Hollywood’s Chad Michael Murray Says He’s Rejected Acting Roles To Be True To His Christian Faith

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Actor Chad Michael Murray is widely known for his roles starring in numerous shows and movies, including Gilmore Girls, One Tree Hill, Dawson’s Creek, and A Cinderella Story with Hillary Duff.

However, it’s less known that Murray has rejected roles over the past 22 years and Hollywood may be surprised to learn about his reason. Murray says he reads his Bible and daily devotionals daily to help him keep his faith in Hollywood.

Staying true to his Christian faith, Murray explains that he “sticks to the things I believe in.”

“Let’s just say a piece of material were to come across my desk, which has happened plenty of times over the last 22 years, that I don’t necessarily feel is what I believe or what I’m selling — then that’s not for me.”

Now a 40-year-old father of two, Murray thinks avoiding those roles keeps him in line with his beliefs. I

“I don’t want to step in something that I don’t believe in any way because it’s going to destroy it for everybody else involved,” he said.

“If you don’t fully love and embrace the character that you are inhabiting, it will show on screen. I always want to give the people that I’m working with and the people who are going to watch the movie, the most of me.”

“I get up every day and I put that spiritual armor on, read the Bible and do some devotionals and then get ready to go to work,” the actor said.

“I feel stronger and safer walking onto my sets every day knowing that I have God with me every day. Jesus is there with me every day. … When you have that comfort that you just feel safe, you feel different, you feel the opportunity to handle more, your shoulders are bigger, you can carry more weight.”

“My family and I, for instance, we don’t split up the pack,” he continued. “We go everywhere. My kids, my wife, they go everywhere we go. So, I’m on set chilling with Bruce Willis in Puerto Rico — they’re there. Although, they’re on the beach, very different.”

“We keep the pack together. We have a very traditional home life. We’re not people who are typically out and going out. I’m not a good hobnobber. It’s not my strong suit. I’ve gotta be honest. I’m more of a homebody.”

Actor Mark Wahlberg also recently spoke out about his faith by saying, “I feel like this is starting a new chapter for me in that, now, doing things like this — real substance — can help people.”

“I definitely want to focus on making more. I wouldn’t say necessarily just faith-based content but things that will help people. So, hopefully this movie will open a door for not only myself but for lots of other people in Hollywood to make more meaningful content,” Wahlberg added.