Episodes cast for
"The O.C." (2003) More at IMDb Pro »

Season: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
Year: 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007

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Season 1

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Season 1, Episode 1: Pilot

5 August 2003
Ryan Atwood is a troubled, 16-year-old kid living in the rough, crime-ridden neighborhood of Chino located in San Bernadino, California, who gets thrown out of his own house by his alcoholic and neglectful mother and her abusive, alcoholic boyfriend after Ryan gets into trouble with the law when his self-destructive older brother, Trey, implicates him in the theft of a car. Ryan calls Sanford 'Sandy' Cohen, a public defender who represented Ryan in the past for his misdeeds, who takes the homeless youth to his house in the posh and picturesque neighborhood of Newport Beach, Orange County, (the OC) and lets Ryan stay in the guest house against the protests from Sandy's wife Kristin and their bumbling and socially handicapped son Seth. Ryan forms a bond with Marissa Cooper, a friendly, but similarly emotionally troubled teenage girl living next door who introduces Ryan to the world of beach parties and life of the idle rich in Newport Beach. But Ryan's feelings for Marissia are hampered by Marissa's egotistical jock boyfriend, Luke Ward, whom takes an instant dislike to Ryan. Marissa's father Jimmy, a financial stockbroker, begins having problems with his business and tries to get out of the hole he's in to keep his narcissistic, gold-digging wife, Julie, from finding out.

	Peter Gallagher	...	Sandy Cohen
	Kelly Rowan	...	Kirsten Cohen
	Benjamin McKenzie	...	Ryan Atwood
	Mischa Barton	...	Marissa Cooper
	Adam Brody	...	Seth Cohen
	Tate Donovan	...	Jimmy Cooper
	Melinda Clarke	...	Julie Cooper
	Daphne Ashbrook	...	Dawn Atwood
	Chris Carmack	...	Luke Ward
	Rachel Bilson	...	Summer Roberts
	Ruth Williamson	...	Peggy
	Drew Fuller	...	Norland
	Ashley Hartman	...	Holly Fischer
	Alison Simpson	...	Karen Coughlin, Newport Woman #2
	Barry Wiggins	...	Agent Steve Pearlman
	Bradley Stryker	...	Trey Atwood
	Camille Mana	...	Fashion P.A.
	Christine Romeo	...	Newport Woman #1
	Collin Stark	...	Saunders
	Josh Waters	...	Keg Bro
	Kimberly Stanphill	...	Betsy
	Larry Anderson	...	Bob Coughlin
	Marisa Theodore	...	Nikki
	Ron del Barrio	...	A.J.
	Shailene Woodley	...	Kaitlin Cooper
	Todd Sherry	...	Waiter
	Jen MacNeil	...	Ariel (uncredited)

Season 1, Episode 2: The Model Home

12 August 2003
When his mother disappears and faced with the prospect of life in a group home, Ryan decides to run away from Newport, but Seth and Marissa convince him to stay and hide in a vacant building project. Meanwhile, Jimmy discusses his recent financial woes with Kirsten, and she offers a solution. After the jealous Luke witnesses a close encounter between Marissa and Ryan, he confronts Ryan and a fight breaks loose in the house where their quarrel accidentally starts a fire. Ryan nearly dies in the flames, until surprisingly Luke returns and saves Ryan's life, which unfortunately reveals Ryan's continuing presence in Newport leading to both him and Luke getting arrested for arson.

	Peter Gallagher	...	Sandy Cohen
	Kelly Rowan	...	Kirsten Cohen
	Benjamin McKenzie	...	Ryan Atwood
	Mischa Barton	...	Marissa Cooper
	Adam Brody	...	Seth Cohen
	Chris Carmack	...	Luke Ward
	Tate Donovan	...	Jimmy Cooper
	Melinda Clarke	...	Julie Cooper
	Rachel Bilson	...	Summer Roberts
	Ashley Hartman	...	Holly Fischer
	Adam Grimes	...	Nordlund
	Josh Kloss	...	Chip Saunders
	Shailene Woodley	...	Kaitlin Cooper
	Dwight Hicks	...	Sheriff
	Steven M. Gagnon	...	Arson Investigator
	Carrie Armstrong	...	Diner Cashier

