Biography
Date of Birth
24 December 1981, Buffalo, New York, USA
Birth Name
Chad Michael Murray
Nickname
CMM
Height
6' (1.83 m)
Mini Biography
Chad Michael Murray has showcased his brooding good looks and acting talent on television sets and silver screens for two decades. The 6-foot tall star, who resides in Wilmington, North Carolina, is known to audiences of One Tree Hill (2003), where he played the good son, Lucas Scott. The model-turned-actor has also serenaded Jamie Lee Curtis with Britney Spears' "Baby One More Time" in Freaky Friday (2003), became Hilary Duff's "Prince Charming" in A Cinderella Story (2004), and even watched Paris Hilton die a violent on-screen death in House of Wax (2005).
Chad Michael Murray was born in Buffalo, New York. Growing up, his mother left his family at a young age and he had to help take care of his younger siblings, together with his brother and his father, Rex Murray, an air traffic controller. While working his way through adolescence, he learned a lot about work ethics, which eventually helped built his character. Chad once said in an interview that he could call his father anytime of the day whenever he needs help as his father is "his rock".
The One Tree Hill (2003) star started his life as a paper boy, delivering newspapers around the neighborhood before working as a janitor at Donut World. Chad only worked there for a few days when he lost his job because he was shooting Skittles into the deep-fryer. Sure enough, one of the Skittles got caught in the machine and Chad got fired. Chad also worked as a receptionist at a limousine company. When he was 15, he had a resection of his small intestines. His intestines were so twisted they had to be cut out, but there were some complications causing him to not be able to eat for three months. Chad also broke his nose when he was jumped at a Burger King outlet which then required him to be admitted into the hospital. It was there where he met the person who inspired him, his nurse. His nurse was a model and she told Chad to start modeling, but Chad only wanted to act.
Chad then took a chance and went to a convention in Buffalo and they wanted him to go to another convention in Biloxi, Mississipi. There, he met a man named Eddie Winkler, who offered Chad a place to stay in Los Angeles to kick-start his career. Not long afterwards, Chad was hired for a Tommy Hilfiger campaign which helped paid his bills and that was when he thought he could really focus on acting. He started out on Dawson's Creek (1998) with his two One Tree Hill (2003) co-stars, Hilarie Burton and Lee Norris. Two years later, he scored the role of rich brat "Tristian DuGrey" on Gilmore Girls (2000) before playing "Lucas Scott", one half of the young Scott brothers in the popular teen drama One Tree Hill (2003), where he met best friends James Lafferty and Tyler Hilton. Chad also starred in the B-horror flick House of Wax (2005).
He starred in Lionsgate's The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia (2013) and the socially important Indie film, To Write Love on Her Arms (2012) (Kat Dennings, Rupert Friend). Going round the festival circuit, Chad played "Thatcher", an HIV-positive character, in the short film The Carrier (2012) (Rita Wilson, Anna Paquin). Murray also released "Everlast", his first graphic novel. "Everlast" is a passion project of his that tells the story of the tragic hero, "Derek Everlast", as he follows his journey to save the world before the "End of Days".
Chad played football growing up and his love for the sport was projected in a charity game where he would help underprivileged kids with the money he gains from audiences. A fan of philosophy himself, Chad's favorite book is "Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger. He enjoys listening to music from Incubus, Frank Sinatra, James Brown and watching shows such as The Simpsons (1989) and Fear Factor (2001). As for movies, Chad has given credit to Gladiator (2000), Fight Club (1999), Varsity Blues (1999) & Any Given Sunday (1999) as his favorites.
Chad married his One Tree Hill (2003) co-star, Sophia Bush, when he was 23. He reportedly cried on his wedding day, the 16th of April, 2005. After less than a year of marriage, the couple signed for an annulment. Chad was also engaged to actress Kenzie Dalton for a few years.
In 2015, Chad married actress and model Sarah Roemer, and the two are expecting a child.
Trivia
His favorite fashion accessory is a hemp necklace that his father gave him and a necklace made for him from Kenzie.
