Actor Paul Teal, best known for his recurring role on the teen drama One Tree Hilldied this weekend at the age of 35 after an apparent battle with an unspecified illness.

Teal portrayed Josh Avery for six episodes of the long-running show’s seventh season in 2010; a successful actor who was initially seen as a love interest for Jana Kramer’s character Alex Dupre. In an attempt to hide his sexual orientation, Josh makes a sex tape with Alex, but it is later revealed that the character is gay.

Teal’s partner, actress Emilia Torello, announced the news of his death in an emotional Instagram post on Sunday.

“The most thoughtful, inspiring, driven, self-disciplined and loving man passed away on Friday, November 15, 2024,” Torello wrote. “Paul, you were my soulmate, my husband-to-be, my rock and my future. 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 bravely and fought without fail.”

“Even though a part of me died with you, I promise that I will fight to find joy in life just as hard as you fought to live every day,” she continued. “The world is lucky to have even had a moment with Paul Teal, and I’m the luckiest person in it because I get to call you mine. I will love you forever.”

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Bethany Joy Lenz, who played the character Haley James Scott for nine seasons One Tree Hillalso paid tribute to the late actor on Instagram. Before appearing on the series, Lenz had collaborated with Teal on a musical adaptation of The notebook in 2006 that she collaborated with producer Ron Aniello.

“My heart is heavy. Paul Teal was the kind of man who lit up a room without even trying. His bright smile, infectious laugh and kind heart made you want to be around him,” Lenz wrote. “He was shy and funny and so comfortable on stage. Wow. Like his second skin. You couldn’t take your eyes off him.”

“Later I felt giddy when I got to direct an episode One Tree Hill where I got to cast a new recurring character, Josh, the dirty movie star,” she continued. ‘With his self-effacing sense of humor and willingness to fully immerse himself in each character, Paul was perfect for the role. It was a pleasure to work with him in any environment and he was so generous.”

“Paul, your time here was like a summer romance for all of us who knew you, especially if only for a season,” Lenz added. “Blasting, exciting, deeply moving and unforgettable.”

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Next to One Tree HillTeal’s other acting credits include small television roles such as George & Tammy, The Stairs, Outdoor benchesAnd The Walking Dead: The World Beyond. He also played Deputy Clark in the 2022 psychological thriller Deep water Starring Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas.