The OC’s Unforgettable Side Characters: Discover Their Epic Journeys!
Discover where the unforgettable side characters from 'The OC' are now From Nikki Reed to Chris Pratt, explore the fascinating journeys of these talented actors
Welcome to The O.C.! Adam Brody, Rachel Bilson, Ben McKenzie, and other young actors began their careers on this teen drama. However, there were also other faces in the background that would soon become familiar.
The O.C. revolves around Ryan Atwood (McKenzie), who faces a cultural adjustment when he moves in with Seth Cohen (Brody) and his family in the affluent California suburb of Orange County. Although she didn't stay for all four seasons, Olivia Wilde made a lasting impression as a guest star on the show. She portrayed the character Alex Kelly, Ryan's older love interest.
"I used to disregard The O.C. and considered it an embarrassing teen soap," the former House star confessed to The New York Times in May 2019. "But now I realize it was a crucial experience and I am grateful for the opportunity."
During the same month, Wilde shared further insights about her time filming the Fox series in the early 2000s in an interview on the "Keep It" podcast. She admitted that she did not fully comprehend the magnitude of The O.C.'s success and its cultural impact at the time.
The star of The Lazarus Effect, Alex, reflected on her experience shooting the movie Alpha Dog while also working on an American soap. She discussed how her role, which depicted a queer love story between two teenage girls, garnered mixed reactions from the public. Despite initially thinking it should be normal for such a storyline, Alex recognized the importance of sparking conversations about it. She then shared that her character's significance didn't fully sink in until people started approaching her on the street, expressing how her portrayal had positively impacted their lives by helping them come out and feel comfortable in their own sexuality. Alex felt honored by these encounters.
The O.C. continues to hold a special place in the hearts of its fans, including the cast members who have fond memories of their time on the show. Bilson, known for her role as Summer and currently recapping each episode on her podcast "Welcome to the OC, Bitches," expressed her admiration for her onscreen partner Brody, who played Seth. Bilson, who dated Brody from 2003 to 2006, credited him for teaching her acting skills and creating a comfortable environment that allowed her to take risks without fear. She expressed her gratitude and thanked him for his influence on her confidence and willingness to pursue her creative ambitions.
Scroll down to see where more of The O.C.’s most memorable guest stars are now:
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The O.C.'s Most Memorable Side Characters: Where Are They Now?
Welcome to The O.C.! This renowned teen drama served as a launching pad for actors like Adam Brody, Rachel Bilson, and Ben McKenzie. However, it wasn't just the main cast that caught our attention. The show also introduced us to several talented individuals who eventually became familiar faces. Among them was Olivia Wilde, who, although not staying for all four seasons, left a lasting impression as the older love interest, Alex Kelly.
"I used to disregard The O.C., thinking it was an embarrassing teen soap," the House alum shared with The New York Times in May 2019. "But now I realize it was a pivotal experience and I'm grateful for the opportunity."
In the same month, Wilde further explained her perspective on filming the Fox series in the early 2000s during an interview on the "Keep It" podcast. She admitted that she didn't fully grasp the magnitude of The O.C.'s eventual popularity and impact.
The star of The Lazarus Effect, talking about her role in the movie Alpha Dog, mentioned that she was 19 at the time and was juggling between shooting for both projects. When her character's storyline, which focused on queer love between two teenage girls, was revealed, it caused a lot of attention. Some people were supportive while others had a negative reaction. However, Wilde believed that it was an important conversation that needed to be had. She also acknowledged that it took her some time to fully comprehend the significance of her character. Even now, people approach her on the street and express gratitude for her role, as it helped them come to terms with their own sexuality. She feels honored by their words.
The O.C. remains cherished by its fans, and the cast also holds the show dear in their hearts. Bilson, who recaps each episode on her podcast "Welcome to the OC, Bitches," expressed her admiration for her former onscreen partner, Brody, with whom she played the couple Summer and Seth. In October 2021, the actress, who dated Brody from 2003 to 2006, conveyed her gratitude, stating, "You taught me how to act well. You created an atmosphere where I could fearlessly give my all. Your collaboration gave me the confidence to pursue my desires. I simply want to say thank you."
