Chad Michael Murray was born on August 24, 1981 in Buffalo, New York, USA. He is an American actor, former male fashion model and teen idol.

When he was 4, the young ham performed skits and sang made-up songs for his large family, which includes four brothers and a sister. At age 15, he had a problem with his small intestine which landed him in the hospital, where a nurse encouraged him to pursue a modeling career. Two years later, Chad won a scholarship from a modeling agency in Buffalo to attend a modeling convention in Orlando. There, an agent spotted him and brought him to Los Angeles. Murray started modeling for such clients as Skechers, Tommy Hilfiger and Gucci.

His first television role soon followed, with a guest appearance on Diagnosis Murder. Shortly after, CMM won the role of Tristan, Rory's overconfident classmate, on Gilmore Girls. After one season on the show, he moved to Wilmington, North Carolina to play Katie Holmes' love interest in Dawson's Creek. Other television credits include the movie Aftermath with Meredith Baxter Birney and Robert Urich and the title role in The WB's The Lone Ranger.

A rising star on the big screen, Murray was seen this August in the remake of the classic film Freaky Friday, with Jamie Lee Curtis. He is currently filming the coveted lead role of Prince Charming in the Warner Bros. feature Cinderella Story, opposite Hilary Duff. He also appeared in Megiddo: Omega Code 2. Currently living in Los Angeles, Murray is a natural athlete.

His favorite sports are football and basketball. He is also an anti-drug role model for kids and is active in charities for children and teens.

Filmography

• "One Tree Hill" (86 episodes, 2003-2007)
• Home of the Brave (2006)
• House of Wax (2005)
• A Cinderella Story (2004)
• Freaky Friday (2003)
• The Lone Ranger (2003)
• "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (1 episode, 2002)
• "Dawson's Creek" (12 episodes, 2001-2002)
• "Gilmore Girls" (11 episodes, 2000-2001)
• Megiddo: The Omega Code 2 (2001)
• Aftermath (2001)
• Murphy's Dozen (2001)
• "Diagnosis Murder" (1 episode, 2000)
• "Undressed" (1 episode, 2000)