Bethany Joy Lenz mourns the loss of Hallmark & ​​’One Tree Hill’ alum

Heavy/NBC/The Kelly Clarkson Show

Bethany Joy Lenz, seen here on “The Kelly Clarkson Show,” mourns the death of actor Paul Teal.

Longtime Hallmark star Bethany Joy Lenz is mourning the loss of longtime friend and actor Paul Tealwho died on 15 November 2024, according to an online posting from his fiancee, fellow actor Emilia Torello.

Teal died after a ‘courageous battle with cancer’ according to a Facebook post of the Opera House Theater Company in Wilmington, North Carolina, where he originally came from. In addition to Teal’s many stage productions, his television acting credits included a supporting role in the 2020 Hallmark Channel movie “USS Christmas” starring Jen Lilley and Trevor Donovan. He also appeared with Lenz on “One Tree Hill” during a seven-episode arc in 2010, in which she cast him.

“We kept in touch on and off,” Lenz wrote in her heartbreaking tribute to Teal, revealing they first worked together in 2006. “I wish it had been more. I wish I had called all the times I I was thinking, but I got distracted. Life is short. I keep thinking that this week.”

Bethany Joy Lenz shares footage and recalls Paul Teal writing he was ‘too young to die’

“My heart is heavy,” Lenz began his tribute, which was written on the evening of November 17. “Paul Teal was the kind of guy who lit up a room without trying. His bright smile, infectious laugh and kind heart made you want to be around him.”

The “A Biltmore Christmas” actress also shared a video of archived footage from her first project with Teal, explaining: “I worked closely with Paul for months when he played Noah in my and @ronaniello’s musical production of The Notebook in 2006. “

“He was shy and funny and so comfortable on stage,” Lenz recalled. “Wow. Like his second skin. You couldn’t take your eyes off him.”

“Later, I was giddy about directing an episode of One Tree Hill where I would have a new recurring character, Josh — the sleazy movie star,” Lenz continued. “With his self-deprecating sense of humor and willingness to immerse himself in any character, Paul was perfect for the role. He was a joy to work with in any environment and so generous.”

During the video Lenz posted, she shared a recording of Teal playing Noah Calhoun in “The Notebook” while he sang his solo “Sunday Train.”

“Now at 35, he’s taken a different train,” she wrote. “He was too young to die. Way too young. I’m exhausted.”

“Paul, your time here was like a summer romance for all of us who knew you, especially if only for one season,” Lenz concluded. “Breaking, exciting, deeply moving and unforgettable. I will miss you, Paul. Thank you for sharing your light with us.”

Badge of nobilityAmy Locicero, Trevor Donovan and Paul Teal in Hallmark’s “USS Christmas”

Many of Lenz’s followers noted that it was creepy that she had just talked about Teal The November 13th edition of the “Drama Queens” podcast with hosts Sophia Bush and Robert Buckley. When they discussed the episode of “One Tree Hill” where Teal’s character was introduced, she fondly recalled how well he played “stupid” Josh in one of his first television roles.

“It was really fun to actually see him on screen as well,” Lenz said, “but he totally, like (he) reminded me a little bit of Ryan Philippe … He just knew how to play ‘douche’ right. good .”

Paul Teal remembered for his ‘warmth and kindness’

Torello, Teal’s fiancé, called him “the most thoughtful, inspiring, driven, self-disciplined, loving man” in her tribute, below a black-and-white photo of her kissing him on the cheek.

“Paul, you were my soul mate, my soon-to-be husband, my rock and my future,” she continued. “You filled my lungs with laughter, my stomach with butterflies and my heart with love. You were taken too soon in a battle which you fought valiantly without fail.”

Wilmington’s Opera House Theater Company also showered Teal with praise in its post, sharing that “Paul graced countless local stages with his imaginative performances and staggering talent, leaving an indelible mark on the theater community. Affectionately known to many as ‘JoJo,’ he was loved not only for his artistry, but also for his warmth and kindness.”

According to IMDb, Teal was set to appear in six episodes of a new eight-episode series on Starz in 2025, “The Hunting Wives,” starring Malin Ackerman, Brittany Snow, Dermot Mulroney and Chrissy Metz. The show began filming in the spring of 2024, but a premiere date has not been announced.

Life Lane is an entertainment writer covering Hallmark Channel, HGTV, American Idol and The Voice for Heavy. Based in Minneapolis, she has three decades of experience as a local and national radio host, columnist and publicist, interviewing and working with a wide range of celebrities over the years, from Deepak Chopra to Lil Nas X. More about Liv Lane