List of recurring characters in The O.C.
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This article contains recurring character information for the American Teen comedy-drama television series The O.C.. Characters are listed to the season first appeared.
Season 1
Dawn Atwood
Trey Atwood
Taryn Baker
- Played by: Kim Oja
- Appears in: "The Gamble" , "The Outsider" , "The Secret" , "The Countdown" , "The Risky Business", "The Cliffhanger " , "The Man of the Year" , "The Avengers" , "The Metamorphosis" (9 episodes)
Taryn is one of the "Newpsies". Her notable plot includes participating in a swinger's party, claiming that these parties have "saved [her] marriage" ("The Countdown"). Later, she begins spreading the rumour that Luke's father, Carson has been having an affair with his male business partner ("The Secret"). It is later revealed that swinging didn't save her marriage, and since her divorce has been sleeping with as many young men as possible.
Theresa Diaz
Eddie
- Played by: Eric Balfour
- Appears in: "The Telenovela”, "The Goodbye Girl", "The Nana" (3 episodes)
Eddie is introduced as Theresa's fiancé. He shows up outside the Cohens' house asking Ryan if he has seen Theresa, and Ryan denies. Eddie tells Ryan that he and Theresa are engaged. Later, Ryan drives to Chino to tell Eddie he lied, and that he has indeed seen Theresa ("The Telenovela"). Later Eddie shows up at Harbor questioning Ryan about his intimate relationship with Theresa. Eddie punches Ryan in a party after discovering Ryan and Theresa are together ("The Goodbye Girl"). Eddie later appears again at the engagement party, annoyed because Ryan shows up, but later understands Ryan came for Marissa ("The Nana"). Ultimately, his relationship with Theresa doesn't work out because he repeatedly abuses her.
Holly Fischer
- Played by: Ashley Hartman
- Appears in: "Premiere", "The Model Home", "The Debut", "The Outsider", "The Escape", "The Heights" (6 episodes)
Holly was introduced as one of the best friends of Summer and Marissa. She constantly hosts parties at her house. Her father, Greg, discovered that Jimmy had been stealing money from his clients and punches Jimmy at cotillion. After Luke and Marissa break up, Holly seduces Luke and they have an affair, in which a distraught Marissa discovers on her holiday at Tijuana, Mexico, which ultimately prompts her suicide attempt. Holly appeared once again in Season 4 in the "Chrismukkah-huh?" when Taylor and Ryan are in a coma, and are in a paralell universe. In this universe, she is best friends with Summer still and is very materialistic and flirty. There were also some hints that she was having some type of an affair in the universe with Chester (Che in the alternate universe).
Rachel Hoffman
- Played by: Bonnie Somerville
- Appears in: "The Escape", "The Rescue", "The Heights", "The Perfect Couple", "The Homecoming" (5 episodes)
Rachel is a former colleague of Sandy in the District Attorney's office. She invites him to work with her in a private firm called Partridge, Savage and Kahn. Sandy takes the offer, and later Kirsten finds Rachel and Sandy enjoying a drink, causing tension between Sandy and Kirsten. Rachel shares the case of Balboa Heights with Sandy, because the plaintiff is Caleb's company. While negotiating with Caleb, Caleb accuses Sandy and Rachel of having an affair. Some time afterwards, when Sandy and Rachel work until late in Rachel's apartment, Rachel flirts with Sandy but he rejects her advances. When the chemistry between the two fizzles out, Sandy and Kirsten attempt to set her up with Jimmy, but fail.
Dr. Kim
- Played by: Rosalind Chao
- Appears in: "The Rescue", "The Heights", "The Rivals", "The Shape of Things To Come", "The Safe Harbor", "The Graduates" (6 episodes)
Dr. Kim is the dean of the Harbor High School. She gives Ryan a chance to enter Harbor if he passes an admission exam, which he does. She persuades Marissa to continue her role as social chair despite Marissa's tarnished reputation after overdosing on painkillers. She later returns to have a meeting with Kirsten, Sandy and Ryan, after Ryan reads Oliver's files in the file storage room. In 2005, she was confronted by Julie and Sandy, claiming that she does not have the power to decide whether expel Marissa and Ryan or not, after the gunshot incident. However, she assists in readmitting Marissa into Harbor by revealing a precedent in 1996, in which a similar incident to Trey's shooting had occurred with a formerly suspended student.
