If it wasn't for a near-death experience at the age of 15, Chad Michael Murray might not have pursued acting.
The actor recently revealed this — and more shocking details — during an interview with the “The Jess Cagle Show."
Instagram | @chadmichaelmurray
Chad Michael Murray Opens Up About His Near-Death Experience At 15
Chad Michael Murray's road to becoming an actor is different than most.
Instagram | @chadmichaelmurray
It turns out that we can thank an ab-related (yes, really) near-death experience for that.
The actor shared all the shocking details behind this during a recent interview with “The Jess Cagle Show."
YouTube | SiriusXM
He began by explaining that despite being super fit from playing high school football, he found himself in the hospital with twisted intestines at the age of 15.
While we can all admit that his abs look hella good, they were actually hiding the real issue from the doctors.
Instagram | @chadmichaelmurray
Chad explained:
“This sounds so stupid — and trust me, I’m not on an ego trip when I say this — but because I was in physical good condition, my abdomen was tight and when I started bleeding internally, my stomach didn’t expand,” he explained.
“Basically, my abs kept it flat so the doctors couldn’t tell I was bleeding. They saw my red and white blood cells dropping but they didn’t know where it was going.”
Instagram | @chadmichaelmurray
Things got so bad that the actor almost died.
“They had a priest at the end of my bed. I remember, it was the only time I ever saw my dad cry — well, one of two times.”
YouTube | SiriusXM
In the end, it was a nurse angel who ended up saving his life.
“[She] saved my life that night,” he said.
Instagram | @chadmichaelmurray
“Her name was Sandy, I’ll never forget her, we took her chocolates for years after until she moved hospitals."
"But she got four units of blood and saved my life that night, against the grain. She just did it. She locked the door, gave me four units of blood, and saved my life.”
With his life being saved, Murray had a new outlook at life.
Instagram | @chadmichaelmurray
But it wasn't until he was 25 that he remembered exactly why he became an actor in the first place.
As it turned out, it all stemmed from the movies and TV shows that saved him when he was forced to miss Christmas and New Years with his family.
Instagram | @chadmichaelmurray
“These movies and television would be on and I would be like, ‘I want to do that, man. I want to give people something to smile about."
Aww!
"That’s what I want to do. I want to entertain so people can stop worrying about the mundane aspects of life."
Instagram | @chadmichaelmurray
"Maybe you’re going through something tough, I want to pull you out of it for two hours.”
We're so glad he did because, really, where would our lives be without this former teen heartthrob?
He made fairytales come true as Hilary Duff's prince in A Cinderella Story.
And we can't forget his breakout role in "Gilmore Girls" as Tristan Dugray.
He played the bad boy we all wanted to hate, but couldn't.
Neither could Rory, who developed a soft spot for him.
He actually left the show to star as Lucas Scott on "One Tree Hill."
It was a good thing he did since it became one of his most memorable roles.
He was even married to his co-star, Sophia Bush, for a while.
Something else good also came from the near-death experience.
Instagram | @chadmichaelmurray
Since Murray believes that food is what caused his intestines to twist, the actor, along with his wife and kids, live super healthy lifestyles.
These days, Murray is still doing what he loves.
Aside from starring in the odd Hallmark movie, the actor recently joined the cast of the popular show Riverdale to play Edgar Evernever.
You can also catch the actor in the new Hallmark film, "Write Before Christmas," which airs on November 17.
At the end of the day, nurse Sandy deserves all the thanks in the world for saving this actor's life.
Without her, there would be no Tristan Dugray or Lucas Scott to hold a place in our forever-tween hearts <3
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