Scroll down to see where more of The O.C.'s most memorable guest stars are now:
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Nikki Reed
Reed joined season 3 of the show as Sadie Campbell, a character who arrives in Orange County to assist her Aunt Gwen and befriends Ryan. They have a short-lived romance, but they come to the realization that their relationship won't survive once Ryan goes off to college. Following her time on The O.C., Reed took on the role of Rosalie in the Twilight film series from 2008 to 2012, and she also portrayed Betsy Ross on Fox's Sleepy Hollow from 2015 to 2016.
Before her current relationship, Reed was married to American Idol contestant Paul McDonald from 2011 to 2015. She then moved on to Ian Somerhalder, and they tied the knot in April 2015. The couple welcomed their daughter, Bodhi Soleil, in July 2017. In January 2023, Reed announced her second pregnancy with the Vampire Diaries actor. In June 2023, she confirmed the birth of their son, who arrived a few weeks earlier.
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Olivia Wilde
The director of the film Booksmart, Olivia Wilde, had a role as Alex Kelly during the second season. However, in 2021, the creator of the show, Josh Schwartz, revealed that Wilde was close to securing the leading role of Marissa Cooper. Wilde, who hails from New York, is most recognized for her portrayal of Remy "Thirteen" Hadley on the television series House from 2007 to 2012. Additionally, she has also graced the silver screen in movies such as Tron: Legacy, Cowboys & Aliens, Drinking Buddies, and Life Itself.
Wilde tied the knot with Tao Ruspoli in 2003, but their marriage came to an end in 2011. She then found love with Jason Sudeikis and they got engaged in 2013. The couple welcomed their son Otis and daughter Daisy into the world, but unfortunately, their relationship came to an end in 2020. After her split with Sudeikis, Wilde ventured into the world of directing and met Harry Styles on the set of her second directorial project, Don't Worry Darling. The pair started dating in early 2021, but sadly, their romance came to a halt in November 2022.
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Chris Pratt
Summer meets Chester (a.k.a. Che) while attending Brown during season 4. This role marked one of Pratt's first following his time as a regular on Everwood in the early 2000s. Pratt then went on to star in Parks and Recreation from 2009 to 2015 before joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Peter Quill/Star-Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy. He has a son named Jack with his ex-wife Anna Faris, whom he was married to from 2009 to 2017. Pratt married Katherine Schwarzenegger in 2018 and they welcomed their daughters Lyla and Eloise in 2020 and 2022 respectively.
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Cam Gigandet
Reed, alongside the Washington native, made his appearance in the Twilight series following his role as a guest star on The O.C. Gigandet has gained recognition for his performances in Easy A, Never Back Down, Burlesque, and other notable projects. He has also showcased his talent on television, starring in Reckless and Ice.
He is married to Dominique Geisendorff since November 2008 and they have three children together - daughters Everleigh and Armie, and son Rekker. However, after 13 years of marriage, Geisendorff filed for divorce in August 2022.
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Shailene Woodley
Content: Prior to her portrayal of Amy Juergens on The Secret Life of the American Teenager, Woodley gained recognition for her role as Kaitlin Cooper, the younger sister of Marissa, on The O.C. Her breakthrough in the film industry came with her performance in The Descendants in 2011, and she further solidified her status by starring in the Divergent franchise. In 2014, she captivated audiences alongside Ansel Elgort in the teen romance film The Fault in Our Stars. Though Woodley ended her relationship with rugby player Ben Volavola in 2020, she soon became romantically linked with Aaron Rodgers. Surprising their fans, the couple announced their engagement in February 2021, but unfortunately, they decided to part ways the following year.
