New York — Chad Michael Murray is currently deep in thought. With his index finger firmly pressed against his chiseled jawline, he’s trying to determine exactly how many times he’s shirtless in “ The Merry Gentlemen .” He can’t figure it out — it’s at least nine by my count — but he’s sure it needs to be a game.
“Every time Chad loses his shirt, have a sip of wine, beer or eat a cookie,” he laughs over Zoom, as one hand brushes his golden strands behind his ear. Lounging behind a desk at the Plaza Hotel in New York City, Murray — who now rocks a bit of scruff with a hint of gray — is still nearly identical to his past alter-egos, like the charming protagonist Lucas Scott in “ One Tree Hill ” and Chilton bad-boy Tristan Dugray in “Gilmore Girls.” Now, 43, he has a bit of a rugged edge — something that is serving him well in his latest role in the “Magic Mike”-meets-mistletoe flick “The Merry Gentlemen.
” In the Netflix movie, which premieres Wednesday, a dancer named Ashley (Britt Robertson) returns to her hometown and tries to save her parents’ nightclub by starting a holiday-themed male revue. Murray takes on the role of Luke, a contractor-turned-entertainer who serves as Ashley’s romantic interest. “When you say Christmas, the first thing that typically comes to your mind isn’t strippers,” he quips.
Murray wasn’t worried about baring his abs for the film — it was the dancing that terrified him. He admits he may have.