Chad Michael Murray recalls major health scare at 15 that led him to pursue acting: 'I was on my ...

The &34;One Tree Hill&34; alum says he lost 50 percent of his blood during a twomonth hospital stay when he was 15 after his intestines became twisted. Chad Mic

The "One Tree Hill" alum says he lost 50 percent of his blood during a two-month hospital stay when he was 15 after his intestines became twisted.

Chad Michael Murray recalls major health scare at 15 that led him to pursue acting: 'I was on my deathbed'

The "One Tree Hill" alum says he lost 50 percent of his blood during a two-month hospital stay when he was 15 after his intestines became twisted.

By Shania Russell

Published on August 10, 2025 12:17PM EDT

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Chad Michael Murray in 2006; Murray in July 2025. Credit:

Chad Buchanan/Patrick McMullan via Getty; Jeff Spicer/Getty

Chad Michael Murray's journey to acting began with a frightening trip to the hospital.

The *One Tree Hill* alum recently opened up about the traumatic incident, recalling the near-death experience that pushed him to finally follow his Hollywood dreams.

"I was 15 and my intestines was twisted and I was hospitalized for two and a half months," Murray said during a visit to the *Great Company* podcast. "It was a lot. We had surgery, I had internal bleeding, I lost 50 percent of my blood. I was on my deathbed."

The actor added that he was in and out of consciousness while receiving treatment, but at one point he woke to find his father and a priest standing at the foot of his bed "talking about last rites." Thankfully, a blood transfusion performed by one of his nurses, Sandy, prevented the worst.**

Chad Michael Murray at the U.K. premiere of 'Freakier Friday' in July 2025.

Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/WireImage

"It saved my life," Murray said. "Regardless, you're in there for two months and my organs shut down because you have blood all coagulated around them, and they had to wait till everything [healed more]… I had to have a second surgery to clean everything up."

Murray noted that the health scare ultimately brought him closer to his faith and his family — especially his father, a single parent raising Murray and his five siblings. The incident also served as a catalyst for Murray to start his career after he made a connection with his other nurse, a model named Alana, during his prolonged hospital stay.**

Chad Michael Murray on why he almost quit acting after 'One Tree Hill'

Chad Michael Murray on the rush of returning as Jake in 'Freakier Friday'

"Alana says to me, 'Oh gosh, you should model,'" he recalled. "I was like, 'I don't want to model. I want to be an actor. Like, I love film and television. I want to give this gift to other people.' And she's like, 'Well, you can segue from modeling into acting. Look, when you get out, I'm hooking you up with this modeling company I know.' And she meant it."

Alana was true to her word, and from there Murray booked several modeling gigs and eventually met an agent who encouraged him to go to Los Angeles for a week and audition. Among his earliest gigs was a recurring role on *Gilmore Girls* and another on *Dawson's Creek*.

Chad Michael Murray and Lindsay Lohan in 2003.

Walt Disney/courtesy Everett Collection

Before leading his own teen drama for several seasons with the CW's *One Tree Hill*, Murray was cast as the love interest in the 2003 Disney comedy *Freaky Friday*, starring opposite Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis. The critical and box office success has since spawned a sequel, *Freakier Friday*, which hit theaters this weekend.

***Sign up for **'s free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.***

Though two decades separate the two films, Murray recently told ** that when he arrived on set for the sequel, it felt as though "no time had passed" both in and outside the story.

"Every moment is accounted for," he said. "When you get to walk on a set and it just feels like it's home, why would you not want to be there? It felt like an all-encompassing, loving, great dynamic, like no time had passed. Yet, we had entire lives in between. It's a very full film."

Watch Murray recount his near-death experience and path to acting in the podcast above.**

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