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Here we go, California! It’s incredible that we first met the cast of The O.C. 20 years ago. Even though we can catch up with our friends on the west coast via streaming services like Hulu, the cast has packed up and left Newport Beach for a slew of new projects!
Even though it feels like forever ago, the cast and crew of the show still cherish the memories of working there. Actually, Summer Roberts’s onscreen counterpart Rachel Bilson has stated that she would be open to filming a reunion if given the chance. The former Hart of Dixie star told E! News, “I’m always open to things,” in an interview that took place in June 2017. Our characters are getting on in years, and I’m not sure how that would play out. I have no idea what these 30-year-olds do now that we were skating on the pier. However, reuniting with everyone would be a pleasure.
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The stunning brunette also spilled the beans on what she imagines Summer and her husband Seth Cohen (Adam Brody) are up to now. “Everyone wants to know what she was doing when our relationship ended, and I’m always confused about it. It seems like a lifetime ago; I certainly don’t recall. She definitely has a family with Seth. Who knows? She spoke to E! News about her being on the beach.
For the 2021 episode of “Welcome to The OC, Bitches!,” Rachel and Melinda Clarke, who played Julie Cooper-Nichol on the programme for all four seasons, got back together for a podcast. They had weekly chats with creator Josh Schwartz, as well as other cast members, writers, and editors, and rewatched episodes of the show.
As the actors reminisced about their time on set, Adam brought up a storyline point that he didn’t particularly enjoy.
In an interview with the women’s podcast, he discussed the second season episode “The Mallpisode” and how he felt about how disconnected it felt from the original. To which he said, “I think kind of burned out a little because of it” and that the show “went through a lot of story, maybe a little fast.”
After its August 2003 premiere, the show became an immediate smash with young viewers and propelled its stars to instant A-list stardom. Guest performers like Chris Pratt and Olivia Wilde helped boost their careers in addition to the core four’s on The O.C.
BENJAMIN MCKENZIE (RYAN ATWOOD)
Ben landed the lead role in Gotham, the Batman prequel, after five seasons of the police drama Southland, which he appeared in after The O.C. In 2017, he wed actress Morena Baccarin, with whom he had recurring roles on The O.C. and Gotham, and the couple had two children together.
MISCHA BARTON (MARISSA COOPER)
Mischa featured on the briefly running sitcom The Beautiful Life: TBL after her departure from The O.C. in Season 3. She danced her way to eleventh place in Season 22 of Dancing With the Stars. Although she did not return for season 2, she became a cast member of The Hills: New Beginnings in 2019.
ADAM BRODY (SETH COHEN)
In the Land of Women, Sleeping With Other People, and Baggage Claim were among Adam’s subsequent cinematic roles. In 2014, he tied the knot with actress Leighton Meester of Gossip Girl, and the couple had two kids together.
RACHEL BILSON (SUMMER ROBERTS)
From 2011–2015, she portrayed the lead role in Hart of Dixie, a CW series, following her role on The O.C. Afterwards, she had appearances on Take Two and Nashville. Along with Melinda Clarke, Rachel debuted the podcast “Welcome to The OC, Bitches” in 2021. She and her ex-boyfriend Hayden Christensen have a kid together, Briar Rose.
KELLY ROWAN (KIRSTEN COHEN)
Kelly has been in a few TV films, including Cyber Bully (2011) from ABC Family, and she went on to act in the TNT series Perception until 2015. In 2008, she became a mother at the hands of her ex-husband, David Thomson.
PETER GALLAGHER (SANDY COHEN)
After landing The O.C., Peter continued to star in a slew of hit shows, including Grey’s Anatomy, Law & Order: SVU, Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, Grace and Frankie, and many more. The popularity of his Orange County character led to him being named host of “The Sandy Cohen Awards,” an annual event put on by the law school at UC Berkeley.
AUTUMN REESER (TAYLOR TOWNSEND)
A number of television shows had guest appearances from Autumn, including Entourage, Hawaii Five-0, and Hart of Dixie, a sitcom created by Rachel Bilson. She has also been in a few TV films, including All Summer Long, The Wedding Veil, and Christmas Under the Stars. She has two sons from her marriage to ex-husband Jesse Warren.
MELINDA CLARKE (JULIE COOPER)
The Vampire Diaries, Gotham, Entourage, and CSI are just a few of the shows that have had Melinda as a guest star. Her 2010–2013 stint on Nikita, a drama on The CW, was another notable role. Melinda and her co-star Rachel Bilson started the podcast “Welcome to The OC, Bitches!” in 2021. She wed Adam Farmer, a skilled river rafter, in 2015.
CHRIS CARMACK (LUKE WARD)
Before Chris joined the cast of Grey’s Anatomy in 2018, he starred on Nashville as country musician Will Lexington. He wed Erin Slaver in October 2018, and they have two daughters together.
TATE DONOVAN (JIMMY COOPER)
Damages and Masters of Sex were among Tate’s highly praised television appearances. In addition to Good Night, and Good Luck, he was in the Academy Award–winning picture Argo.