Season 1, Episode 3: The Gamble

19 August 2003
Ryan has a difficult stay in a Juvenile Hall prison for the arson charge. Seth makes Kirsten aware of his anger over Ryan's situation, and Kirsten makes a compromise to bail Ryan out of jail to stay with them, temporary. Later, Ryan's mother, Dawn, makes a surprise visit to Newport, and things don't go quite as she and Ryan may have planned due to her constant drinking. Meanwhile, the monetary secret involving Julie, Jimmy, Kirsten and Sandy comes to a head when Sandy finds out of Jimmy's financial problems about the money investments he lost and unwisely 'borrowed' without permission from his clients bank accounts to cover it up and lost that money too, and of Kristen's lending their money to help Jimmy which brings out more jealousy in Sandy for he's aware of Kristen and Jimmy's romantic past.

	Peter Gallagher	...	Sandy Cohen
	Kelly Rowan	...	Kirsten Cohen
	Benjamin McKenzie	...	Ryan Atwood
	Mischa Barton	...	Marissa Cooper
	Adam Brody	...	Seth Cohen
	Chris Carmack	...	Luke Ward
	Tate Donovan	...	Jimmy Cooper
	Melinda Clarke	...	Julie Cooper
	Rachel Bilson	...	Summer Roberts
	Daphne Ashbrook	...	Dawn Atwood
	Kimberly Oja	...	Taryn Baker (as Kim Oja)
	Francis Capra	...	Z
	Adam Grimes	...	Nordlund
	Josh Kloss	...	Chip Saunders
	Devin Mills	...	Karen
	Kimberly Stanphill	...	Betsy
	Erica Toffel	...	Dealer
	Lisa K. Wyatt	...	Customer
	Jessyka Ellington	...	Student (uncredited)

Season 1, Episode 4: The Debut

26 August 2003
During rehearsals for Newport Beach's annual Cotillion Ball, Ryan continues to pursue Marissa and asks her to be his dancing partner, while a continuing jealous Luke tries to break them up. Seth as eyes for the new girl in town, Anna Stern, but becomes torn over his feelings for Summer Roberts, the outgoing socialite he's had a crush on for years. Meanwhile, Sandy becomes upset over Kristen's loan to Jimmy for his financial problems which finally come to light at the ball when one business client decks him in the face after learning that Jimmy lost all of their money.

	Peter Gallagher	...	Sandy Cohen
	Kelly Rowan	...	Kirsten Cohen
	Benjamin McKenzie	...	Ryan Atwood
	Mischa Barton	...	Marissa Cooper
	Adam Brody	...	Seth Cohen
	Chris Carmack	...	Luke Ward
	Tate Donovan	...	Jimmy Cooper
	Melinda Clarke	...	Julie Cooper
	Rachel Bilson	...	Summer Roberts
	Christopher Cousins	...	Greg Fischer
	Samaire Armstrong	...	Anna Stern
	Ruth Williamson	...	Peggy
	Ashley Hartman	...	Holly Fischer
	Adam Grimes	...	Nordlund
	Shailene Woodley	...	Kaitlin Cooper
	Barry Wiggins	...	Steve
	Paul Witten	...	Fashion Coordinator
	Milby Barron	...	Cashier (as Laura Milby)

Season 1, Episode 5: The Outsider

2 September 2003
Ryan takes a job at the Crab Shack diner where a co-worker, named Donnie, might mean bad news for the Newport kids when he takes Ryan and Seth out to party queen Holly Fischer's parties where drugs and alcohol flow freely. Ryan asks Marissa out on a date, and when Luke again tries to intervene, Donnie decides to take matters in his own hands when he tries to starve off Luke... with a gun. Meanwhile, Sandy attempts to help Jimmy sort out his life, and gives him some bad news that be may go to jail for his unauthorized loans to cover his tracks. Also, Julie reveals a long-held secret to Kirsten about her past.