Hailey Nichol
Neil Roberts
Anna Stern
Oliver Trask
Season 2
Lance Baldwin
- Played by: Johnny Messner
- Appears in: "The Mallpisode”, "The Blaze of Glory" , "The Brothers Grim" , "The Rager" , "The OC Confidential" (5 episodes)
Lance is Julie's ex-boyfriend. Back in the 80's, when she was in desperate need of money, she appears in a porn flick he directs, entitled "The Porn Identity". Although the film was never published, a desperate Lance suddenly shows up, and threatens Julie to pay $500,000 or else he would leak the film onto the internet. Julie asks Caleb for help, but instead of paying up, Caleb sends two thugs to fight Lance. Furious, he sabotages the launch of Julie's new magazine, "Newport Living", by replacing the promotional video with archive footage from "The Porn Identity." A devastated Julie flees Orange County, and later returns after the controversy dies down.
After Lance redeems himself, he and Julie reminisce over their past together, and share a kiss which is caught on camera. Caleb subsequently asks for a divorce, and reveals to his wife that he has had people spy on her since before their marriage.
Rebecca Bloom
- Played by: Kim Delaney
- Appears in: "The Accomplice”, "The Second Chance”, "The Lonely Hearts Club", "The Test”, "The Rainy Day Woman" (5 episodes)
Rebecca is an ex-fiancée of Sandy, who is described as Sandy's "love of [his] life" by Kirsten. Twenty years ago, she was accused of burning down a lab and killing a man in the fire. Rebecca denies that and claims that she fled the site because she did not want to testify against her friends.
Her father, Max, asks his former student Sandy to find Rebecca, as he is sick and wants to see his only daughter one last time before passing away. Rebecca shows up, and Max asks Sandy to clear her name; soon after this, he dies. Sandy continues to assist Rebecca, thus placing his marriage in jeopardy. Sandy and Rebecca finally realize that their love was a thing of the past, and Rebecca flees yet again.
Carter Buckley
- Played by: Billy Campbell
- Appears in: "The Mallpisode”, "The Blaze of Glory”, "The Brothers Grim”, "The Ricky Business”, "The Rager”, "The OC Confidential”, "The Return of the Nana" (7 episodes)
Carter Buckley is introduced as a new editor of Newport Living. He has edited several magazines before, The Ugly American and GQ being two of them, and self-published Revolution. Carter is in a middle of divorce and becomes lugubrious. Kirsten puts an issue of Revolution into his mailbox in order to encourage him to restart his life. Carter accepts the job and spends a lot of time working with Kirsten who develops a crush on him. Carter's alcoholism helps developing Kirsten's, as they drink much during work. Carter leaves Orange County when offered a job in New York. At the farewell dinner at the Cohen's house where Kirsten and Carter are alone, they admit to each other that they considered having an affais and share a kiss. Kirsten is apparently upset about his departure, and drinks much more.
Reed Carlson
- Played by: Marguerite Moreau
- Appears in: "The Rager”, "The OC Confidential”, "The Showdown”, "The O Sea" (4 episodes)
Reed is the Vice President of the graphic novel company Bad Science. She was an assistant of Carter and he arranges a meeting after getting to know Seth and Zach who co-created Atomic County. She likes the comic so she helps to publish. Seth deliberately misleads Summer that Reed is a man, infuriating Summer. Later Reed asks Seth to bring Summer, the real Little Miss Vixen, to a party. Summer does not like the place, asks Seth to leave, but Reed stops Seth from leaving, making Summer even angrier. Reed then threatens to sue Zach when he wants to pull out. Reed offers Summer a chance to be the star of the comic to ensure that Summer will stop convincing Seth and Zach of giving up on it. Summer shows up at the launch party wearing costume, but the party ends with Seth and Zach literally fighting for Summer. Reed is outraged about the debacle so she just let one person to meet George Lucas, who is interested in Atomic County.
