Chad Michael Murray Opens Up About Two-Month Hospital Stay

• At 15, Chad Michael Murray nearly died after his intestines twisted, causing internal bleeding and extensive surgery.
• He lost 50% of his blood and spent over two months hospitalized.
• A blood transfusion and second surgery were life-saving.
• Weight loss and recovery brought emotional challenges, while deepened faith and family bonds emerged.
• A nurse’s encouragement launched his modeling and acting career.

At age 15, Chad Michael Murray confronted a terrifying health crisis that nearly claimed his life. Admitted to the hospital for two and a half months due to twisted intestines that triggered severe internal bleeding, the “One Tree Hill” and “Freaky Friday” star now shares a deeply personal chapter during the Aug. 8 episode of the Great Company podcast.

During that time, he lost half of his blood in a matter of hours, was on his “deathbed,” and even witnessed a priest preparing to administer last rites while his father stood by—an unforgettable moment that underscores the gravity of his ordeal.

Twisted Intestines and Life-Threatening Internal Bleeding

Murray revealed that at just 15, a volvulus—a dangerous twisting of the intestines—landed him in the hospital for over two months. Following an emergency operation, internal bleeding consumed half his blood volume, leaving him in and out of consciousness.

His condition worsened when doctors discovered coagulated blood suffocating his organs, necessitating a second surgery to clean up the internal damage.

“I was on my deathbed,” Murray shared, recalling the vivid memory of seeing his father and a priest at his bedside, discussing last rites—stark visuals of mortality that will stay with him forever.

“I was hospitalized for two and a half months. It was a lot,” Murray, 43, said, sharing that he was “in and out of consciousness” during his hospitalization.

“We had surgery. I had internal bleeding, I lost 50% of my blood. I was on my deathbed,” the actor shared, revealing that his family even called in a priest to give him his last rites at one point.

“I just remember seeing my father, the weakest I’d ever seen him, and a priest at the end of my bed. They’re talking about last rites and all that stuff, and [the nurse, Sandy] gave me a blood transfusion to save my life,” Murray continued. ”It saved my life.”

The transfusion from a nurse named Sandy was critical—and ultimately saved his life.

Dramatic Weight Loss and Emotional Recovery

By the time he was discharged, Murray had dropped from around 180 to just 118 pounds—one observer likened him to “a skeleton.” “I looked in the mirror and cried, asking, ‘Who is that?’” he admitted, highlighting the emotional trauma that followed physical recovery.

That near-death experience profoundly affected him. It deepened his faith, cemented a stronger bond with his single father—who stayed by his side through each harrowing night—and shifted his life’s direction.

From Hospital Bed to Hollywood: How it Fueled His Career

An unexpected turn came via another nurse, Alana, who happened to be a model. She encouraged Murray to try modeling, which he initially resisted. Yet, after he left the hospital, she followed through—connecting him with a modeling agency, opening the door to acting opportunities like Gilmore Girls, Dawson’s Creek, and eventually his breakout role in One Tree Hill.

Now at 43, Murray revisited this life-altering story as Freakier Friday hit theaters, nearly 22 years after the original. The emotional scars remain, yet the survival and its ripple effects—his faith, family, and meaningful storytelling career—affirm life’s fragility and rewards.

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