Paul Teal’s Cause of Death: How the Late ‘One Tree Hill’ Actor Died

Paul Teal, best known for his performance in The CW’s One Tree Hill series, died on November 15, 2024, his fiancée, Emilia Torello, revealed earlier this week. Teal was 35 years old. Torello — who recently revealed his cause of death — penned a heart-wrenching tribute to her late fiancé, whom she called “the most thoughtful, inspiriting, driven, self-disciplined, loving man” in an Instagram post.

“Paul, you were my soulmate, my soon-to-be-husband, my rock, and my future,” Torello wrote. “You filled my lungs with laughter, my stomach with butterflies, and my heart with love. 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. 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.”

As Teal’s loved ones grieve, fans are remembering the late actor for his performances. Learn more about him below.

Who Was Paul Teal?

Teal was from Wilmington, South Carolina, according to his IMDb profile. Apart from his most famous performance in One Tree Hill, the late actor was also known for his appearances in Deep Water, Fear Street: Part Two – 1978, The Staircase, American Rust, USS Christmas, The Walking Dead: World Beyond, Dynasty and more. 

Aside from acting, Teal also found work on film sets in different ways. Per his IMDb profile, he worked as a crewman on the popular Netflix series Outer Banks.

His last role as Pastor Pete in The Hunting Wives will be posthumously released in 2025.

Who Did Paul Play on ‘One Tree Hill’?

Teal played the One Tree Hill character Josh, who initially pursues a relationship with Alex (Jana Kramer) before revealing he is gay.

What Was Paul Teal’s Cause of Death?

Teal’s cause of death was stage 4 neuroendocrine pancreatic cancer, Torello told TMZ after he died. He was diagnosed seven months prior to his death.

“He was the most talented man I’ve ever met,” she told the outlet. “When he set his mind to something, there was no stopping him. He was the most diligent and dedicated person. I truly believed with all of my heart that he would come out the other side of this because of those traits. That’s what makes this loss even more tragic.”