Chad Michael Murray, beloved for his roles in One Tree Hill and various romantic comedies, recently shared the poignant story behind one of his most meaningful tattoos. Appearing on The Drew Barrymore Show to promote his new Netflix film, The Merry Gentlemen, Murray opened up about the cross tattoo on his wrist and how it represents a pivotal moment of self-reflection and life change. This tattoo isn’t just ink; it’s a constant reminder of his commitment to personal growth and becoming the man he envisioned.
Murray recounted that the decision to get the Chad Michael Murray Tattoo of a cross came on his 25th birthday. He described waking up with a profound sense of dissatisfaction with himself. “I remember it was my 25th birthday. I woke up and I just, I didn’t feel good. I was like, I don’t really like the guy that I am,” he confessed. This wasn’t a fleeting feeling; it was a deep-seated desire for change. He knew the kind of person he aspired to be but felt lost on how to bridge the gap between his current self and his ideal self.
Growing up with a single father who worked tirelessly, Murray admired his dad’s resilience and strength. He felt a pressure to emulate this, aiming to be “half the man” his father was. However, as he navigated his burgeoning fame and personal life, he realized something was amiss. It was during this period of introspection in Wilmington, North Carolina, that Murray, who had rededicated himself to Christianity in his mid-20s, decided to get the cross tattoo.
This Chad Michael Murray tattoo was more than just a symbol of faith; it was a deliberate “step one” in his journey of self-improvement. He explained that it was to remind himself that life is malleable, “the idea of [life] can be what you make it.” The cross served as a visual anchor, prompting him to actively shape his life in a direction that aligned with his values and aspirations.
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The actor emphasized that this marked the beginning of a conscious effort to surround himself with positive influences. He sought out mentors – “older people who I respected, who had lived lives and had made mistakes and errors along the way” – learning from their experiences and adopting a more optimistic outlook. This transformation involved making significant life changes, some of which led to distancing himself from certain people. His driving force was a deeply personal one: “I was just doing it because I just wanted to be a great husband and a great father.”
Interestingly, the cross isn’t Murray’s only wrist tattoo. On his other wrist, he sports the word “Relax,” inked on his 26th birthday. This Chad Michael Murray tattoo, revealed in a December 2019 Instagram post, is reportedly his wife Sarah Roemer’s favorite. Celebrating a decade of marriage in September and raising three children together, Murray’s tattoos offer glimpses into his personal milestones and values.
In a separate interview with The Cut in May 2024, Murray also bravely discussed his past struggles with agoraphobia during the height of his One Tree Hill fame. This period of anxiety, where he felt “far more fragile than I ever put on,” occurred around the same time he got his cross tattoo. He described feeling trapped and overwhelmed by the pressures of fame, experiencing anxiety attacks that made it difficult to even leave his hotel room.
This context further illuminates the significance of the cross tattoo. It wasn’t just about general self-improvement; it was about overcoming personal challenges and anxieties, reclaiming control, and forging a healthier path forward. The Chad Michael Murray tattoo serves as a powerful emblem of his journey from a period of personal turmoil to one of self-awareness and positive change. It’s a testament to the idea that even small symbols can represent profound personal transformations and commitments to a better self.
