FOR nearly a decade, a generation of viewers watched as the glamorous young stars of One Tree Hill navigated rocky friendships, love triangles and shocking deaths.
But in real life, the actors behind the hit US show – which ran from 2003 to 2012 – have had dramas of their own, including brushes with the law and bitter splits.
This week, fans were shocked after it was revealed cast member Bevin Prince’s husband William Friend had died at the age of 33 after being struck by lightning on a boat.
The National Lightning Association revealed that medics tried to revive him for 20 minutes before he was declared dead a week before his 34th birthday.
Bevin started out on One Tree Hill as an extra and was given the major recurring role of Bevin Mirskey from season one through to four.
Here, we take a look at what happened to the rest of the cast.
Chad Michael Murray (Lucas Scott)
Seen as the show’s definitive heartthrob, Chad, 40, and co-star Sophia Bush fell quickly in love after meeting on set.
They married in 2005 with Chad gushing: “She’s it. She makes me a better man.”
Five months later, however, the pair called it quits amid rumours he had allegedly cheated with House of Wax co-star Paris Hilton.
The pair clashed in 2018 after Sophia told Andy Cohen in an interview that the marriage was not something she “actually really” wanted to do.
When pressed on why she went along with the marriage if she had not wanted to, she said: “Because how do you let everybody down … when you have bosses telling you that you’re the only person who gets a person to work on time, and 200 people either get to see their kids at night or they don’t because our days start on time … ?”
Chad’s reps hit back with a statement which explained: “Chad conducts himself in a completely professional manner and would never marry for any reason but love.
“Thirteen years since his divorce from Sophia, he has a very happy family life with his wife and children.
“He has completely moved on and doesn’t feel the need to engage in this type of behaviour.”
Sticking with the office romance formula, he also dated One Tree Hill extra Kenzie Dalton and was engaged to her for seven years before going their separate ways.
Chad found love with Sarah Roemer, another co-star he met on set of Chosen.
They wed in a secret ceremony and share two kids together.
He co-authored a novel and has recently appeared in movies such as Ted Bundy: American Boogeyman and Fortress.
Sophia Bush (Brooke Davis)
After her marriage with Chad ended, Sophia, 39, was in a four-year on and off relationship with Austin Nichols, who played Julian Baker.
They split for good after the show came to an end.
After One Tree Hill, Sophia starred in Chicago P.D. as Erin Lindsay and movies Acts of Violence and Incredibles 2.
After a two year relationship with Chicago P.D. co-star Jesse Lee Soffer, she married businessman Grant Hughes last month.
Sophia has been an outspoken advocate for the Time’s Up movement and was among several cast members who spoke out against One Tree Hill creator Mark Schwahn after he was accused of sexual harassment in 2017.
In a shocking claim last year, Sophia alleged that pictures of female cast members in their underwear were hung up in Schwahn’s office.
The male stars of the show released statements supporting the alleged victims.
Following the allegations, Schwahn was also accused by cast members of The Royals, a new show he had been working on.
He was subsequently suspended and fired from the show.
Antwon Tanner (Antwon ‘Skills’ Taylor)
Before One Tree Hill, Antwon had a recurring role as Michael on hit show Moesha and its spinoff The Parkers.
The 47-year-old is also known for his role in Coach Carter.
In 2009, he was charged with “knowingly and intentionally” transferring social security cards with “intent to defraud”.
He was sentenced to prison for three months after pleading guilty to selling several Social Security numbers for $10,000 to an undercover officer.
His lawyer blamed his actions on “stupidity” and said he “suffered financial reversals and lost a $1million house in California to foreclosure”.
Although there is not much information about his personal life, he is married to wife Nic Thearies and has two children, who he regularly posts on his Instagram account.
Hilarie Burton (Peyton Sawyer)
Hilarie, 40, appeared on the show for six seasons and – together with Chad and Sophia – was at the centre of one of the most memorable love triangles on the small screen.
The Virginia native met her husband, Walking Dead star Jeffrey Dean Morgan, after being introduced on a blind date. They couple share two kids.
She starred as Sara Ellis on White Collar and also played Karen Palmer in Lethal Weapon.
In November 2017, she joined crew members of One Tree Hill to allege she had been sexually harassed by show creator Mark Schwahan.
After speaking out, she said she feared she would never be able to work in Hollywood again.
James Lafferty (Nathan Scott)
While on the show, James, 36, dated co-star Sophia Bush for nearly one year after her romance with their fellow cast member, Chad.
He was subsequently linked to Bono’s daughter, Eve Hewson.
After finding fame on the show, he went on to appear in cult classic Donnie Darko and Small Time Crime.
He has also appeared in TV dramas such as The Haunting of Hill House and All American.
Bethany Joy Lenz (Haley James Scott)
Before her big break, Bethany, 41, appeared in commercials and as a series regular on soap Guiding Light.
After the show, she had a recurring role on Dexter and was briefly cast on Shonda Rhimes’ The Catch before being replaced.
Bethany also pursued a music career and was a member of the folk music duo Everly.
She married Michael Galeotti in December 2005 and welcomed a daughter in 2011.
After six years of marriage, however, she announced their divorce.
Paul Johansson (Dan Scott)
Paul, 58, also kickstarted his career with an appearance on Beverly Hills, 90210.
In 2011, and at the height of his fame on One Tree Hill, his mother died after a 20-year battle with cancer.
The show dedicated the eleventh episode of the ninth season to her memory.
He ventured into directing after and was at the helm of Atlas Shrugged: Part 1, which was heavily panned by movie critics and has an approval rating of 12% on Rotten Tomatoes.
