History of Hilarie Burton in Timeline
Hilarie Burton is an American actress best known for hosting MTV's Total Request Live and portraying Peyton Sawyer on the teen drama One Tree Hill. Following her six-season run on One Tree Hill (2003-2009), she appeared in films like Our Very Own, Solstice, and The List. Burton also took on several television roles, including Sara Ellis on White Collar (2010-2013), Dr. Lauren Boswell on Grey's Anatomy (2013), Molly Dawes on Forever (2014), and Karen Palmer on Lethal Weapon (2016). Until 2024, she co-hosted the Drama Queens podcast with her former One Tree Hill co-stars Sophia Bush and Bethany Joy Lenz.
July 1, 1982: Birth of Hilarie Burton
Hilarie Burton was born on July 1, 1982, in Sterling, Virginia, United States. This marks the beginning of her life journey, which eventually leads to her becoming a well-known actress. Her father, James William 'Bill' Burton, is a U.S. Army veteran, and her mother, Lisa Kay (née Blankers), is a real estate agent.
2000: Graduation from Park View High School
In 2000, Hilarie Burton graduated from Park View High School. During her high school years, she was active in student leadership roles and extracurricular activities, serving as student council president, captain of the cheerleading squad, and being crowned homecoming queen.
2000: First Big Break as MTV VJ
In 2000, Hilarie Burton's career took off when she was offered a permanent position as a VJ on MTV's Total Request Live (TRL). Originally invited to be a guest commentator, her charisma earned her a more significant role.
2002: Television Debut on Dawson's Creek
In 2002, Hilarie Burton made her television debut portraying herself on The WB's drama series Dawson's Creek. This appearance marked her entrance into the acting industry.
April 2003: Casting in One Tree Hill
In April 2003, Hilarie Burton was cast in the role of Peyton Sawyer in The WB drama series One Tree Hill, marking a significant turning point in her acting career.
September 23, 2003: One Tree Hill Premiere
On September 23, 2003, One Tree Hill premiered, featuring Hilarie Burton in her breakout role as Peyton Sawyer. The show became the network's top-rated program, with Burton's performance earning critical acclaim and several award nominations.
2003: Portrayal of Peyton Sawyer in One Tree Hill
In 2003, Hilarie Burton was cast as Peyton Sawyer in The WB drama series One Tree Hill. This role became her breakout performance and significantly boosted her public profile. The series premiered on September 23, 2003, and became the network's top-rated program of the year.
2003: Much Music Hottest Women Recognition
In 2003, Hilarie Burton was ranked #12 on Much Music's '20 Hottest Women,' marking her early recognition in the entertainment industry shortly after her role in One Tree Hill began.
2003: Incident with Ben Affleck on TRL
In 2003, during an episode of TRL Uncensored, Ben Affleck inappropriately touched Hilarie Burton on air, an event she later brought attention to in 2017 amidst the Harvey Weinstein scandal.
2004: Graduation from New York University
Hilarie Burton graduated from New York University in 2004, marking the completion of her higher education and paving the way for her future career in acting.
2005: Recognition in Femme Fatales and Much Music
In 2005, Hilarie Burton was recognized as #2 on Femme Fatales' 'The 50 Sexiest Women of 2005' and #12 on Much Music's '20 Hottest Women of 2003,' reflecting her popularity and appeal during the early years of her career.
2005: Feature Film Debut in Our Very Own
In 2005, Hilarie Burton made her feature film debut in the drama 'Our Very Own,' earning an 'Outstanding Ensemble Acting' award at the Sarasota Film Festival alongside her co-stars.
November 2006: Maxim Cover Appearance
In November 2006, Hilarie Burton appeared on the cover of Maxim magazine alongside her One Tree Hill co-stars, Sophia Bush and Danneel Harris, showcasing her growing fame.
May 2007: Ranked in Maxim's Hot 100 List
In May 2007, Hilarie Burton was ranked #77 in Maxim's 'Hot 100 List of 2007,' highlighting her rising popularity and public recognition during her time on One Tree Hill.
2007: Co-starring in Solstice and Creating SoGoPro
In 2007, Hilarie Burton co-starred in the supernatural horror film 'Solstice' and created her own production company, Southern Gothic Production (SoGoPro), marking a significant expansion of her career into production.
2008: Role in The Secret Life of Bees
In 2008, Hilarie Burton appeared in the Fox Searchlight Pictures drama 'The Secret Life of Bees,' playing the deceased mother of Dakota Fanning's character, further showcasing her versatility as an actress.
May 2009: Decision to Leave One Tree Hill
In May 2009, Hilarie Burton decided to leave One Tree Hill after six seasons. Her departure was voluntary and not due to salary disputes, as rumored.
