "The most thoughtful, inspiring, driven, self-disciplined, loving man passed away," she wrote in an emotional post on Instagram.

Sharing a monochrome photo of herself kissing the actor, she wrote, "Paul, you were my soulmate, my soon-to-be-husband, my rock, and my future."

While the cause of death was not mentioned in her lengthy note, Emilia revealed to TMZ that Paul had been diagnosed with Stage 4 neuroendocrine pancreatic cancer in April. His passing came just seven months after his diagnosis. He died in a hospital in Raleigh, North Carolina.

"You filled my lungs with laughter, my stomach with butterflies, and my heart with love," she wrote and added, "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."


Emilia ended her tribute saying, "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."

Following news of his sudden demise, his 'One Tree Hill' co-star, Bethany Joy Lenz shared her grief on Instagram, remembering him as someone who “lit up a room without trying.”

“My heart is heavy. Paul Teal was shy, funny, and incredibly comfortable on stage. His bright smile, infectious laugh, and kind heart made you want to be near him. He was perfect for the role of Josh, bringing his self-effacing humour and dedication to the character," she wrote.

Reflecting on their decade-long friendship, Lenz added, "At 35, he’s taken another train. He was too young to die. Far too young. Paul, your time here was like a summer romance for all of us who knew you... unforgettable."

Apart from 'One Tree Hill', Teal also appeared in 'Dynasty', 'The Walking Dead: World Beyond', 'USS Christmas', 'Fear Street Part 2: 1978', 'Deep Wate'r, and 'Descendants: The Rise of Red'. Despite battling cancer, he completed filming for the upcoming Starz series The Hunting Wives. Teal was also a celebrated stage actor, performing leading roles in productions like Newsies, Sweeney Todd, and Rent at theaters across the country.