‘The O.C.’ Cast: Where Are They Now?

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‘The O.C.’ Cast: Where Are They Now?

Welcome to The O.C.! Ben McKenzie, Adam Brody, Mischa Barton and Rachel Bilson were catapulted to fame while starring on the hit teen drama. The Fox series ran from August 2003 to February 2007 and focused on the lives of affluent teenagers in Newport Beach, California. McKenzie (Ryan Atwood), Brody (Seth Cohen), Barton (Marissa Cooper), Bilson (Summer Roberts), Peter Gallagher (Sandy Cohen), Kelly Rowan (Kirsten Cohen) and Melinda Clarke (Julie Cooper) starred on the show. A slew of then-emerging faces appeared on The O.C. too. Chris Pratt, Olivia Wilde, Shailene Woodley and Nikki Reed were among the soon-to-be famous guest stars who stopped by for some episodes. The drama made headlines for its story lines on more than one occasion, but no one — casual viewer or longtime fan — can forget the death of Barton’s Marissa in season 3. “I just had a lot in my career that I wanted to do and accomplish,” the actress told The New York Times in May 2019. “I felt like things were really heavily reliant upon me, and I was getting no time to do any of the other offers that were out there.” [jwplayer 4OGycy8C-zhNYySv2] Barton, who claimed it was her idea to leave, added: “Making the show was a lot towards the end. I really feel like everything sort of worked out in the way it was probably supposed to. I may never have gotten a job or a career if I hadn’t just taken it then.” The Dancing With the Stars alum further alleged that she pushed for her character’s controversial demise. “I fought tooth and nail for [the alternate ending in which Marissa moved] to not happen because I just don’t think that’s Marissa Cooper. I just don’t think sailing off into the sunset’s the proper goodbye,” she said. “She’s one of those burnout characters where I don’t know how much more we could have done with her anyway.” While fans know what happened to Marissa, Bilson was only left to speculate as to Summer and Seth’s future. “Yeah, sure. Why not?” the Hart of Dixie alum exclusively told Us Weekly in December 2019 when asked if the couple would still be together. “You always want a happy ending.” Scroll down to see what the cast of The O.C. has been up to since the iconic series ended. [podcast_block]

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Ben McKenzie (Ryan Atwood)

The actor moved on to star in other TV dramas, including Gotham — of which he also directed and wrote episodes — and Southland. He appeared in films such as Line of Duty, Some Kind of Beautiful and Decoding Annie Parker. He made his Broadway debut in Grand Horizons in 2020. 

McKenzie married his Gotham costar — and former O.C. guest star — Morena Baccarin in June 2017. They welcomed their daughter, Frances, in March 2016 and announced the arrival of son Arthur in March 2021.

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Mischa Barton (Marissa Cooper)

Barton appeared on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, The Beautiful Life: TBL, Recovery Road, Starcrossed, Ouija House and Spree. She also had turns on reality TV via The Hills: New Beginnings and Dancing With the Stars.

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Adam Brody (Seth Cohen)

The actor has kept busy with roles on Single Parents, Good Vibes, House of Lies, Burning Love, New Girl, The League, StartUp and Curfew. He also appeared in films including Jennifer’s Body, Scream 4, Shazam!, The Oranges, Think Like a Man Too, Sleeping With Other People and Chips. 

The California native, who dated Bilson during The O.C.’s run, married Leighton Meester in February 2014. Their daughter, Arlo, arrived in August 2015. Brody confirmed the birth of their son in September 2020.

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Rachel Bilson (Summer Roberts)

Bilson continued making her mark on the television world on Hart of Dixie, Chuck, Nashville, How I Met Your Mother and Take Two. She also starred in Jumper, Waiting for Forever, The To Do List and Life Happens as well as cohosts the “Welcome to the OC, Bitches!” podcast with Clarke. 

The actress and her former fiancé, Hayden Christensen, welcomed daughter Briar in October 2014. They split in September 2017 after nearly 10 years together. Bilson dated Bill Hader for less than a year before calling it quits in July 2020.

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Peter Gallagher (Sandy Cohen)

Gallagher remains a hot commodity in Hollywood, starring on Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, Covert Affairs, New Girl, Grace and Frankie, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, The Gifted, Rescue Me, Californication, The Good Wife, A Bad Moms Christmas, After and Palm Springs. 

The actor has been married to Paula Harwood since May 1983. They share son James and daughter Kathryn.

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Kelly Rowan (Kirsten Cohen)

The Canada native has since starred on Perception, Jack and Jill vs. the World, Rufus, Castle and Flashpoint. She and ex-fiancé David Thomson have one daughter, who was born in April 2008.

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Melinda Clarke (Julie Cooper)

Clarke went on to appear on Nikita, Entourage, The Vampire Diaries, Gotham, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Dallas, Eli Stone and Vegas. She and Bilson cohost the “Welcome to the OC, Bitches!” podcast.

The actress married Adam Farmer in September 2015. She shares a daughter with ex-husband Ernie Mirich.

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Autumn Reeser (Taylor Townsend)

Reeser has since starred on many TV shows — including The Arrangement, Entourage, Hawaii Five-0, The Whispers, Necessary Roughness, Valentine, No Ordinary Family and Last Resort — as well as in several Hallmark Channel movies. 

The actress and ex-husband Jesse Warren are parents of sons Finn and Dash — born in May 2011 and November 2013, respectively.

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Tate Donovan (Jimmy Cooper)

The actor had roles in Shooter, Damages, Argo, Deception, Hostages, 24: Live Another Day, Masters of Sex, The Man in the High Castle, The Upside, Rocketman and MacGyver. He has also directed episodes of TV shows such as The Fosters, Glee, Gossip Girl, Weeds, Hawaii Five-0 and Madam Secretary. 

Donovan, who dated Jennifer Aniston and Sandra Bullock in the ‘90s, was married to Corinne Kingsbury from 2005 to 2008.