Lindsay Gardner
DJ
- Played by: Nicholas Gonzalez
- Appears in: "The Distance”, "The Way We Were”, "The New Era”, "The SnO.C.” "The Family Ties”, "The Power of Love" (6 episodes)
DJ was introduced as the Nichols' gardener. It is later revealed that Marissa who has broken up with Ryan is having a relationship with him but they keep it secret so he won't be fired. When Ryan returns to Newport, Marissa lied to him when he asks her if she is dating someone but he catches her making out with DJ. DJ is angry at Marissa because he feels like a back-up she only comes to when Ryan isn't around but they reconcile shortly afterwards. Marissa asks him to join her on family pictures with Caleb and Julie which infuriates Julie as she doesn't agree with Marissa dating DJ. She gives him a blank cheque so he will leave Marissa which he does, but not before giving Marissa the cheque as he feels that Marissa doesn't like him "as much as [she] hates [Julie]".
Alex Kelly
Jess Sathers
Zach Stevens
Renee Wheeler
- Played by: Kathleen York
- Appears in: "The New Era" , "The SnO.C." , "The Chrismukkah That Almost Wasn't" , "The Test" , "The Rainy Day Women" (5 episodes)
Renee Wheeler once had an affair with Caleb which led to her having a child, Linday. Caleb still pays her money and the DA misunderstand that, thinking that Caleb is bribing Renee for a building permit, for which Caleb is arrested ("The New Era"). Sandy figures out that the reason Caleb pays Renee is that she is the mother of his illegitimate child ("The SnO.C."). Caleb has to admit having had an affair so he will be released from prison but the news angers Kirsten a lot ("The Chrismukkah That Almost Wasn't"). Renee later returns, asking Ryan to help her stop Caleb from adopting Linday as Caleb wants a paternity test and Renee isn't sure if Caleb really is Lindsay's father ("The Test"). The test results confirm Caleb's paternity but Lindsay ultimately decides that she doesn't want Caleb to adopt her because of how he treats her and she and her mother leave Newport for Chicago ("The Rainy Day Women").
Season 3
Sadie Campbell
- Played by: Nikki Reed
- Appears in: "The Heavy Lifting" ,"The Road Warrior" , "The Journey" , "The Undertow" , "The Secrets and Lies , "The Day After Tomorrow" (6 episodes)
Sadie is Johnny's cousin and comes to Orange County to help Johnny's mother Gwen after her son dies ("The Heavy Lifting"). Ryan helps Sadie to decorate the house and get money from Johnny's father ("The Road Warrior"). After some trouble, Sadie and Ryan start dating as Marissa and Ryan have broken up once again after Johnny's death ("The Undertow"). The relationship is doomed however, as Ryan is soon afterwards accepted to UC Berkeley and Sadie doesn't want to be the reason Ryan doesn't live his college life as he should and breaks up. She then leaves Newport to re-start her jewellery-making business ("The Day After Tomorrow").
Casey
- Played by: Kayla Ewell
- Appears in: "The Last Waltz”, "The Perfect Storm”, "The Swells" (3 episodes)
Casey attends Newport Union and dates Johnny. She befriends Marissa when she enrolls at Union but when she notices that Johnny and Marissa are growing closer and closer, she feels jealous and suspicious, finally cheating on Johnny and making out with his rival Kevin Volchok. Johnny walks in on them and breaks up with her. Casey is introduced as the girlfriend of Johnny. She helps Marissa getting out from Heather and befriends with Marissa. Seeing Marissa getting close with Johnny, she is being suspicious and later cheats first by making out with Volchok. Johnny catches them and breaks up with Casey.
