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One Tree Hill star Paul Teal passed away on Friday, November 15.

Emilia Torello, his fiancée, announced the news via Instagram in a touching tribute to him.

“The most thoughtful, inspiring, driven, self-disciplined and loving man passed away on Friday, November 15, 2024,” she wrote in the lengthy memorial post, alongside a black-and-white photo of her kissing Teal on the cheek as he smiled at the camera.

“Paul, you were my soulmate, my husband-to-be, 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 that you fought bravely 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 added. “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.”

Teal appeared as Josh Avery in seven episodes of One Tree Hill in 2010.

His co-star, Bethany Joy Lenz, also posted a tribute to the actor.

“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 on Monday, November 18 via Instagram.

“I worked closely with Paul for months when he played Noah in my and @ronaniello musical production of The notebook in 2006. He was shy and funny and so comfortable on stage. Wow. Like his second skin. You couldn’t take your eyes off him,” she recalled, posting a series of videos and photos of Teal in the role of Noah Calhoun (Ryan Gosling’s character in the film).

Lenz, host of the Drama queens podcasting with OTH co-stars Sophia Bush and Hilarie Burton, also discussed her time together with Teal on the set of the WB’s favorite 2000s series.

“Later, I got giddy when I had to direct an episode of One Tree Hill, in which I got to cast a new recurring character, Josh, the sleazy movie star,” she added. “With his self-effacing sense of humor and willingness to fully immerse himself in each character, Paul was perfect for the role. He was a joy to work with in every setting and so generous.”

Still, Lenz wishes she had kept in touch with Teal more often in recent years.

“I wish I had called all those times I wanted to but got distracted,” the actress mourned. ‘Life is short. I keep thinking that this week. Life is short.’

‘He was too young to die. Way too young. I’m devastated,” Lenz wrote, before comparing Teal to a “summer romance,” like The notebook author Nicholas Sparks describes it in the book: “Summer romances… have one thing in common: they’re shooting stars. A spectacular flash of light in the sky. A glimpse of eternity. And in a flash… they’re gone.”

“I’ll miss you, Paul,” she concluded. “Thank you for sharing your light with us.”