Engaged since April 2006, Chad Michael Murray is still head over heels for Kenzie Dalton, whom he met while shooting One Tree Hill in Wilmington, North Carolina.
"She is a little stunner. She is a sweetheart. She is my best friend and we have been together a long time," the 30-year-old actor gushed to Us Weekly at The Walking Dead 100th issue party powered by Hyundai and Future US in San Diego, Calif. July 13.
Though they have no immediate plans to wed, Murray — in town to promote Everlast, his new graphic novel – acknowledged that "it's been quite a while! We just keep going."
(Murray proposed to Dalton with an oval-cut diamond ring when she was still a high school senior; at the time, his annulment from costar Sophia Bush, 30, had not been finalized.)
His love life aside, Murray has another reason to be happy these days: his new ABC drama, Scruples, is being executive produced by Academy Award winner Natalie Portman, 31. "I would take the opportunity to work for her any day! She is very thorough," Murray told Us. "She was on the set every day and I think she just raised the level and potential for everybody around."
"She is the kindest, sweetest most humble human being," he raved of Portman. "It was just a really great environment."