Got an accidental 'nose job' during his earlier modeling career! He was 'jumped' in a fast food restaurant and got his nose broken and had to have surgery. If you look closely, you can see the difference between his nose now and back then, because he had to get it fixed and it couldn't be constructed to the way it was.
Underwent a resection of his small intestine as the result of a football injury, so he can't gain weight.
His father Rex works as an air traffic controller.
His mother abandoned his family when he was just 10 years old.
Has three brothers (Rex, Nick, and Brandon), one sister (Shannon) and one half-brother (Tyler).
His favorite football team is the Buffalo Bills.
His first job was when he was 10 delivering newspapers, then when he turned 14 he started working as a janitor at the local doughnut shop.
His favorite book is "Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger.
He has three dogs. A shepherd/wolf mix named Joe, which he takes everywhere with him and a guard dog named Axel. He and Kenzie share a Chihuahua/Pomeranian mix named TumTum.
Ranked #22 in TV Guide's list of "TV's 25 Greatest Teen Idols" (23 January 2005 issue).
His mom left his family when he was only 10 years old, which he says helps him to relate to his character Lucas Scott on One Tree Hill (2003).
Modeled for Skechers, Tommy Hilfiger and Gucci.
Said if he wasn't a actor he would love to be a pediatrician.
His favorite movie is Fight Club (1999).
His favorite television show is The Simpsons (1989).
Chad means: warlike, warrior.
His hobbies are: Going to the gym, pickup basketball and football.
His favorite musicians are Incubus, Dave Matthews Band, and Pete Murray.
26 September 2005: Sophia Bush announced their separation.
Was originally up for the role of Ryan Atwood on The O.C. (2003), but turned it down for Lucas Scott on One Tree Hill (2003).
Wore a Ralph Lauren Black Label Suit in his April 2005 wedding to Sophia Bush.
Chad and three of his One Tree Hill (2003) co-stars were on Dawson's Creek (1998) with him; Hilarie Burton (who plays "Peyton Sawyer"), Lee Norris (who plays "Mouth McFadden") and Colin Fickes (who plays "Jimmy Edwards").
Engaged to Denmark native Kenzie Dalton [March 24, 2006].
Ex-son-in-law of Charles William Bush.
Good friends with One Tree Hill (2003) costars Bethany Joy Lenz and Tyler Hilton.
He is currently residing in Wilmington, North Carolina, working on the second season of One Tree Hill (2003). [August 2004]
He is currently residing in Wilmington, North Carolina, working on the Third season of One Tree Hill (2003). [June 2005]
In Wilmington filming Season 5 of One Tree Hill (2003). [August 2007]
He has recently finished filming House of Wax (2005) and has no current plans in the future except his new song about a drug free America! [2005]
Ended his seven-year engagement to Kenzie Dalton, a 2006 Graduate of John T. Hoggard High School in Wilmington, North Carolina, in September 2013.
His wife, Sarah Roemer, gave birth to their first child, a son, on May 31, 2015, and to their second child, a daughter, in March 2017.
His father is of English, German, Swiss-German, and Irish descent and his mother is of Polish ancestry.
Of Clan Murray.
Chad Michael Murray married Sophia Bush on April 16, 2005 in Santa Monica, California. In September 2005, after five months of marriage, they announced their separation. Bush filed papers seeking an annulment on the grounds of fraud in February 2006. The divorce court denied her petition, and granted her and Murray a divorce, in December 2006, instead.
Quotes
When asked about what he thinks is the most important issue he says, "Kids being drug-free. I always want kids to be allowed to have a chance or a shot in life."
"I think people should do what makes them happy. Peer pressure shouldn't make an impact on what you want to do with your life".
"Trust me, high school ends. You graduate and get away from all the people you never want to see again - it's all good".
"Dad never had time to relax. When we were young, he'd get us off to school before he'd go to work as a controller for a nine-hour day, come home, make dinner, make sure we got our homework done, then go right to sleep and do it all over again the next morning." - Chad says of his father's hectic work and family juggling act.
