American actress Hilarie Burton, known for her role as Peyton Sawyer on the popular show One Tree Hill for six seasons, also previously hosted MTV’s Total Request Live. Following her time on the show, Burton appeared in films such as Our Very Own, Solstice, and The List. She currently co-hosts the Drama Queens podcast with her former One Tree Hill castmates, Sophia Bush and Bethany Joy Lenz.
Hilarie Burton Bio Summary
Full name: Hilarie Ross Burton
Date of birth: July 1, 1982
Age: 42 years (2024)
Gender: Female
Zodiac: Cancer
Place of birth: Sterling, Virginia, U.S.
Alma mater: Fordham University
Marital status: Married
Husband’s name: Jeffrey Dean Morgan
Children: 2
Occupation: Actor and TV host
Childhood & Education
Hilarie Ross Burton was born on July 1, 1982, in Sterling, Virginia, USA. Her father, James William “Bill” Burton (b. 1947), served in the U.S. Army, while her mother, Lisa Kay (née Blankers; b. 1960), is a real estate agent from Minnesota. Burton’s parents tied the knot in 1981 and she is the oldest of four siblings, with three brothers.
Burton completed her secondary education at Park View High School in 2000, during which she held the positions of student council treasurer, vice president, and cheerleading squad captain in her sophomore, junior, and senior years respectively. She then pursued her higher education at New York University, graduating from Fordham University in 2004.
Career
Hilarie Burton’s career took off when she became a VJ for MTV’s TRL. Initially a guest commentator, she impressed producers and was offered a permanent position.
This led to hosting gigs at major events like the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards and MTV’s Iced Out New Year’s Eve. In 2002, Burton made her TV debut as herself on the WB’s (now The CW) drama series Dawson’s Creek.
In April 2003, Burton landed the role of Peyton Sawyer, a self-sufficient artist, cheerleader, and musician, in The WB drama series One Tree Hill. The show debuted on September 23, 2003, and quickly became the network’s most popular program of the year.
Hilarie Burton’s portrayal was highly acclaimed and she received three Teen Choice Award nods. However, in May 2009, The CW revealed that Burton would not be reprising her role for the seventh season due to personal reasons.
Starring in One Tree Hill helped increase Burton’s visibility to the public. In 2007, she was listed as #77 on Maxim’s “Hot 100 List” and was featured on the cover of the November 2006 issue alongside her One Tree Hill co-stars Sophia Bush and Danneel Harris.
She was also recognized as the second sexiest woman in Femme Fatales’ 2005 list and the 12th hottest woman by Much Music in 2003.
At the Sarasota Film Festival, Hilarie Burton and her fellow actors were honored with the “Outstanding Ensemble Acting” award. In 2007, Burton had a role in the Lifetime drama Normal Adolescent Behavior, which centered on a group of friends in a six-way poly-fidelitous relationship.
She also appeared in the supernatural horror movie Solstice that same year, alongside Amanda Seyfried and Elisabeth Harnois. Additionally, Burton established her own production company, Southern Gothic Production (SoGoPro), in 2007 with Nick Gray, Kelly Tenney, James Burton, and Meg Mortimer.
In 2008, Hilarie Burton‘s roles included the Fox Searchlight Pictures drama The Secret Life of Bees, where she played the deceased mother of Dakota Fanning’s character, and the limited-release thriller The List. She also starred in the film Bloodworth alongside Hilary Duff and Val Kilmer, a movie based on William Gay’s novel, Provinces of Night.
Hilarie Burton played the DEA agent love interest of main character Martin Riggs on Lethal Weapon from 2016 to 2017. In November 2017, Burton revealed that she had been sexually harassed by One Tree Hill creator Mark Schwahn.
In the tenth season of The Walking Dead, Burton made a guest appearance as Lucille, Negan’s wife. She shared the screen with her real-life husband Jeffrey Dean Morgan, who portrays Negan. Since 2021, Burton has been co-hosting the Drama Queens podcast with her former One Tree Hill co-stars, Sophia Bush and Bethany Joy Lenz.
Personal Life
In 2009, Hilarie Burton and Jeffrey Dean Morgan started a romantic relationship after being introduced by Jensen and Danneel Ackles. Their first child, a son, was born in March 2010, followed by the birth of their daughter in February 2018. On October 5, 2019, Jensen Ackles officiated their wedding ceremony.
Net Worth
Hilarie Burton, a successful American actress and producer, has a net worth of $5 million. In 2013, she had recurring roles in the television shows Grey’s Anatomy and Hostages.
She has also appeared in several films such as Normal Adolescent Behavior, Solstice, The List, The Secret Life of Bees, and Bloodworth. Her talent has been recognized with awards from the Hollywood Film Festival and Sarasota Film Festival, and she has been nominated for three Teen Choice Awards.