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Paul Wesley
Originally from New Jersey, the actor gained recognition for his role as Stefan Salvatore on The CW's popular series, The Vampire Diaries. Although he only appeared in one episode of The O.C., he truly made his mark on screen with his captivating portrayal. Following his success on The Vampire Diaries, he ventured into other projects such as the anthology series Tell Me a Story and the Netflix miniseries Medal of Honor. Exciting news broke in March 2022 when it was announced that he had been cast as James T. Kirk in the highly-anticipated second season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
The Brother's Bond Bourbon cofounder, Wesley, and Torrey DeVitto went their separate ways in 2013, just two years after getting married. In 2019, he found love again and tied the knot with Ines de Ramon. Unfortunately, in September 2022, it was confirmed that Wesley and de Ramon had decided to split. However, Wesley didn't dwell on the past for long and moved on just two months later with Natalie Kuckenburg.
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Lucy Hale
Hale portrayed Hadley Hawthorne, Kaitlin's classmate at the boarding school, in an episode during season 3. Following this, she went on to star in the short-lived series Privileged. From 2010 to 2017, she gained recognition for her role as Aria Montgomery in Pretty Little Liars, which garnered her seven Teen Choice Awards. Subsequently, she made appearances on Riverdale and was given her own spinoff called Katy Keene in 2020. In the following year, she starred alongside Austin Stowell in the romantic comedy film, The Hating Game.
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Max Greenfield
While his portrayal of a young Sandy Cohen captivated audiences, Max Greenfield became even more renowned for his role as Schmidt on Fox's New Girl. This character garnered him prestigious nominations at both the Emmys and Golden Globes until the show's conclusion in 2018. Following this success, Greenfield joined forces with Cedric the Entertainer on CBS' The Neighborhood. In 2008, the Veronica Mars alum tied the knot with Tess Sanchez, and together they have a daughter named Lilly and a son named Ozzie.
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Colin Hanks
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Before finding success on the shows Fargo, Roswell, and Life in Pieces, Tom Hanks' son, Colin, played the character Grady Bridges in an episode of the first season of the Fox drama. In 2017, he appeared alongside Kevin Hart, Nick Jonas, Dwayne Johnson, and others in Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, and reprised his role for the sequel two years later. Colin, who is also known for his role in Burning Love, is married to Samantha Bryant and they have two daughters named Olivia and Charlotte.
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Paris Hilton
Kate, a socialite, left a lasting impression during an episode of season 1. During that time, Hilton was appearing on her own reality show, The Simple Life, alongside her friend Nicole Richie. Additionally, Hilton has appeared on Paris Hilton's My New BFF, Cooking with Paris, and Paris in Love, which documented her wedding to Carter Reum in 2021. Hilton has also found success as a DJ and released a popular single titled "Stars Are Blind" in 2006.
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Taylor Handley
Handley's portrayal of Oliver Trask in season 1 of The O.C. created turmoil in the relationship between Marissa and Ryan. As Oliver's infatuation with Marissa intensified, it became a major obstacle for them. Although he hasn't been involved in many projects since his time on the show, Handley made a brief appearance on The CW's Hidden Palms in 2007. He also had the opportunity to work with Dennis Quaid on the CBS series Vegas. Currently, the acclaimed actor is happily married to Audra Lynn Handley.
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Logan Marshall-Green
Starting in season 2, the role of Trey Atwood, Ryan's brother, was taken over by a native of South Carolina, replacing Bradley Stryker. Additionally, he has made appearances on various television shows such as 24, Traveler, Dark Blue, and Quarry. In the film industry, he has worked on projects such as Devil, Prometheus, The Invitation, Spider-Man: Homecoming, and Upgrade. In his personal life, Marshall-Green was in a relationship with Marisa Tomei from 2008 to 2012 before tying the knot with actress Diane Gaeta. Together, they welcomed a baby boy in 2014. Gaeta also has a daughter from a previous relationship. However, the couple called it quits in 2019 and officially divorced the following year.