2009: Start of Relationship with Jeffrey Dean Morgan
In 2009, Hilarie Burton began dating Jeffrey Dean Morgan after being introduced by Jensen and Danneel Ackles, marking the beginning of a significant relationship in her life.
2009: Departure from One Tree Hill
In May 2009, it was announced that Hilarie Burton would not return for the seventh season of One Tree Hill. This decision was made by Burton herself, dispelling rumors that she left due to salary issues.
March 2010: Birth of First Child
In March 2010, Hilarie Burton and Jeffrey Dean Morgan welcomed their first child, a son, marking a significant life event for the couple.
2010: Premiere of Bloodworth and White Collar Role
In 2010, Hilarie Burton appeared in the film 'Bloodworth' and began a recurring role in 'White Collar,' playing Sara Ellis, which she continued into 2011 as a series regular.
2010: Role in White Collar and Birth of First Child
In 2010, Hilarie Burton joined the cast of the USA Network crime drama White Collar, playing Sara Ellis, an insurance investigator. Additionally, in March 2010, she welcomed her first child, a son, with Jeffrey Dean Morgan.
2011: Series Regular in White Collar
In 2011, Hilarie Burton was promoted to a series regular in the third season of 'White Collar,' reflecting her strong performance and popularity on the show.
2012: Guest Role on Castle
In 2012, Hilarie Burton guest-starred on the ABC police comedy-drama 'Castle' as a reality television star accused of murder, showcasing her acting range.
2013: Guest Role in Grey's Anatomy and Hostages
In 2013, Hilarie Burton appeared in a recurring role on both 'Grey's Anatomy' and the CBS drama 'Hostages,' adding to her diverse acting portfolio.
2013: Role in Grey's Anatomy
In 2013, Hilarie Burton guest-starred in the ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy as Dr. Lauren Boswell for the final three episodes of the ninth season. Her role added to her growing list of appearances in significant television series.
2014: Role in Forever
In 2014, Hilarie Burton appeared as Molly Dawes in the ABC drama series Forever. This role contributed to her array of supporting and recurring appearances in television series.
2015: Reuniting with One Tree Hill Co-star on Extant
In 2015, Hilarie Burton reunited with One Tree Hill co-star Tyler Hilton for a recurring role on the CBS sci-fi drama 'Extant,' demonstrating her continued presence in television.
2016: Role in Lethal Weapon
In 2016, Hilarie Burton began her role as Karen Palmer in the Fox television series 'Lethal Weapon,' portraying a DEA agent and love interest of the main character.
2016: Role in Lethal Weapon
In 2016, Hilarie Burton began her role as Karen Palmer in the Fox television series Lethal Weapon, playing the DEA agent love interest of the main character, Martin Riggs.
October 2017: Allegation Against Ben Affleck
In October 2017, Hilarie Burton retweeted a 2003 video clip from TRL Uncensored, where Ben Affleck squeezed her breast on air. She addressed the incident after a fan's tweet mentioned it. Affleck apologized publicly, acknowledging the incident though he claimed not to remember it.
November 2017: Allegation Against Mark Schwahn
In November 2017, Hilarie Burton publicly alleged that she had been sexually harassed by One Tree Hill creator Mark Schwahn, joining other female crew members in bringing these serious accusations to light.
2017: Continuation in Lethal Weapon
In 2017, Hilarie Burton continued her role in 'Lethal Weapon' through the third episode of the second season, maintaining her presence in the series.
February 2018: Birth of Second Child
In February 2018, Hilarie Burton and Jeffrey Dean Morgan welcomed their second child, a daughter, expanding their family.
October 5, 2019: Marriage to Jeffrey Dean Morgan
On October 5, 2019, Hilarie Burton married Jeffrey Dean Morgan in a ceremony officiated by Jensen Ackles. The couple had been together since 2009 and share two children.
May 5, 2020: Publication of The Rural Diaries
On May 5, 2020, Hilarie Burton published her first non-fiction book, 'The Rural Diaries: Love, Livestock, and Big Life Lessons Down on Mischief Farm,' sharing insights from her personal life and experiences on her farm.
2021: Launch of Drama Queens Podcast
In 2021, Hilarie Burton co-launched the Drama Queens podcast with One Tree Hill co-stars Sophia Bush and Bethany Joy Lenz. The podcast revisited their experiences and stories from the show, offering fans an inside look.
April 25, 2023: Publication of Grimoire Girl
On April 25, 2023, Hilarie Burton published her memoir 'Grimoire Girl: A Memoir of Magic and Mischief,' detailing her personal journey and magical experiences.
2024: Departure from Drama Queens Podcast
In the summer of 2024, Hilarie Burton was set to step down as a co-host on the Drama Queens podcast, which she hosted alongside her former One Tree Hill co-stars Sophia Bush and Bethany Joy Lenz.