Chad Michael Murray ruled our TV screens in the early aughts; now he's back and better than ever in&nbsp;Freakier Friday&nbsp;and&nbsp;Sullivan's Crossing.

Chad Michael Murray is one of those actors who made an indelible mark on film and television and then seemingly took the back seat for a number of years. And it makes sense, as the Chad Michael Murray of today is no longer playing a high school sweetheart stealing glances in the hallway, but rather a devoted husband and father to three children. But don't fret, millennials, he's back and better than ever in the soon-to-be-released Freakier Friday and season 3 of Sullivan's Crossing.
From The <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/the-devil-wears-prada-2-first-look-at-andy-sachs-outfit-anne-hathaway-see-all-the-looks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Devil Wears Prada 2</a>, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/film-tv/the-naked-gun-original-movie-1988-priscilla-presley-leslie-nielsen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Naked Gun</a>, to <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/film-tv/everything-to-know-about-freakier-friday-movie-with-lindsay-lohan-cast-release-trailer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Freakier Friday</a>, summer 2025 has rightfully been dubbed the "<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/film-tv/summer-movie-remakes-sequels-2025-my-best-friends-wedding-freakier-friday-release-date" target="_blank" rel="noopener">summer of the remake.</a>" Thus, it really is the perfect season for a Murray renaissance. The 43-year-old actor's breakout role was in the classic sitcom, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/film-tv/best-fall-movies-tv-shows-gilmore-girls-hocus-pocus-dead-poets-society" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gilmore Girls</a>, where he played Tristan, the prep school student with a love-hate with the main character, Rory, played by Alexis Bledel. But shortly after his time on the Stars Hollow set, Murray was cast in&nbsp;One Tree Hill, and his career took off from there.&nbsp;
While Murray mostly made a name for himself as a TV actor, he played notable roles in movies like Cinderella Story and, of course, Freaky Friday.&nbsp;Up until the highly anticipated&nbsp;Freaky Friday sequel, Murray has been working on the TV series,&nbsp;Sullivan's Crossing. The show takes place in a small town, and Murray stars alongside none other than Scott Patterson, known for playing Luke in Gilmore Girls.
With Freakier Friday premiering on August 8 and season 3 of Sullivan's Crossing coming to Netflix on August 11, it's shaping up to be the month of Chad Michael Murray. In the spirit of the season, let's look back at his most unforgettable roles throughout his acting career.

<h2>Tristan Dugray in Gilmore Girls&nbsp;(2000-2001)</h2>

Getty Images.

While Murray may have appeared in only 11 episodes of the fan-favorite TV series, his impact was definitely felt. He played Tristan, the arrogant prepster who attends Chilton Prep, the private school to which Rory Gilmore transfers. Rory struggles with the student body, made up of stuck-up rich kids, and Tristan is one of the bigger culprits of her stress. Though as their relationship develops, a forbidden attraction is built, especially as Rory has a boyfriend outside of school.
Murray's portrayal of the character was his first foray into the high school drama genre he's known for. And ultimately, his brief role in Gilmore Girls has much to do with the fact that he was cast as Lucas Scott in&nbsp;One Tree Hill, which ultimately cemented his career as a television heartthrob.

<h2>Lucas Scott in&nbsp;One Tree Hill&nbsp;(2003-2009)</h2>

When most people think of Chad Michael Murray (especially those who grew up watching One Tree Hill), they think of Lucas Scott. Murray played the high school basketball player with a soft side from 2003 to 2009, when he left the show that kept filming until 2012. Anyone who watched the show can't forget about the dramatic love triangle between Lucas, Peyton (played by Hilarie Burton), and Brooke (played by <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/sophia-bush-girlfriend-ashlyn-harris-dating-relationship-timeline" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sophia Bush</a>). Murray and Bush (photographed above) had their own romantic drama off-screen, as the two started dating in 2004, were married by 2005, and divorced by 2006. But if you've ever considered Murray to be one of your celebrity crushes, his role as Lucas Scott was probably why.&nbsp;

<h2>Jake in&nbsp;Freaky Friday&nbsp;(2003)</h2>

Murray is making his bold reentrance into the spotlight with&nbsp;Freakier Friday, and it makes sense because who can forget his role in the original? The actor plays Jake, who (you guessed it) is <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/lindsay-lohan-channels-cher-from-clueless-for-freakier-friday-press-movie-release-date" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lindsay Lohan's</a> character Anna's high school love interest. But things get predictably freaky when Anna and her mom, Tessa (played by Jamie Lee Curtis), swap bodies, making for a few uncomfortable moments where it appears as though Tessa is flirting with Jake. He's back for the sequel, and despite being all grown up this time around, he still possesses the bad boy allure he had in the first film.&nbsp;

<h2>Austin Ames in&nbsp;A Cinderella Story&nbsp;(2004)</h2>

If Murray hadn't cemented himself as the ultimate high school crush enough with Gilmore Girls,&nbsp;One Tree Hill, and&nbsp;Freaky Friday,&nbsp;his role as Austin Ames in A Cinderella Story surely did. Murray starred alongside <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/hillary-duff-best-y2k-fashion-moments-lizzie-mcguire-2000s-style-trend" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hillary Duff</a>, another pillar of early 2000s TV and movies. The film was a modern take on the classic tale, as Austin and Duff's character, Sam, met by messaging online despite their differing social statuses at their school. They eventually came to meet in person at a masked ball where sparks definitely flew. It was Murray's portrayal of Austin that really proved him to be the modern-day Prince Charming.

<h2>Cal Jones in Sullivan's Crossing&nbsp;(2023-Present)</h2>

Murray has been recently making waves for his role as Cal Jones on the Canadian TV show,&nbsp;Sullivan's Crossing.&nbsp;Maggie Sullivan (played by Morgan Kohan) returns to her small hometown in Nova Scotia, where she meets Cal Jones, who does odd jobs around the town, looking for a fresh start after leaving his old home behind. The two begin to have a deeply emotional and adult relationship, and critics have praised Murray for his ability to translate the emotional acting of his early twenties into something more mature and grounded in Sullivan's Crossing. Season three of the show premieres on Netflix on August 11, and for those who haven't watched the prior seasons, you can catch up on the streaming platform before the 11th.

Chad Michael Murray's Most Unforgettable Roles

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