One Tree Hill cast ages: How old were they then (and now)?

It's been over 20 years since One Tree Hill made its television premiere on The WB and over 10 years since the beloved series came to an end on The CW. Time has only made fans adore the show more and more, and there's finally some good news on the potential future of the series: Sophia Bush and Hilarie Burton Morgan are working on a sequel series at Netflix!

Before we get too excited about the prospect of returning to Tree Hill two decades later, it's the perfect time to look back at original cast members and celebrate their generation-defining series. One Tree Hill helped launch the careers of Chad Michael Murray, Hilarie Burton Morgan, Sophia Bush, James Lafferty, and Bethany Joy Lenz, and they're all still beloved today.

If you're diving back into your millionth rewatch of One Tree Hill (no judgment!), you're probably wondering how old the actors were compared to their teen characters. How much older were they than their characters. How old were they when the series began vs. when the series ended or when they left? Also, how old are they now and what have they been up after the show?

Chad Michael Murray as Lucas Scott

Chad Michael Murray was born on Aug. 24, 1981, which makes the Lucas Scott actor 43 years old as of September 2024. When the Gilmore Girls and Dawson's Creek vet took on the leading role in One Tree Hill in 2003, he was 22 years old, far older than his 16-year-old character (this is a trend you'll notice). When he left the series after the season 6 finale in May 2009, Murray was 27 years old.

Since leaving One Tree Hill, Chad Michael Murray has appeared in such movies and series as Fruitvale Station, A Madea Christmas, Left Behind, Survive the Night, Ted Bundy: American Boogeyman, Mother of the Bride, Chosen, Agent Carter, Sun Records, Star, Riverdale, and Sullivan's Crossing.

Murray has been married twice: first to Sophia Bush from 2005 to 2006 and now to Sarah Roemer since 2014. Together, the couple has three children, son (born 2015), and two daughters (born 2017 and 2023).

Hilarie Burton Morgan as Peyton Sawyer

Hilarie Burton Morgan was born on July 1, 1982, making the Peyton Sawyer actress 42 years old as of September 2024. When the former MTV VJ began the iconic role of Peyton in September 2003, she was 21 years old. Like her on-screen husband, Burton left the series after season 6 in May 2009 when she was 26 years old.

After departing Tree Hill in the Comet, Burton joined the USA Network series White Collar as Sara Ellis and appeared in episodes of Castle, Grey's Anatomy, Forever, Extant, Lethal Weapon, Council of Dads, and more. Burton has starred in a number of Christmas television movies and joined husband Jeffrey Dean Morgan in an episode of The Walking Dead. She also appeared in Sophia Bush's short-lived series Good Sam.

As mentioned above, Burton has been with actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan since 2009, officially marrying 10 years later in October 2019. The couple shares two children, son Gus (born 2010) and daughter George (born 2018). Burton has authored two nonfiction books about her home life: The Rural Diaries and Grimoire Girl.

Sophia Bush as Brooke Davis

Sophia Bush was born on July 8, 1982 (one week after Hilarie Burton!), which makes the Brooke Davis actress 42 years old as of September 2024. When she originated the fan-favorite role of Brooke in September 2003, Bush was 21 years old, and when One Tree Hill ended after nine seasons in April 2012, she was 29 years old.

After One Tree Hill, Bush returned to television in 2012 in the short-lived CBS sitcom Partners and in 2014 as a main character in NBC's Chicago P.D. She left the procedural in 2017 after 84 episodes. She's also appeared in such shows as Jane the Virgin, Easy, This Is Us, and Love, Victor. She headlined the CBS medical drama Good Sam for one season and had a key voice role in 2018's Incredibles 2.

Bush has been married twice: first to Chad Michael Murray from 2005 to 2006 and then to Grant Hughes from 2022 to 2023. Currently, she's dating former soccer player Ashlyn Harris.

James Lafferty as Nathan Scott

James Lafferty was born on July 25, 1985, making the Nathan Scott actor 39 years old in September 2024 and the youngest of the main five One Tree Hill cast members. When the series began in September 2003, Lafferty was 18 years old, the closest in age to his character. When the series finale aired in April 2012, Lafferty was 26 years old.

Since the series ended, Laffery has appeared in the movies Oculus, Waffle Street, Small Town Crime, and Red Hand Right. On the small screen, he had a main role on the 2014 short-lived NBC series Crisis. He's also appeared in Underground, The Haunting of Hill House, The Right Stuff, and All American. He created the series Everyone Is Doing Great with One Tree Hill co-star Stephen Colletti.

In May 2022, Lafferty married Australian actress Alexandra Park, who he met in 2015 on the set of the E! Network drama series The Royals while directing episodes.

Bethany Joy Lenz as Haley James Scott

Bethany Joy Lenz was born on April 2, 1981, which makes the Haley James Scott actress 43 years old as of September 2024. When the series debuted in September 2003, Lenz was 22 years old, four years older than her on-screen husband James Lafferty. When the series ended in April 2012, she had just turned 31 years old.

After One Tree Hill, Lenz landed a recurring role in the final season of Dexter in 2013 and began starring pretty much annually in Hallmark Channel Christmas movies. She has also appeared in shows such as Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, American Gothic, Colony, Grey's Anatomy, Pearson, and Good Sam. Also a singer-songwriter, Lenz has released original music and starred in theater productions.

Lenz was previously married to musician Michael Galeotti from 2005 to 2012. She and her then-husband welcomed their daughter Maria in 2011. In October 2024, Lenz will release her debut memoir about her experiences in life and One Tree Hill titled Dinner for Vampires.