The first episode of the cult classic drama One Tree Hill aired 19 years ago in 2003. We watched the whole slew of characters for nine long seasons, and we loved, well, most of them. Those incredibly talented actors made the show, so let’s visit them and see what they are doing now and how they have changed over the years.
1. James Lafferty — Nathan Scott
The 36-year-old actor thankfully did not lose his acting prowess and avoided getting typecast after the series finale. He continues to appear in both television and movies, starring in such projects as Crisis, The Haunting of Hill House, and the latest show — Everyone Is Doing Great, where Lafferty appeared with One Tree Hill co-star Stephen Colletti.
2. Chad Michael Murray — Lucas Scott
Chad Michael Murray left the project after season 6, but this doesn’t mean his acting career stopped then and there. Murray has been seen in projects such as Scream Queens, Riverdale, Marvel’s Agent Carter, Fortress, and many more. The 40-year-old actor has been married twice: the first time to his lovely One Tree Hill co-star Sophia Bush, and the second — actress Sarah Roemer.
3. Bethany Joy Lenz — Hayley Scott
After the end of the series, Bethany Joy Lenz played in several TV projects, including Grey’s Anatomy, Dexter, Agents of SHIELD, and Colony. Her most recent roles aren’t as hype as the previous titles, probably because they’re TV movies like Five Star Christmas and A Valentine’s Match.
4. Hilarie Burton — Peyton Sawyer
After season six, Hilarie Burton left the cast of One Tree Hill to take a short break and join a different family — the White Collar. In-between then and now, she’s appeared in Castle, Grey’s Anatomy, Lethal Weapon, and most recently, The Walking Dead as Lucille. This is funny because the actress met with Jeffrey Dean Morgan in 2009, and in 2012, they got married and now have two beautiful children.
5. Sophia Bush — Brooke Davis
Sophia Bush kept the One Tree Hill ship afloat to the bittersweet end and then jumped over to a brand new sitcom Partners. Soon after, she got a role in Chicago P.D., Chicago Med, and Chicago Fire, not to mention Chicago Justice. Since 2017, she has appeared in some TV movies, voiced a character in a videogame, and is now playing Dr. Sam Griffith on Good Sam.
6. Paul Johansson — Dan Scott
Like many of his former One Tree Hill co-stars, Johansson keeps a low profile in Hollywood. He has starred in several low-budget movies, including Kid Cannabis and Dear Eleanor, but his best role so far has to be Dmitri on Van Helsing. Oh, and let’s not forget the 2021 smash hit kids movie — Secret Agent Dingledorf and His Trusty Dog Splat. Great success!
7. Stephen Colletti — Chase Adams
When it comes to falling off, Stephen here is probably a prime example of how not to pick your roles. Maybe it’s because he was more fascinated with being on the other side of the camera rather than acting? Who knows. Either way, he started as a small recurring character, Chase Adams, until finally moving into season regular status. And since then, Stephen has appeared in several projects, including All About Christmas Eve, Hit the Floor, and the 2021 series — Everyone Is Doing Great. Maybe a smaller project list helps Colletti stay focused, but fans are eager to see what he decides next.
