Chad Michael Murray encountered a brush with death—an ordeal that unexpectedly paved his way to Hollywood. Reflecting on his acting journey's inception, the One Tree Hill heartthrob reminisced that it was anything but smooth sailing. He confided that the path almost claimed his life.
"My hospital stays have been numerous," Chad revealed during an August 8 appearance on the Great Company podcast. "When I was 15, my intestines became twisted, landing me in the hospital for two and a half arduous months."
"I experienced internal bleeding," he continued, "losing half of my blood volume. I was on the brink of death."
Although the fog of illness clouded his memory of many events, a handful of vivid moments etched themselves into his mind. "I oscillated between consciousness and unconsciousness, hence the visions," he elaborated. "I recall glimpsing my father, the frailest I'd ever seen him, and a priest at my bedside, discussing last rites and such."
Fortunately, the 43-year-old's fortunes took a turn for the better when a nurse administered a blood transfusion, as he put it, "saving my life."
Ironically, his nurses might have also played a pivotal role in launching his career.
"My other nurse was a model—the fantasy of every 15-year-old boy," Chad joked before recounting the nurse's advice, "'Oh geez, you should consider modeling.'"
"I responded, 'Modeling isn't for me. I aspire to be an actor. I adore film and television. I want to bestow this gift upon others,'" he continued. "She suggested, 'Modeling could be a stepping stone to acting. When you're discharged, I'll introduce you to a modeling agency I know.' And she meant every word."
Shortly thereafter, she accompanied him to an Orlando modeling convention where, by chance, he encountered an acting competition—marking the beginning of his journey.
Beyond his professional achievements, the Gilmore Girls veteran also cherished the profound life lessons he garnered from his hospital stay.
"My bond with God commenced, and my relationship with my father deepened immeasurably," he shared. "Raising five children single-handedly, my dad visited the hospital daily and spent countless nights with me, despite having four other kids at home."
