Top 10 Teen Drama Stars Who Fell in Love on Set

Long before he was gracing our screens in the MCU, Sebastian Stan had a small role amongst our favorite upper east siders on “Gossip Girl.” Carter Baizen wasn’t one of the main characters, but he did have a brief fling with Blair Waldorf herself – which eventually led to an off-screen romance between Stan and Leighton Meester. Carter and Blair’s relationship on the show was just a blip in the story of Chuck and Blair – who are endgame, of course – but Meester and Stan dated for two years before calling it quits in 2010.

This 90s teen drama spawned many a real life relationship – before Jennifer Garner married Ben Affleck, she was married to “Felicity” co-star Scott Foley – but today we want to focus on Keri Russell and Scott Speedman. Of course, fans remember the sparks between Ben and Felicity on screen, but those sparks were flying off camera as well – although perhaps not with great results. In an episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” Speedman revealed he may not have been the best boyfriend in the world, particularly with how he handled Russell’s infamous haircut. Luckily, the two seem very friendly now – Chia pet hair quips aside.

Sometimes, the chemistry is so obvious you just can’t deny it. So was the case with Joshua Jackson and Katie Holmes during their time on “Dawson’s Creek.” Of course, fans remember the formative romance between Pacey and Joey, which began in season three of the show’s run. But according to creator Kevin Williamson, that electric connection between the two young actors was apparent way early earlier, leading to the decision to lean into that relationship and away from Dawson and Joey. Of course, the two went on to other high profile relationships, but Holmes called Jackson her first love – and we understand, Pacey was ours too.

XOXO, another romance in the big city! Serena and Dan were one of “Gossip Girl’s” central couples, so it only makes sense their real life counterparts felt the spark themselves. But, for a show that’s all about – well, gossip – Blake Lively and Penn Badgley were remarkably adept at keeping their relationship under wraps. Reportedly, higher-ups at the show didn’t know the two were dating for a while before they went public. And when the two broke up after about three years of dating? The crew wasn’t aware of the break up for months. That’s what we in the industry like to call professionalism, folks!

It’s the age-old question – Team Jess, Team Dean, or Team Logan? If you were a “Gilmore Girls” fan, no doubt you have strong opinions. Well, it seems Alexis Bledel had an opinion as well, coming down firmly on Team Jess and dating Milo Ventimiglia in real life. That certainly accounts for the crackling chemistry between Jess and Rory on screen, but these two were notoriously private throughout the course of their tryst – a lot of news about their relationship didn’t really come to light until after they broke up. That is a LONG time to keep something like that a secret, considering they’d been dating for over 3 and a half years, so kudos to these two.

Welcome to the O.C.! With two of the most popular couples in the teen drama canon – Marissa and Ryan, Seth and Summer – “The O.C.” was bound to make this list. Adam Brody and Rachel Bilson followed in the footsteps of their TV counterparts and began dating during the show’s first season. The relationship lasted throughout most of the show’s four season-run, but unlike Seth and Summer – remember that picturesque outdoor wedding? – these two did not make it down the aisle. Brody went on to marry fellow teen drama royalty Leighton Meester, and Bilson dated another co-star, Hayden Christensen, on and off for about ten years.

Bughead lovers, unite! Ever since “Riverdale” started back in 2017, fans have been speculating about the real-life relationship status of Lili Reinhart’s Betty and Cole Sprouse’s Jughead. After all, chemistry that good can’t come from nowhere, right? While the two were very tight-lipped about their romance early on, they eventually confirmed to the world that the rumors were true. But, unfortunately for Bughead fans everywhere, the two announced in August of 2020 that they had broken up earlier that same year. We’ve still got plenty of “Riverdale” left to shoot, so who knows what the future holds? Wishing these two the best.

“One Tree Hill” – positively filled with off-camera romances. Peyton and Lucas may have been the OTP for most “One Tree Hill” lovers, but Lucas’s relationship with Brooke was the one that came to fruition offscreen. Chad Michael Murray and Sophia Bush tied the knot about two years into the show’s run – but, much like their characters, it wasn’t meant to be – the two ended up separating five months later and eventually divorcing, despite Brooke and Lucas’s ongoing relationship in the show. Yikes. Of course, Brooke later moved onto Julian – and Sophia Bush did in real life too, dating co-star Austin Nichols on and off between four and six years. Chad Michael Murray also dated another co-star – seriously, what was in the water on that set?

Although Elena’s romantic entanglements on “The Vampire Diaries” start with Stefan, Paul Wesley wasn’t the vampire actor who ignited Nina Dobrev’s heart. The actress dated her other co-star, Ian Somerhalder. Before the two were romantically linked, Dobrev said in an interview that she would never want to date a co-star, and reportedly denied her feelings for Somerhalder for quite some time. But, as we know, you can’t stop true love. Unfortunately for these two, they didn’t get a happy ending like their onscreen counterparts, and the pair broke up in 2013.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Emily VanCamp & Chris Pratt, “Everwood” (2002-06)
Siblings on the Show, Dating in Real Life

Chase Stokes & Madelyn Cline, “Outer Banks” (2020-)
A Whirlwind Summer Romance That Ends on the Run

Kaya Scodelario & Jack O’Connell, “Skins” (2007-13)
First Love On & Off Screen

Crystal Reed & Daniel Sharman, “Teen Wolf” (2011-17)
Move Over, Allison & Scott! Isaac Got the Girl In Real Life

Jason Segel & Linda Cardellini, “Freaks and Geeks” (1999-2000)
Forgetting Sarah Marshall, or Forgetting Linda Cardellini?

From the very first moment of “Glee,” it was obvious that Finn and Rachel would be the main romance of the show. What fans didn’t know was how that onscreen chemistry would cross over into real life. The relationship didn’t begin as quickly as you might think – of course there were rumors as there always are, but these two didn’t confirm their real life connection until a few years into the show’s run. However, as all Gleeks out there know, the chemistry between the two actors shone through from the start. Michele and Monteith stayed together until Monteith’s tragic death in 2013. We love you, Finn and Rachel.