I didn't fit in to the trends at school, but I did just fine.
I love a conservative girl. Let me be honest. I love a great pair of jeans and I love turtlenecks... Most guys want to see a girl wearing nothing! Tank tops are cute, too. Then you show a little skin, but you're still conservative.
I'm scared of dolls. When I was a little kid, we used to go to my grandma's house and she'd have all these porcelain dolls and they are just freaky. They have those little painted faces on them...and ugh! They used to scare the crap out of me.
[on why he looked so different when not filming OTH] I prefer to keep my hair short - very short. I also like having a good amount of facial hair. But unfortunately, Lucas cannot have a beard. At the end of the season, hacking off the hair is my ritual. It all goes!
My ideal girl is someone who's smart and pretty in an innocent way, and someone who listens and cares.
Writing inspires me. I couldn't live without my journal.
The rumors - that's the thing I hate. People assume way too much, and I can't stand it. I know the truth; I don't feel like I have to defend myself. I'm a pretty good guy. Yeah, I like to go out with my boys and have a good time - I'm 23 years old! But the next thing you know, there are 20 stories about me. It's inappropriate on so many levels. I don't know if it will ever stop. All I need to know is, I have faith in myself and I know what's really going on.
I hated high school. I didn't have any friends because I didn't fit in, but I enjoyed the educational part of it. My teachers allowed me to be creative, so I thought past high school to what I wanted to do.
I love older music, Frank Sinatra, James Brown - there's so much passion in their songs.
If nothing had happened for me with acting, I would have gone to college and played football.
My goal is to grow as much as I can as a human being.
Tyler Hilton is one of my best friends now, As a human being, he's an incredible person and as an artist, he's an incredible artist. I love his music, every time I get in the car, he's in the CD player.
I am an ordinary guy who likes normal things, and have feelings like a normal human being.
I am bothered by some rumors, but they come with the job.
When you realize you're alive, you can live life!
"I just want to be healthy and happy. I don't want to hurt anybody or make them mad. If that's a philosophy then that's my philosophy.
Yeah, you lose equipment, You lose the stage. You lose everything else. But the fact of the matter is everyone got out OK. That's all we cared about. Everything else can be replaced.
In the end, it's not about fame or fortune. It's what you leave behind your work and your family - that really counts.
Imagine you are walking along and you trip over something and you turn around and find that it is a huge diamond. You would pick it up and do everything in your power to take care of that diamond because it might take care of you for the rest of your life. - on fiancée Kenzie Dalton.
I love acting, but part of me wants to have a family, raise kids - have a normal life.
I don't like to be alone. It's scary being alone. I'm always worried that I'm going to be abandoned or that people won't care for me.
(2003, on his love of football) Sunday mornings, I wake up at 10 and I don't leave from in front of the set until midnight. I have friends over, except when the Buffalo Bills are playing. Then I don't want anyone around. It's just me and the dog. We sit there in our Buffalo Bills jerseys -- my dog has one too -- and we totally focus on the game. At 8 p.m. I take a break and watch The Simpsons, then it's back to football. Listen, I even have DirecTV in my trailer for when we have to work out of town. I'm not missing any games.
(2003, on first moving to L.A.) My first thought was, "Oh my goodness. I'm alone. What do I do now?" I didn't know anybody. I'd sit at home in a studio apartment that had nothing. I had two channels on my TV. I didn't even have furniture. I slept on the floor. I'd get lonely during the day so I'd pick up the phone and want to talk to people from home.
(2003) I've never considered myself a dreamer. I have goals and I'm going to obtain them. I say, "This is what I want to do", and then I go do it. When I came to town, my first three goals came true -- in the order I set them up. I sat down with my manager the first day. He wanted to know my goals and why I was here. I told him I wanted to be on the WB. I said, "It's great training ground". I wanted to be on Dawson's Creek (1998). I told him, "I think those kids could help me sharpen my teeth. They could teach me a lot". I also told them I wanted my own series. In that order, it's happened! It's really, really weird.
