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Hilarie Burton
Hilarie Burton 2016 (cropped).jpg
Burton in 2016
Born
Hilarie Ros Burton

(1982-07-01) July 1, 1982 (age 43)
Other names Hilarie Burton Morgan
Alma mater Fordham University
Occupation
  • Actress
  • TV host
Years active 1997–present
Spouse(s)
(m. 2019)
Children 2

Hilarie Ros Burton (born July 1, 1982), also known as Hilarie Burton Morgan, is an American actress and TV host. She first became known as a host on MTV's popular music video show, Total Request Live.

Many people know her for playing Peyton Sawyer on the TV drama One Tree Hill for six seasons from 2003 to 2009. After One Tree Hill, she acted in movies like Our Very Own and Solstice.

Burton has also appeared in many other TV shows. She played Sara Ellis in White Collar and Dr. Lauren Boswell in Grey's Anatomy. She also had roles in Forever and Lethal Weapon. From 2021 to 2024, she co-hosted the Drama Queens podcast with her One Tree Hill co-stars, Sophia Bush and Bethany Joy Lenz.

Early life

Hilarie Burton was born on July 1, 1982, in Sterling, Virginia. Her father, Bill, was a U.S. Army veteran, and her mother, Lisa, is a real estate agent. She is the oldest of four children and has three younger brothers.

In high school, Burton was very involved in student activities. She was the student council treasurer, vice-president, and later president. She was also captain of the cheerleading squad and was voted homecoming queen in her senior year. After graduating from Park View High School in 2000, she attended New York University and Fordham University.

Career

Becoming a TV Host

Burton's career started when she became a VJ, or video jockey, for MTV's Total Request Live (TRL). She was first invited as a guest, but the producers liked her so much that they offered her a full-time job. She also hosted other MTV events, like the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards.

Her work on MTV led to her first acting role on the TV show Dawson's Creek in 2002, where she played herself.

In 2017, Burton spoke up about an uncomfortable on-air moment that happened years earlier on TRL. Her courage to share her story was widely supported.

From 2021 to 2024, Burton co-hosted a popular podcast called Drama Queens with her former One Tree Hill co-stars, Sophia Bush and Bethany Joy Lenz. On the podcast, they re-watched episodes of the show and shared behind-the-scenes stories.

Acting and Producing

Hilarie Burton Gitmo
Hilarie Burton during a visit in June 2008

In 2003, Burton was cast as Peyton Sawyer in the drama series One Tree Hill. Peyton was a talented artist who loved music. The show was a huge success and became one of the most popular shows on its network. This role made Burton famous and is still one of her best-known roles. She was nominated for three Teen Choice Awards for her performance. In 2009, she decided to leave the show after six seasons.

While on One Tree Hill, Burton also acted in movies. She appeared in the 2005 film Our Very Own, about a group of teenagers in a small town. The cast won an award for their acting at the Sarasota Film Festival. In 2007, she started her own production company called Southern Gothic Production (SoGoPro).

After leaving One Tree Hill, Burton continued to act in TV and movies.

  • She had a main role as Sara Ellis in the crime drama White Collar from 2010 to 2013.
  • In 2012, she guest-starred on the police show Castle.
  • In 2013, she had a recurring role as Dr. Lauren Boswell on the medical drama Grey's Anatomy.
  • She later appeared in shows like Extant and Lethal Weapon.

In 2017, Burton and other female cast and crew members from One Tree Hill came together to support each other. They spoke out about the negative experiences they had with the show's creator, Mark Schwahn.

More recently, Burton guest-starred on The Walking Dead as Lucille, the wife of the character Negan. Negan is played by her real-life husband, Jeffrey Dean Morgan.

Writing

Burton is also an author. In 2020, she released her first book, The Rural Diaries: Love, Livestock, and Big Life Lessons Down on Mischief Farm. It tells the story of her life on her farm.

In 2023, she published her second book, a memoir called Grimoire Girl: A Memoir of Magic and Mischief.

Personal life

US Navy 081206-N-3346C-012 Chief Master-at-Arms Michael Minotto explains the functions of the M4 Battle Rifle to actress Hilarie Burton
Burton holding an M4 rifle during a USO visit

While filming One Tree Hill, Burton lived in Wilmington, North Carolina. In 2009, she began dating actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan. They have two children: a son, born in 2010, and a daughter, born in 2018.

