There’s always that one moment that changes everything, a turning point that defines who you are. For beloved actor Chad Michael Murray, that moment came at just 15 years old, when a life-threatening health crisis nearly claimed his life. But the former Hallmark star says the experience ultimately set him on the path to the career he cherishes today.
Murray is opening up about the two and a half months he spent in the hospital as a teenager after a sudden, life-threatening health emergency.
Chad Opens Up About Near-Death Health Crisis as a Teen
(Photo by Presley Ann/Getty Images for Netflix)Speaking on the Great Company podcast on Aug. 8, the “Freakier Friday” star revealed that his intestines twisted, leading to severe internal bleeding.
“I was hospitalized for two and a half months. It was a lot,” the “Angel Falls Christmas” actor, now 43, recalled, sharing that he was “in and out of consciousness” during the ordeal.
Murray underwent surgery after losing 50% of his blood, and at one point, a priest was called to administer last rites.
“They’re talking about last rites and all that stuff, and [the nurse, Sandy] gave me a blood transfusion to save my life,” he said.
Inside Chad’s Multiple Surgeries & a Long Road to Recovery
(Photo by Kate Green/Getty Images for The Walt Disney Company Limited)The “Write Before Christmas” star said he needed a second surgery to “clean up” his internal organs after his body began shutting down from the trauma. “You’re in there for two months… my organs shut down because you have blood all coagulated around them,” Murray explained. “They had to wait till everything healed more.”
When he finally left the hospital, Murray had dropped from 180 pounds to just 118. “I was a skeleton when I got out… I remember looking in the mirror the first time going, ‘Who is that?’ Like, I cried.”
How a Nurse Helped Launch His Hollywood Career
During his recovery, Murray met Alana, a nurse and model, who suggested he try modeling to break into acting. “I was like, ‘I don’t want to model. I want to be an actor… I want to give this gift to other people,’ ” he recalled. Alana connected him with a modeling agency, a move that eventually led to his acting career.
Faith, Family & a New Outlook on Life
The near-death experience also deepened Murray’s faith and strengthened his bond with his father, a single parent raising five kids.
“My dad came to the hospital every single day… countless nights with me when he had four more kids at home,” Murray said. “That’s when our relationship really bonded.”
Since then, the “Sullivan’s Crossing” star has prioritized clean eating & healthy living to prevent future health scares.
He credits his time in the hospital, watching movies & TV, as a reminder of why he chose acting: “It’s about putting out good love and good energy in the world through my family, God, and my work.”
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Brave Chad Michael Murray Nearly Passed Away Amid 2-Month Hospital Stay