The O.C. Cast: Where Are They Now?

The erstwhile Ryan Atwood turns up tonight on NBC's Southland. So where is everyone else?
Benjamin McKenzie on "The O.C."
Benjamin McKenzie on "The O.C." - FOX
Susan Young

You remember what Ryan Atwood liked about rich people?

Nothing.

The boy from Chino landed in fat wallet city when he was taken in by the wealthy Cohen family on The O.C., and almost every week he came out swinging. Now, actor Ben McKenzie's showing the flip side of that character as rich boy Ben who trades in his designer shoes for cop patent leathers -- and promptly pukes on them after discovering a dead body -- in the series premiere of Southland at 10 p.m., Thursday on NBC.

When his sarcastic and caustic training officer John (Michael Cudlitz) mocks him, Ben almost goes after him like John was standing between him and a Krispy Kreme. The rookie wants to shuck his privileged lifestyle and just be on the side of right. This quick-cut, fast-paced keeper from ER producers John Wells and Christopher Chulack grabs you right from the start and doesn't let go until the final credits roll.

Puke. Fights. Class struggle. Heck, it's almost like we're back chillin' in the O.C. Which makes us wonder, what's going on with the rest of the cast?

Adam Brody: Seth Cohen, the only child of Kirsten and Sandy, who loved having Ryan as his bro and BFF. Looked like Adam was set to be the breakout star of the bunch, but his film career fizzled. His next movie, Jennifer's Body, is from Diablo Cody (Juno) and set for a September release. It features a nude Megan Fox, so Adam might be overshadowed.

Mischa BartonMischa Barton: Marissa, the obnoxious true love of Ryan's, who dies in his arms. Now she's playing a model in the upcoming CW series The Beautiful Life, created by Ashton Kutcher, about a group of models living in New York. Doesn't sound like she'll be pulling any acting muscles.

Rachel BilsonRachel Bilson: She's got a movie that's coming out soon, Waiting for Forever, but Rachel's been in the news most recently because of her engagement to Anakin Skywalker -- Hayden Christensen. Guess she's moved on from Adam, who was her boyfriend both on and off screen for a couple of years.

Tate DonovanTate Donovan: Marissa's dad sailed off for a happier life, and now plays attorney Tom Shayes in the Glenn Close cable series Damages

Alan Dale: He was Kirsten's nasty rich dad Caleb Nichol, who played the nasty, rich dad Bradford Meade on Ugly Betty who now plays Penny's nasty, rich dad and overall bad guy Charles Widmore on Lost. Hard to tell where Caleb ends and Charles begins.


Willa HollandWilla Holland: Marissa's conniving little sister Kaitlin went from a brief mention in the first season (her pony China suffered from alopecia!) to become a main character by season four. Willa also appeared in a multi-arch storyline on O.C. creator Josh Schwartz's Gossip Girl as a wild child frienemy of Jenny Humphrey.


Olivia WildeOlivia Wilde: Ah, Alex, the bisexual character who had affairs with both Seth and Marissa. Now she's Thirteen on House, playing a bisexual character involved with fellow doc Foreman. We sense a typecasting theme here.

Amanda Righetti: Kirsten's bad-girl little sister Hailey. Now she's the repressed good cop Grace on CBS breakout hit The Mentalist.

Navi Rawat: Theresa was Ryan's childhood friend, and on-and-off girlfriend. Still think there's a possibility that Ry's her baby daddy, not Eddie. But we digress. Now, Navi's Charlie's girlfriend and noted professor Amita Ramanujan on CBS' Numb3rs

Eric Mabius: Big bad Jack Hess, the Dean of Discipline, who had both Marissa and Ryan expelled, and had an affair with student Taylor. He got the boot, but actor Eric landed softly in a starring role as Daniel Meade on Ugly Betty.

Nikki ReedNikki Reed: Nikki played Sadie Campbell, Ryan's girlfriend and the cousin of poor, doomed Johnny who loved Marissa. Nikki, who first hit big with her screenplay and starring role in Thirteen, has shot up the actor food chain, now starring in the Twilight movies as beautiful vampire Rosalie. Jackson Rathbone, who plays troubled vamp Jasper in Twilight also had a limited gig on The O.C. as Justin in 2006.

Chris BrownChris Brown: The forgettable Will Tutt role. Not big or long-lasting, but how can you not mention tabloid fodder boy after he pounded on girlfriend Rihanna?


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