Dennis "Chili" Childress
- Played by: Johnny Lewis
- Appears in: "The Last Waltz" , "The Perfect Storm" , "The Swells" , "The Anger Management" , "The Game Plan" , "The Safe Harbor" , "The Sister Act" , "The Cliffhanger" , "The Heavy Lifting" (9 episodes)
Chili is Johnny's best friends and one of the kids Marissa befriends at Newport Union. He introduces himself to Marissa as "Chili" and he is very similar to Seth, joking around and making people laugh and so Ryan nicknames him "bizarro Seth", a name tha doesn't stick though. Chilli is a very good friend and helps Johnny a lot, especially when he has to deal with Casey cheating on him and all the incidents after the car accident. Chili lies to Marissa about Johnny, telling her thaat he got back on the surfing team as Johnny and him know that Johnny is the only reason Marissa is staying at Newport Union. Chili wants Johnny to confess to Marissa how he feels about her but when he does, it all goes wrong as she doesn't love him. After Johnny's death, Chili stops going by the name Chili and wants to be called Chili instead as Johnny never liked the nickname.
Henry Griffin
- Played by: Shaun Duke
- Appears in: "The Undertow”, "The Secrets and Lies”, "The Day After Tomorrow”, "The Dawn Patrol" (4 episodes)
Henry is the Head of the Hospital Board. His daughter, Maya, dated Matt before but breaks up because Matt agrees Sandy to ask Maya help giving the proposal to Henry. Henry asks Sandy to fire Matt for Maya. Matt accuses Henry to take kickbacks from ventures, and tries to sell the story to newspapers. In return, Henry orders two ruffians to vandalise Matt's apartment and beat him. After knowing what Henry did, Sandy threatens Henry to resign to he will "take [him] down". To stop Sandy, Henry bribes Sandy with a recommendation of a revitalising project. Later Matt asks Henry to pay him in exchange of evidence, and Henry brings a goon when they are ready to "make" the deal, but Sandy stops it. Sandy takes the evidence and pay Matt instead. Henry latter is investigated by D.A. and banned from the board. Sandy finally gives up the hospital and supports D.A to charge Henry, by giving documents D.A. needs.
Johnny Harper
Heather
- Played by: Erin Foster
- Appears in:"The Last Waltz”, "The Anger Management”, "The Dawn Patrol”, "The Graduates", "The Cold Turkey" (5 episodes)
Heather attends Newport Union and disliked Marissa from the very beginning, harassing her and doing all she can to make Marissa’s life as difficult as possible. She helps Kevin Volchok to kidnap Marissa in order to get Ryan to fight Volchok. She reappears at a party at Volchok’s place where she takes drugs and is nearly raped but Marissa saves her before anything can happen. Later on, Heather helps Volchok to leave Newport in a stolen car. She is in the car when Volchok drives into Ryan’s car, leading Ryan to drive off a cliff which results in Marissa’s death.
Jack Hess
- Played by: Eric Mabius
- Appears in:"The Shape of Things to Come”, "The End of Innocence”, "The Last Waltz”, "The Perfect Storm" (4 episodes)
Jack Hess who has a master degree in education and who taught six years at boarding schools, is the new Dean of Discipline at Harbor High and is responsible for the measures to be taken after the gunshot incident. He tries very hard to punish Marissa as hard as he can but is only able to expel her. When Ryan punches him in the face, Jack has a reason to expel Ryan as well. He is also responsible for Summer losing the social chair to Taylor by tricking her to admit that she stole a theatrical set. At the Summer Dance, Summer sees Taylor and Jack making out and Sandy uses the information to blackmail Jack into leaving Harbor to save his career.
