CHAD MICHAEL MURRAY

The dreamy romantic lead talks crushes, dad life and fashion regrets

- NATALIE MICHIE

While Chad Michael Murray admits, “I was never the cool kid,” he is aware that he was very likely your first crush. Since the early 2000s, the star has stolen hearts (and scenes) as the layered love interest in the likes of Dawson's Creek, Gilmore Girls, One Tree Hill and the movie Freaky Friday, with a Freaky Friday sequel hitting theatres in August. The professional heartthrob recently travelled to Toronto for a match-made-in-heaven partnership.

Chad was in town on behalf of Crush – the iconic orange soda – for the release of Crush Zero Sugar. The genius tag line? “Your first crush, all grown up.”

At 43, Chad is now a dad of three, sharing a son and two daughters with actress wife Sarah Roemer, 40. And while being adored his entire career could lead to an inflated ego, the Buffalo, N.Y., native is adorably humble, telling Hello! Canada, “I’m just happy to have a connection with so many people.”

Here, Chad reveals more about the man behind the crush.

GROWING INTO GRATITUDE