	Peter Gallagher	...	Sandy Cohen
	Kelly Rowan	...	Kirsten Cohen
	Benjamin McKenzie	...	Ryan Atwood
	Mischa Barton	...	Marissa Cooper
	Adam Brody	...	Seth Cohen
	Chris Carmack	...	Luke Ward
	Tate Donovan	...	Jimmy Cooper
	Melinda Clarke	...	Julie Cooper
	Rachel Bilson	...	Summer Roberts
	Paul Wesley	...	Donnie (as Paul Wasilewski)
	Kimberly Oja	...	Taryn Baker (as Kim Oja)
	Ashley Hartman	...	Holly Fischer
	Kimberly Stanphill	...	Betsy
	Devin Mills	...	Karen
	Robert A. Guthrie	...	Crowbar Kid (as Robert Guthrie)
	Michelle Dominique	...	Girlfriend (uncredited)

Season 1, Episode 6: The Girlfriend

9 September 2003
Kirsten's uptight father, Caleb Nichol, comes for a visit along with his new girlfriend, Gabrielle, a 24-year-old model. Caleb does not hesitate to speak his mind and immediately angers both Sandy and Ryan, and browbeats Seth, with constant criticism with their backgrounds, while Gabrielle makes a move on Ryan. Kirsten finds her job at Caleb's company, Newport Group, in jeopardy, while Sandy considers making a change. Meanwhile, Luke approaches Marissa and tells her that he wants a second chance with her, much to Ryan's disappointment. Also, Summer makes the moves on Seth, who wonders if her feelings are real or if she just using him.

	Peter Gallagher	...	Sandy Cohen
	Kelly Rowan	...	Kirsten Cohen
	Benjamin McKenzie	...	Ryan Atwood
	Mischa Barton	...	Marissa Cooper
	Adam Brody	...	Seth Cohen
	Chris Carmack	...	Luke Ward
	Tate Donovan	...	Jimmy Cooper
	Melinda Clarke	...	Julie Cooper
	Rachel Bilson	...	Summer Roberts
	Alan Dale	...	Caleb Nichol
	Nichole Hiltz	...	Gabrielle
	Mark Heidelberger	...	Waiter at Party (uncredited)

Season 1, Episode 7: The Escape

16 September 2003
Ryan, Seth, Marissa and Summer plan an end-of-summer trip down to Tijuana, Mexico (aka: the TJ). Luke wants to tag along with them to try to get back together with Marissa, but she later changes her mind about him when she catches Luke making the moves on Holly Fischer. Back in Newport, Jimmy has plans of his own to get out of his financial and legal problems, which don't sit well with Marissa or Julie. Sandy gets a new job at a large prestigious law firm, which Kirsten can't understand why.

	Peter Gallagher	...	Sandy Cohen
	Kelly Rowan	...	Kirsten Cohen
	Benjamin McKenzie	...	Ryan Atwood
	Mischa Barton	...	Marissa Cooper
	Adam Brody	...	Seth Cohen
	Chris Carmack	...	Luke Ward
	Tate Donovan	...	Jimmy Cooper
	Bonnie Somerville	...	Rachel Hoffman
	Rachel Bilson	...	Summer Roberts
	Ashley Hartman	...	Holly Fischer
	Mary Castro	...	Pole Dancer (uncredited)
	Shane Ryan	...	Club Kid in Fight (uncredited)

Season 1, Episode 8: The Rescue

29 October 2003
While Marissa is in a hospital in Newport recovering from her near-fatal drug overdose in Mexico, Julie unfairly blames Ryan for her condition and forbids him from seeing Marissa, who does not appreciate the help. Meanwhile, Sandy starts his new job, but finds himself surprised by the case work. Kirsten finds herself surprised by Sandy's new co-worker, the attractive Rachel. Also, Ryan enrolls at his new school, with conditions after his past life in Chino is revealed. Ryan and Sandy then stage an intervention for Julie about her handling of everything in which she lets Marissa stay with Jimmy who moves out and rents a small apartment for himself.

