One Tree Hill first hit television screens in September 2003 and quickly became one of the most talked about American dramas of the early noughties.
Between the turbulent relationships, the unlikely friendships and the shocking deaths, it has become one of the most memorable teen dramas in history.
Created by Mark Schwahn, the programme ran for an incredible nine years.
The teen drama was set in the fictional town of Tree Hill, North Carolina, and explored the lives of two half-brothers, Lucas Scott (Chad Michael Murray) and Nathan Scott (James Lafferty) as they both struggle to exist in the same town, high school and basketball team.
The first series premiered to high viewing figures and had 2.5 million people tune in.
This number then rose expeditiously to 3.3 million in its second week, becoming one of only three shows to rise in their second episode during the 2003–2004 television period.
On May 17, 2011, The CW network renewed One Tree Hill for a ninth and final season and created 13 more episodes.
To celebrate an incredible 18 years since its debut, Daily Star has taken a look at where the cast are now and what they’ve been getting up to.
Chad Michael Murray as Lucas Scott
(Image: One Tree Hill)
Heartthrob Chad Michael Murray was a fairly well known actor before he landed the role of Lucas Scott on One Tree Hill.
Before the programme, Chad starred in Gilmore Girls and Dawson’s Creek. But the actor made a name for himself when he joined One Tree Hill for six seasons, briefly returned in season 7 and then again for the final season in 2011.
While on the programme, Chad gained credits outside the show and starred in the film House of Wax alongside it girl Paris Hilton.
The actor married his co-star Sophia Bush in 2005 but unfortunately the marriage didn’t last long and the couple split a year later in 2006.
In 2017, Chad returned to TV and starred in CMT’s Sun Records. He was also in Netflix’s Riverdale, season three.
The actor married actress Sarah Roemer in 2015 and the pair share two children together.
He had an awkward clash with ex Sophia over social media after she said in an interview that she was “22 and stupid”, and it was “not a thing I actually wanted to do”.
A rep for Chad responded to Sophia’s claim, branding it “ludicrous”, adding: “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 behavior.”
Chad’s wife Sarah also got involved with the drama, as she shadily wrote on social media: “Wait a second … my producers also made me marry Chad Michael Murray!”
Sophia Bush as Brooke Davis
(Image: Channel 4)
Actress Sophia Bush played the role of Brooke Davis who was the sexy and confident cheerleader in the programme.
Brooke was a go-getter and a budding entrepreneur. By the end of the series, Brooke was married to Julian (Nichols) and was a mother to twins.
In her personal life away from the show, Sofia married her co-star Chad Michael Murray in 2005 but the couple filed for divorce in 2006.
She also dated co-star Austin Nichols, who played Julian Baker, on and off for four years, ending their relationship shortly after the series finished.
Sophia clearly loved a work romance, as she also reportedly dated James Lafferty in 2008, although the pair never confirmed their relationship.
Once the teen drama came to an end, Sophia went on to star in several hit movies such as, John Tucker Must Die and The Hitcher.
Earlier this year, Sophia joined several former cast members to speak against the One Tree Hill creator Mark Schwahn, who was first accused of sexual harassment in 2017.
The actress shared her experience with Michael Rosenbaum, hosting his Inside of You podcast.
(Image: FilmMagic)
She revealed that a total of 18 women on the award-winning show had signed a collective letter against the now-infamous screenwriter.
Sophia claimed: “He was not embarrassed to be handsy, to make inappropriate commentary, to pull people into side rooms for conversations.
“Pictures of us that were taken by the wardrobe supervisor, who was a woman, of us in different versions of underwear and/or lingerie that then had to be approved, picked.
“One would wind up in the show. He just would keep a board of all these photos. We were like, ‘Wow, that’s super violating.’”
Mark’s allegations against him have remained unanswered as the screenwriter has still not addressed the accusations.
James Lafferty as Nathan Scott
(Image: One Tree Hill)
James Lafferty landed the role of Nathan Scott in the show.
Once the programme came to an end, James continued to work as an actor and starred in several films including Oculus, Waffle Street and Small Town Crime.
Not only this but the star also turned his hand to directing and was behind the camera on multiple episodes of E!’s The Royals.
In 2017, James and his One Tree Hill co-star Stephen Colletti wrote a pilot, Everyone Is Doing Great. The show debuted on Hulu in 2021.
(Image: Getty Images)
Previously James told US Weekly about the difficulty he faced after leaving One Tree Hill and said he first thought it would be easy for him career wise.
The actor explained: “I thought that when [One Tree Hill] ended, things would be pretty easy for me, that it would be easy to work in television. Coming out of One Tree Hill, I think it was a reality check.”
“I just remember being sort of slapped in the face with that for a few years there and realising that this is going to be much tougher than I ever gave it credit.”
Hilarie Burton as Peyton Sawyer
(Image: One Tree Hill)
Before playing angsty cheerleader Peyton Sawyer in One Tree Hill, actress Hilarie Burton was a familiar face on popular drama Dawson’s Creek.
Although a popular cast member on One Tree Hill Hilarie departed from the programme in season six alongside her co-star Chad Michael Murray.
Once the show had wrapped up, Hilarie starred in White Collar, Grey’s Anatomy and Lethal Weapon.
In 2014, the star married American actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan and the couple share two children together.
In 2020, she wrote her first memoir titled The Rural Diaries and in 2021 she went on to create a podcast.
Bethany Joy Lenz as Haley James
(Image: This picture may be used solely for Channel 4 programme publicity purposes in connection with the cu)
Just like some of her co-stars actress Bethany Joy Lenz had previously starred in various American series before appearing on One Tree Hill.
After briefly appearing on Charmed and Felicity, she landed the role of Haley James (later Scott) on the American teen drama.
While on the show, the actress also launched her music career and released five albums from five albums from 2002 to 2013.
Bethany is still currently booked and busy and appeared in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., American Gothic and Colony.
She also stars in several Hallmark Channel movies each year.
Lee Norris as Marvin “Mouth” McFadden
(Image: One Tree Hill)
Actor Lee Norris played the character Marvin “Mouth” McFadden in the show who was the smart, sideline reporter, obsessed with Ravens basketball.
But before One Tree Hill, the actor starred as Stuart Minkus on Boy Meets World, a role he played from 1993 to 1994.
When One Tree Hill came to an end the actor reprised his role of Minkus on Girl Meets World.
He later went on to star in Walking Dead.
In 2011, the star tied the knot with his wife Andrea Norris.
Reflecting on his most favourite episode of One Tree Hill, the actor told TDW: “My favourite episode is still the school shooting episode.
“But I also love any of the scenes where it’s basically the whole cast together,” he added.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
