'The O. C.' Cast: Where Are They Now?
20 Year's Ago, the Words "Welcome to the O. C. , B----" Lifted the Curtain on the Elusive World of the West Coast Elite, Where Designer Bikinis Were the Dress...
20 years ago, the words "Welcome to the O.C., b----" lifted the curtain on the elusive world of the West Coast elite, where designer bikinis were the dress code and drama was always on the guest list.
See how Mischa Barton, Adam Brody, Rachel Bilson and more have changed since their days in Newport Beach on The O.C. which premiered on August 5, 2003,
Mischa Barton as Marissa Cooper
The girl next door wore Chanel on The O.C., where Mischa Barton played SoCal sweetheart-meets-damsel-in-distress Marissa Cooper until her character's tragic death in season 3. Barton would later claim that she departed the series because of "bullying" behind the scenes.
When It girl Barton left The O.C., her career took a backseat to her partying ways, leading to a 2007 DUI arrest and a 2009 suicide threat. She opened up to PEOPLE about her ups and downs, explaining, "It was a full-on breakdown." Barton also was involved in a high-profile revenge porn lawsuit against a former boyfriend who allegedly tried to sell a sex tape featuring Barton.
Following her departure from The O.C., Barton landed a handful of other movie and TV appearances, from the supernatural thriller I Will Follow You Into the Dark (2012) to the TV pilot Gutsy Frog. In 2016, she competed on Dancing With the Stars and made headlines once again when she joined the cast of The Hills: New Beginnings reboot in 2019, but Barton left the series after the first season. Barton continues to appear regularly in films, including 2023's Invitation to a Murder.
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Rachel Bilson as Summer Roberts
Rachel Bilson melted hearts and perfected her tan as Summer Roberts, the popular girl who — you called it! — fell for the video game nerd (Adam Brody's Seth Cohen). Off camera, Bilson and Brody took their relationship beyond the beach, dating from 2003 until 2006.
Bilson's first big role post-O.C. saw her move from Orange County to Bluebell, Ala., where she played displaced New Yorker Dr. Zoe Hart on The CW's Hart of Dixie. She then headed for Nashville, where she played Alyssa Greene, and the short-lived ABC series Take Two. Her film roles include Jumper (2008), New York, I Love You (2008) and The To Do List (2013). Bilson hosts a podcast with former O.C. costar Melinda Clarke, called Welcome to the O.C., Bitches!
The actress has one child, daughter Briar Rose, whom she welcomed in October 2014 with now-ex Hayden Christensen. In 2020, she broke up with Barry star Bill Hader after they dated for several months.
Chloe Bennett explores the intersection of pop culture, streaming entertainment, digital trends, and contemporary lifestyle. Her weekly commentary reaches thousands of culture enthusiasts.