	Peter Gallagher	...	Sandy Cohen
	Kelly Rowan	...	Kirsten Cohen
	Benjamin McKenzie	...	Ryan Atwood
	Mischa Barton	...	Marissa Cooper
	Adam Brody	...	Seth Cohen
	Chris Carmack	...	Luke Ward
	Tate Donovan	...	Jimmy Cooper
	Bonnie Somerville	...	Rachel Hoffman
	Melinda Clarke	...	Julie Cooper
	Rachel Bilson	...	Summer Roberts
	Rosalind Chao	...	Dr. Kim
	April Grace	...	Dr. Burke

Season 1, Episode 9: The Heights

5 November 2003
At the opening day of the new school year, Ryan doesn't feel like he fits in at his new school of Harbor High, and Luke doesn't make the situation any better when he and his jock friends continue to bully and harass both him and Seth, who does like being at school any more than Ryan. Meanwhile, Sandy accepts a case at his new job, a case that will test his relationship with Kirsten and her father Caleb. Anna and Seth hatch a plan to make Seth feel better with his current situation. Also, Ryan and Luke confront Marissa and force her to choose one of them.

	Peter Gallagher	...	Sandy Cohen
	Kelly Rowan	...	Kirsten Cohen
	Benjamin McKenzie	...	Ryan Atwood
	Mischa Barton	...	Marissa Cooper
	Adam Brody	...	Seth Cohen
	Chris Carmack	...	Luke Ward
	Tate Donovan	...	Jimmy Cooper (credit only)
	Bonnie Somerville	...	Rachel Hoffman
	Rachel Bilson	...	Summer Roberts
	Samaire Armstrong	...	Anna Stern
	Rosalind Chao	...	Dr. Kim
	Eric Allan Kramer	...	Soccer Coach
	Ashley Hartman	...	Holly Fischer
	Melissa Strom	...	Girl #1
	Sarah Carroll	...	Girl #2
	Adam Vanderwielen	...	Balloon Artist (uncredited)

Season 1, Episode 10: The Perfect Couple

12 November 2003
Having chose Ryan over Luke, Marissa wants to make plans for their first romantic date together, while Ryan does not know how to behave for his first date with Marissa. Seth takes matters into his own hands involving getting to like Summer, but gets taken in with Anna whom also develops feelings for him too. Meanwhile, Kristen finds Caleb with another woman, that being Julie Cooper, while Sandy continues to resist temptation with his co-worker Rachel.

	Peter Gallagher	...	Sandy Cohen
	Kelly Rowan	...	Kirsten Cohen
	Benjamin McKenzie	...	Ryan Atwood
	Mischa Barton	...	Marissa Cooper
	Adam Brody	...	Seth Cohen
	Chris Carmack	...	Luke Ward (credit only)
	Tate Donovan	...	Jimmy Cooper
	Bonnie Somerville	...	Rachel Hoffman
	Melinda Clarke	...	Julie Cooper
	Rachel Bilson	...	Summer Roberts
	Samaire Armstrong	...	Anna Stern
	Alan Dale	...	Caleb Nichol
	Shailene Woodley	...	Kaitlin Cooper
	Josh Kloss	...	Chip Saunders
	Kelly McCracken	...	Riviera Photographer

Season 1, Episode 11: The Homecoming

19 November 2003
On Thanksgiving Day, Ryan ventures to his hometown in Chino to help his imprisoned brother, Trey, with some business he has, while Marissa tags along with Ryan to get a look at the neighborhood where he was born and raised, but it brings out some bad situations and unpleasant trips down memory lane for Ryan. Back in Newport, Kristen invites Caleb and Julie over for Thanksgiving dinner where Seth takes the player role of playing both Summer and Anna. But he does not play it well, leading to both of the girls running into each other and learning about Seth's two-timing act.

