Multi-hyphenate stage and screen actor from One Tree Hill Paul Teal passed away on November 15 at age 35. Teal’s representation confirmed to USA TODAY that his death came following a 4-month-long battle with a rare pancreatic cancer. The actor’s fiancée, Emilia Torello, mourned his passing in an Instagram post on Sunday.
“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.”
Torello went on to describe her late fiancée as, “the most thoughtful, inspiring, driven, self-disciplined, loving man.” Teal and Torello had been together since 2022, after starring alongside each other in a production of Newsies that year.
‘One Tree Hill’ costars pay tribute to Paul Teal
Teal appeared in season 7 of One Tree Hill as Josh Avery, an actor starring in the movie produced by Alex (Jana Kramer) and Julian (Austin Nichols), across seven episodes.
Bethany Joy Lenz, one of the show’s leading ladies, honored Teal’s passing in a post on Instagram.
“My heart is heavy. Paul Teal was the kind of guy who lit up a room without trying,” Lenz wrote. “His bright smile, infectious laugh and kind heart made you want to be near him.”
Her heartfelt words accompanied a video compilation of her and Teal’s time working on a musical production of The Notebook in 2006.
Jana Kramer, another One Tree Hill star whose character was briefly romantically involved with Josh in the show, also paid tribute to Teal in an Instagram story writing that he was, “always so sweet and kind and was so fun to work alongside.”
Paul Teal’s acting career
While Teal was most well-known for his role in One Tree Hill, the 35-year-old’s on-screen talents extended to the live stage.
Teal, a native of Wilmington, North Carolina, was not only a talented actor but also a respected singer and dancer. He starred in productions with several Wilmington-based theater companies, including the Opera House Theatre Co., Thalian Association Community Theatre, and Techmoja Dance and Theater Co.
“I can remember walking into callbacks as a teenager and being so excited to sing or read for a part,” wrote Mathis Turner, a Wilmington-based actor, in a Facebook post. “And then Paul would walk in.”
In addition to establishing himself in the local theater scene, Teal played roles in several films and television series including the CW’s The Walking Dead: World Beyond, HBO’s The Staircase, Deep Water (2022), Fear Street Part Two: 1978 (2021) and USS Christmas (2020).
Paul Teal’s experience with pancreatic cancer
Teal’s passing came after a seven-month battle with Stage 4 neuroendocrine pancreatic cancer, his rep confirmed for USA TODAY.
Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) make up less than 2 percent of pancreatic cancers and affect a special kind of cell found in the pancreas.
Early detection of NETs or other pancreatic cancers is difficult because by the time symptoms manifest, the cancer has likely already spread dangerously throughout the body.
Symptoms of pancreatic cancer include fatigue or abnormal physical weakness, jaundice and related symptoms, weight loss and poor appetite, back and stomach pain and nausea and vomiting.
If you experience any of the listed symptoms, which can be caused by various conditions aside from pancreatic cancer, please consult a medical professional for imaging and blood tests to identify the cause.