Burton and Morgan moved to the Hudson Valley in New York. In 2014, they bought a candy store called Samuel's Sweet Shop in Rhinebeck with their friends, actor Paul Rudd and his wife Julie.

The couple also owns a 100-acre working farm they named Mischief Farm. They got married on October 5, 2019.

Burton has been open about her family's journey and has used her platform to support women's health issues. She is also a strong supporter of the Wilmington community and has helped raise money for important local projects.

Discography

Soundtrack

  • The Road Mix: Music from the Television Series One Tree Hill, Volume 3 (2007)

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2005 Our Very Own Bobbie Chester Film debut
2007 The List Jo Johnston
2007 Normal Adolescent Behavior Ryan
2008 Solstice Alicia
2008 The Secret Life of Bees Deborah Owens
2009 The True-Love Tale of Boyfriend & Girlfriend Boyfriend Short film; also producer, art director and costume designer
2010 Bloodworth Hazel
2014 Black Eyed Dog
2017 Growing Up Smith Nancy Brunner
2020 618 to Omaha Mrs. Jenkins Short film

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2000–2008 Total Request Live Herself Co-host
2001 Becoming Presents: Wannabe Herself Correspondent, select episodes
2002 Dawson's Creek VJ Hilarie Episode: "100 Light Years from Home"
2003–2009 One Tree Hill Peyton Sawyer Main role; 130 episodes (Seasons 1–6)
2003 MTV's Iced Out New Year's Eve Herself Host
2003 MTV Does Miami Herself Co-host
2003 MTV Diary Herself Alongside One Tree Hill cast
2003 The Real World: Las Vegas Herself Reunion Host: 7 The Hard Way
2003 Pepsi Smash Herself Host
2005 Unscripted Herself Episode #1.5
2008 Little Britain USA College Student Episode #1.6
2010–2013 White Collar Sara Ellis 22 episodes; Main role (Season 3); Recurring role (Seasons 2 and 4)
2012 Castle Kay Cappuccio Episode: "An Embarrassment of ..."
2012 Naughty or Nice Krissy Kringle Television film
2013 Grey's Anatomy Dr. Lauren Boswell Recurring role; 3 episodes
2013 Hostages Samantha Recurring role; 4 episodes
2013 Christmas on the Bayou Katherine "Kat" Television film
2014–2015 Forever Iona Payne / Molly Dawes Guest role; 2 episodes
2015 Surprised by Love Josie Mayfield Television film
2015 Extant Anna Schaefer Recurring role; 6 episodes
2015 Last Chance for Christmas Annie Television film
2016 Togetherness Kennedy Episode: "Advanced Pretend"
2016 Summer Villa Terry Russell Television film
2016–2017 Lethal Weapon Karen Palmer Recurring role; 6 episodes
2018 The Christmas Contract Jolie Guidry Television film; also co-producer
2019 A Christmas Wish Faith Television film; also producer
2020 Friday Night in with the Morgans Herself Co-host, also executive producer; 7 episodes
2020 Council of Dads Margot Recurring role; 6 episodes
2020 Dear Christmas Cameo Television film
2021 The Walking Dead Lucille Episode: "Here's Negan"
2021–present True Crime Story: It Couldn't Happen Here Herself Host; crime documentary series, 7 episodes; also executive producer
2022 Good Sam Gretchen Taylor Episode: "Keep Talking"
2025 The Walking Dead: Dead City Lucille Episode: "Novi Dan, Novi Početak"

Music video

Year Title Artist Role
2005 "The Mixed Tape" Jack's Mannequin Peyton Sawyer

Audiobook

Year Title Role
2020 The Rural Diaries: Love, Livestock, and Big Life Lessons Down on Mischief Farm Narrator
2023 Grimoire Girl: A Memoir of Magic and Mischief Narrator

Podcast

Year Title Role Notes
2021–2024 Drama Queens Herself Co-host; 212 episodes
2021 Bridgewater Shelley Hoskins 3 episodes

Awards and nominations

Year Association Category Work Result
2004 Teen Choice Awards Choice Breakout TV Star – Female One Tree Hill Nominated
Choice TV Actress: Drama/Action/Adventure Nominated
2005 Choice TV Actress: Drama Nominated
2006 Sarasota Film Festival Outstanding Ensemble Acting Our Very Own Won
2008 Teen Choice Awards Choice TV Actress: Drama One Tree Hill Nominated
Hollywood Film Awards Ensemble Acting of the Year (Shared with cast) The Secret Life of Bees Won

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Hilarie Burton para niños

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