What The Cast Of One Tree Hill Is Doing Today

Between the scheming, relationship drama, and heartbreaking deaths, The CW's "One Tree Hill" will remain forever etched in the minds of many. The show first premiered in September 2003 and went on to air for nine seasons. During that time, the show's popularity grew, amassing a large following among television lovers and bagging multiple awards along the way. In April 2012, the show's final episode aired, marking the end of the iconic teen drama. But while over a decade has passed since the curtains were drawn, "One Tree Hill" has remained in the news, albeit not for good reasons. 

In 2017, Hilarie Burton, who acted as Peyton Sawyer, and many other female cast and crew members on the show released a letter accusing show creator Mark Schwahn of creating a toxic work environment. "Many of us were, to varying degrees, manipulated psychologically and emotionally," the letter read, per Variety. "Many of us were spoken to in ways that ran the spectrum from deeply upsetting, to traumatizing, to downright illegal. And a few of us were put in positions where we felt physically unsafe."

But while Schwahn has since been blacklisted in Hollywood, Burton and her other co-stars have gone on to record amazing personal and career milestones post-"One Tree Hill." Take a look at what they've been up to!

James Lafferty's Nathan Scott was initially an arrogant, self-absorbed teenager but by the series finale of "One Tree Hill," he had become one of the show's most beloved characters. Since his time on "One Tree Hill" came to an end, Lafferty has continued to go strong in the acting scene, with credits in movies like "Lost on Purpose," "Waffle Street," "Oculus," and "Small Town Crime," per his IMDb. Lafferty has also appeared in a number of shows, including NBC's crime thriller "Crisis" and 2020's "The Right Stuff," as well as Netflix's miniseries "The Haunting of Hill House." In 2015, Lafferty who previously directed four episodes of "One Tree Hill," put on his directing hat again for one episode of the E! reality show "The Royals." As credited on his IMDb, page, Lafferty directed four more episodes of the show.

In 2017, he teamed up with his former "One Tree Hill" co-star Stephen Colletti to create and produce "Everyone is Doing Great," a comedy show highlighting the life of struggling actors. Though they initially struggled to push the show, a stroke of luck shone on Lafferty and Colletti in 2020 when Hulu acquired distribution rights in the United States. "Distribution through Hulu was always our dream scenario, and we couldn't be more grateful for the show's opportunity to reach their audience," Lafferty told Deadline. In July 2023, Colletti and Lafferty released the second season of "Everyone is Doing Great" and confirmed, per Variety, that a third season was coming soon. 

After playing the rebellious and talented artsy Peyton Sawyer for six seasons, Hilarie Burton left "One Tree Hill" in 2009. Following her exit from the show, Burton landed the role of Sara Ellis, a recurring character in the crime drama "White Collar," which aired between 2009 and 2014. The "One Tree Hill" alum has also appeared in many more shows including "Lethal Weapon," "Grey's Anatomy", and "Extant." In the film department, Burton has become something of a Lifetime network regular with a number of the network's Christmas movies under her belt. Amongst her many accomplishments, Burton is also a best-selling author, having released her first memoir "The Rural Diaries" back in 2020.

Beyond their time together working on "One Tree Hill," Burton has also gone on to enjoy a close bond with some of her former co-stars, including onscreen bestie Sophia Bush and Bethany Joy Lenz. "They're actually friends ... not fair-weather friends," the "Lethal Weapon" star once told Refinery29 of her character Peyton's onscreen friendship with Bush's character Brooke. "I'd say the same goes for Sophia [Bush] and me. I think, underneath, there was an understanding between the two of us, like, we're in this to win it."

In October 2019, after 10 years together, Burton married Jeffrey Dean Morgan. According to People Magazine, the couple share two kids; son Augustus, born in March 2010, and daughter George, born in February 2018. 

Long before landing his role as Dan Scott on "One Tree Hill," actor Paul Johansson starred as Greg Hughes on the NBC drama series "Santa Barbara" between 1989 and 1990. Following his time on the NBC drama, Johansson had short stints in others including "Beverly Hills, 90210" and "Lonesome Dove: The Series." 

