Actor Paul Teal, known for his roles in television series including One Tree Hill, has died at the age of 35 after battling with stage IV neuroendocrine pancreatic cancer. TMZ reported that he passed away last week on Friday in a hospital in North Carolina.
Teal’s partner, Emilia Torello, shared an emotional tribute on Instagram, calling him her “soulmate” and “soon-to-be-husband.” She described him as the “most thoughtful, inspiring, driven, self-disciplined, loving man” who was taken too soon.
“When he set his mind to something, there was no stopping him,” Torello told TMZ. “I truly believed with all of my heart that he would come out the other side of this because of those traits.”
Before his death, Paul Teal was shooting a Starz drama titled The Hunting Wives, set to premiere next year and starring Dermot Mulroney. His former co-star from One Tree Hill, Bethany Joy Lenz, honored his memory by saying he had a natural ability to brighten any room. Teal had a role in the seventh season of the show as Josh Avery.
Beyond One Tree Hill, Teal had guest appearances in several television series, including Outer Banks, Goode Behavior, George & Tammy, Dynasty, and The Walking Dead: World Beyond. He was also an accomplished theater performer, having appeared in productions of Rent, Newsies, and Sweeney Todd. Lenz remembered Teal’s stage presence, noting he was “shy and funny” and “so comfortable on stage.”
Paul Teal is survived by his partner Emilia Torello, who promised to “fight to find joy in life as hard as he fought to live every single day.”