Charlotte Morgan
Matt Ramsey
- Played by: Jeff Hephner
- Appears in: "The Swells”, "The Anger Management”, "The Disconnect", "The Safe Harbor”, "The Pot Stirrer”, "The Cliffhanger”, "The Heavy Lifting”, "The Road Warrior”, "The Journey”, "The Undertow”, "The Secrets and Lies”, "The Day After Tomorrow”, "The Dawn Patrol" (13 episodes)
Matt is a 26-year old associate of the company that will tale over the Newport Group. He convinced Sandy to keep the company so that they can run it as co-partners and is then named Vice President and Director of Development. He doesn’t have any trouble bribing to get green light for projects which is totally against Sandy’s principles. Sandy tries to "do it his way" but has to give in to Matt’s way as the latter has most of the board members on his side. Matt has a brief relationship with Maya, daughter of the head of the hospital’s board, Henry Griffin, but breaks up with her when Sandy proposes a deal with Henry. Henry asks Sandy to fire Matt because of his relationship to his daughter. Matt warns Sandy about Henry who takes kickbacks from vendors and tries to sell the story to newspapers but stops doing so after being beaten up by goons Henry has hired. Matt asks Henry for compensation as he has many evidences that incriminate Henry. The deal is stopped by Sandy who pays Matt for the evidence. Matt then leaves for Chicago.
Kevin Volchok
Veronica Townsend
Taylor Townsend
Season 4
Che
- Played by: Chris Pratt
- Appears in: "The Avengers", "The Gringos", "The Metamorphosis", "The Sleeping Beauty", "The Summer Bummer"
Winchester, more commonly known as Che, is a friend of Summer's who attends Brown University with her. He was the driving force behind Summer's left wing activism. When he and Summer break into a science lab and are interviewed by the Brown board, he blames all his illegal activities on Summer. As a result of Che's actions, Summer was suspended from Brown. Later it's discovered he is actually extremely rich - his father owns a pharmaceutical company. In "The Chrismukkah-huh?" he appears in an alternate universe when Ryan and Taylor are in a coma. In this universe, he took what would have been Ryan's spot for admission at Harbor School, and was engaged to Summer Roberts, and having an affair with Julie Cooper and any woman he could get his hands on. In the universe he wasn't an activist, as he is in real life.
Brad Ward
- Played by: Wayne Dalglish
- Appears in: "The Avengers", "The Gringos", "The Metamorphosis", "The Summer Bummer"
Brad is one of Luke's younger twin brothers. They and Kaitlin hang out together.
Eric Ward
- Played by: Corey Price
- Appears in: "The Avengers", "The Gringos", "The Metamorphosis", "The Summer Bummer"
Eric is one of Luke's younger twin brothers. They and Kaitlin hang out together. The both play water polo. Eric is more like Luke than Brad.
Gordon Bullit
- Played by: Gary Grubbs
- Appears in: "The Sleeping Beauty", "The Summer Bummer"
Gordon Bullit, who refers to himself as The Bullit, is an oil merchant who from Texas. He has southern flavour, and has been involved in bad deals. He seems to like Julie.
Spencer Bullit
- Played by: Brandon Quinn
- Appears in: "The Sleeping Beauty", "The Summer Bummer"
Spencer is Kaitlin's tennis instructor and Bullit's son. Kaitlin wants to seduce him, while he has a brief affair with Julie. Later, he joins Julie's and Kirsten's agency "New Match" and uses their matchmaking to work as a gigolo.
| The O.C. | ||
|---|---|---|
| Episode List | Official Website | ||
| Current Main Characters | Ryan Atwood | Kirsten Cohen | Sandy Cohen | Seth Cohen Julie Cooper | Kaitlin Cooper | Summer Roberts | Taylor Townsend |
|
| Former Main Characters | Marissa Cooper (S1 - S3) | Jimmy Cooper (S1) | Luke Ward (S1) | Caleb Nichol (S2) | |
| Recurring Characters |
Dawn Atwood | Trey Atwood | Lance Baldwin | Rebecca Bloom |
|
| Places | Newport Beach | Orange County | Chino | |