Then in 2003, he was cast as Dan Scott, the manipulative, self-absorbed father of Lucas and Nathan Scott. After evolving from the show's biggest villain to a doting father and grandfather, Johansson's character was killed off in Season 9 of the show. Since "One Tree Hill" ended, the veteran actor remains close to his former co-stars. "I feel like this is my family. These guys are my family for life. We'll always be close. We talk when we need each other, too, not just when we're just catching up," he told The Messenger in 2023.

Since the show, Johansson has continued to act in shows like "Van Helsing" and "Mad Men." Similarly, in film, the longtime actor has also continued to ramp up his resume, appearing in a number of projects including 2016's "Dear Eleanor" and Edward John Drake's "Detective Knight: Redemption," where he starred alongside Bruce Willis. "Filming this movie was an absolute blast. We did it last year in December in Vancouver," Johansson gushed to Digital Journal of his time on set. "It gave me the opportunity to work with one of my biggest idols in Hollywood — Bruce Willis so it was humbling and lovely."

Craig Sheffer first shot into the limelight in the early '80s with minor roles in shows like "One Life to Live" and "The Hamptons." By the late 1980s, Sheffer had become more established with a lot more credits to his name. In 1987, he acted as Hardy Jenns, one of the main characters of the teen drama "Some Kind of Wonderful," before going on to star as the lead character in 1990's "Nightbreed."

In "One Tree Hill," Sheffer starred as Keith Scott, Lucas Scott's uncle who went on to have a romantic relationship with his mother Karen Roe. Given the absence of Lucas' biological father, Keith stepped into the fatherly figure role, often providing the high school basketball player with support and guidance. Sadly, only three seasons later, Sheffer left the show after his character was killed off. Since his abrupt exit from "One Tree Hill," Sheffer's resume has ramped up, appearing in a number of movies through the years. In 2013, Sheffer appeared as Major Brian Hoffman in "Battledogs." In 2016, he played William Porter in the action flick "Code of Honor," and also appeared in 2023's "Velocity Girl," starring as Sheriff Earl Gentry.

In January 2023, Deadline reported that Sheffer had joined the cast of "Man in the Long Black Coat," a film centered around a teenage boy accused of murder and a man who seeks to solve the mysterious case. 

Actor Barbara Alyn Woods is another veteran alum of the hit 2000s teen series. On "One Tree Hill," she played Deb Scott, mom to Nathan Scott and wife to Dan Scott. Prior to this role, however, Woods had made a name for herself as a television actor, landing her first major role in 1993's "Eden." Between 1997 and 2000, Woods was back on the screen, playing the role of Diane Szalinski in "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids," a science fiction sitcom based on the 1989 movie of the same title. 

After her time on "One Tree Hill" came to an end, Woods briefly appeared as Mrs. Caldwell in the 2013 ABC sitcom "The Goldbergs." Between 2021 and 2022, she was also in the television adaptation of "Chucky" where she acted as Michelle Cross, starring alongside her real-life daughter Alyvia Alyn Lind. "I mean, she's an amazing actress, and I think I've always known that, but to be on set with her and for her to be my scene partner was absolutely amazing," Woods gushed to TV Fanatic about her daughter. "And now I know more than ever how talented she is. I thank Don for giving us this opportunity. It's enhanced our relationship on a whole new level."

Antwon Tanner starred as Antwon "Skills" Taylor, one of Lucas Scott's best friends who also joined the Ravens, before eventually becoming a high school basketball coach in the later seasons after high school. Throughout the show, Tanner made a lot of friends and proved himself loyal to the end. These on-screen friendships have apparently translated to real life, as Tanner has maintained a close bond with his former co-stars. "My biggest thing was, I met a whole family," he said during a 2021 appearance on the Drama Queens podcast. "That was like, huge for me because I hated it in North Carolina at first ... There was nothing to do ... Season 5 or 6 is when ... Wilmington started growing a little bit. So I was like, 'I could get used to this.'"

Following "One Tree Hill," Tanner continued to snag up acting gigs, appearing in movies like "The Dempsey Sisters," "Fade Away," and "Who Can I Run To." In television, Tanner's resume boasts roles in shows like "NYPD Blue" and "Black Jesus," where he played the role of Jason. In 2018, Tanner reunited with his former "One Tree Hill" co-stars Hilarie Burton, Tyler Hilton, and Robert Buckley for the Lifetime holiday flick "The Christmas Contract."