	Peter Gallagher	...	Sandy Cohen
	Kelly Rowan	...	Kirsten Cohen
	Benjamin McKenzie	...	Ryan Atwood
	Mischa Barton	...	Marissa Cooper
	Adam Brody	...	Seth Cohen
	Chris Carmack	...	Luke Ward (credit only)
	Tate Donovan	...	Jimmy Cooper
	Bonnie Somerville	...	Rachel Hoffman
	Melinda Clarke	...	Julie Cooper
	Rachel Bilson	...	Summer Roberts
	Samaire Armstrong	...	Anna Stern
	Alan Dale	...	Caleb Nichol
	Navi Rawat	...	Theresa Diaz
	Gina Gallego	...	Eva
	Demetrius Navarro	...	Arturo
	Santiago Douglas	...	Gattas
	Bradley Stryker	...	Trey Atwood

Season 1, Episode 12: The Secret

26 November 2003
Ryan learns more about Luke when they're paired for a school science project which is that Luke isn't the macho tough guy he puts out to his friends, but he is quite a nice person with a perfect home life. But things take a sudden turn when Ryan and Luke stumble upon a secret of Luke's father's homosexuality. The next day, the news of Luke's father is the talk of the whole school and the town resulting in negative reactions to Luke from his friends, in which he blames Ryan who denies telling anyone about his father being gay. Meanwhile, Kristen continues to avoid Jimmy over their disastrous Thanksgiving dinner encounter, while Sandy has some advice for Jimmy over his legal problems which doesn't set well with Julie over selling their house to pay off the money he lost.

	Peter Gallagher	...	Sandy Cohen
	Kelly Rowan	...	Kirsten Cohen
	Benjamin McKenzie	...	Ryan Atwood
	Mischa Barton	...	Marissa Cooper
	Adam Brody	...	Seth Cohen
	Chris Carmack	...	Luke Ward
	Tate Donovan	...	Jimmy Cooper
	Melinda Clarke	...	Julie Cooper
	Rachel Bilson	...	Summer Roberts
	Samaire Armstrong	...	Anna Stern
	Brian McNamara	...	Carson Ward
	Kimberly Oja	...	Taryn Baker (as Kim Oja)
	Kevin West	...	Mr. Bendis
	Kate Rodger	...	Meredith Ward
	Katherine Disque	...	Lynn
	Danielle Bisutti	...	Joan
	Austin Dolan	...	Brad Ward
	Shane Haboucha	...	Eric Ward
	Rand Holdren	...	Ron
	Jeffrey J. Dashnaw	...	Jamie (as J.J. Dashnaw)
	Ryan Bundra	...	Kid #1
	Nick Bundra	...	Kid #2
	Gregory Zarian	...	Gus (uncredited)

Season 1, Episode 13: The Best Chrismukkah Ever

3 December 2003
Ryan is officially introduced to the bi-religious holiday of 'Chrismukkah', thanks to Seth who has set this up for his parents; the Catholic Kristin and the Jewish Sandy. At the same time, Seth insists he has two Godly forces helping him as he continues to play both Summer and Anna by claiming he has chosen the other. Meanwhile, Marissa slides more into depression and debauchery over her family life problems and gets arrested for shoplifting with Ryan. It gets worse when she gets drunk at Seth's 'Chrismukkah' party and nearly gets arrested for drunk driving while Ryan covers for her, and afterwords gets into a fight with her saying she can't do this to herself anymore. Kirsten does something that could cost her more than just her job over speaking out of her father Caleb's shady business deals. Summer and Anna find out about Seth's playing of them and decide to give him a 'very special gift' to make him choose which one he wants to be with.

	Peter Gallagher	...	Sandy Cohen
	Kelly Rowan	...	Kirsten Cohen
	Benjamin McKenzie	...	Ryan Atwood
	Mischa Barton	...	Marissa Cooper
	Adam Brody	...	Seth Cohen
	Chris Carmack	...	Luke Ward (credit only)
	Tate Donovan	...	Jimmy Cooper
	Melinda Clarke	...	Julie Cooper
	Rachel Bilson	...	Summer Roberts
	Samaire Armstrong	...	Anna Stern
	Alan Dale	...	Caleb Nichol
	Taylor Handley	...	Oliver Trask
	Todd Sherry	...	Waiter
	Mark Daniel Cade	...	Security Guard