Chad Michael Murray, a man whose abs probably have their own IMDb page, recently gave us a behind-the-scenes look at the six-pack struggle for his latest festive flick, The Merry Gentlemen. Spoiler alert: it involves garage workouts, family cheerleading, and possibly a few bribes of Christmas cookies withheld.
The 43-year-old actor—yes, 43, and still looking like a walking GQ ad—drops his shirt and flaunts those abs in the new holiday rom-com premiering on Netflix November 20. But getting that Santa-approved six-pack wasn’t all mistletoe and merriment. In an interview, Chad revealed his secret weapon for staying ripped: turning workouts into a family reality show.
“I try to make everything a game at the house,” Chad dished to Extra. “I involve the kids and the family as much as possible.” Translation: The Murray Family Fitness Challenge is real, and his kids are not playing around.
“So it ended up becoming like a daily thing—me, in the garage, surrounded by toys, random socks, and tiny judges,” he continued. “My daughter would hop up on the machine like she was running a boot camp and go, ‘25 more, Daddy!’ while my son probably chewed on a dumbbell in solidarity.” Honestly, someone needs to make this into a Christmas special.
Chad called it “involving the pack,” but we’re pretty sure it’s code for “parental peer pressure.” Regardless, it worked, because those abs are about to steal scenes—and maybe hearts—in The Merry Gentlemen.
Oh, and Chad’s not just busy being everyone’s holiday heartthrob. He’s also out and about making the rounds, recently spotted outside The Drew Barrymore Show studio in New York City. No word on whether he had to do push-ups before hitting the red carpet, but knowing his daughter, she probably made him squeeze in 25 for good measure.
Chad Michael Murray’s guide to family fitness and festive film prep. Just add kids, a garage, and enough determination to make Santa consider skipping the cookies this year. 🎅💪
