Characters / The O.C.

Main Characters

Ryan Atwood

Ryan Atwood (portrayed by Ben McKenzie)

• Abusive Parents: Frank Atwood and many of Ryan's mother's boyfriends. Ryan gets hit in the face by one five minutes into the Pilot.
• Badass Bookworm: Ryan is definitely a badass, and is later shown to get very good marks despite his standoffish attitude towards academics.
• Bad Liar: Being honest by nature, Ryan is bad at lying.
• Beware the Quiet Ones: He's stoic, taciturn and usually reserved and level-headed, but has a violent side due to his rough upbringing. He gets better, though.
• Book Dumb: His school grades are not necessarily bad, but as smart as he is, he could do better. Subverted later on as, while his attitude remains somewhat reluctant, he's revealed to get very good grades while living in Newport.
• Brilliant, but Lazy: He's very intelligent and easily gets good marks, but it seems doesn't care too much about school most of the time. Though it's disillusionment more than laziness.
• Broken Bird: A male teen example, who has become stoic and melancholic because of his past.
• Brooding Boy, Gentle Girl: The brooding boy to Lindsay's gentle girl.
• Byronic Hero: Dark and Troubled Past? Check. Intelligent? Check. Physically attractive? Check. A brooding, troubled and introspective loner? Oh yes. He has many traits, except moral ambiguity, being actually a very good natured and kind-hearted Hero with Bad Publicity.
  • It also must be said that, while as a younger boy he had a tendency to get into trouble, he still isn't self-destructive as Marissa by far, fortunately living a healthy life.
• Character Development: He becomes less short-tempered as the series progresses, and goes from a more aloof, brooding and hotheaded teenager to a quieter, levelheaded Nice Guy; still, he can't tolerate injustice.
• Chick Magnet: Attracts the attention of Summer, Marissa, Gabrielle, Theresa, Lindsay, Sadie, Taylor, and his one-night stand Chloe.
• Chronic Hero Syndrome: Lampshaded at separate times by different characters in Season 1, 2, 3, and 4. One episode in Season 3 had Kirsten helping Ryan to figure out he doesn't need to help every Damsel in Distress anymore. One episode in Season 4 had Sandy helping Ryan to figure out he needs to help every Damsel in Distress because it's "his thing" and he "shouldn't turn his back on that".
• Deadpan Snarker: Leaning more to the Deadpan side of this trope.
• Delinquents: Subverted, but he had this reputation, mostly due to his brother (who is an actual delinquent).
• Doom Magnet: He is accused of being one early in the show by Julie.
• Fish out of Water: During his first months in Newport but he eventually grows out of it.
• Foil: To Seth - while the latter's fairly outgoing, quite impractical, carefree and witty, Ryan is brooding and Street Smart. Ryan had Abusive Parents (at least his father and the stepfathers he had), Seth has Good Parents. Ryan is a naturally selfless guy who comes from a poor family, while Seth is rich, spoiled and used to be pretty selfish most of the time, although he gets better. They are also a foil to each other appearance-wise, with Ryan being a ruggedly handsome hunk and Seth being a geeky Pretty Boy.
• Foolish Sibling, Responsible Sibling: The responsible to Trey's foolish.
• Four-Philosophy Ensemble: The Realist. He's ultimately the Only Sane Man, well-balanced and grounded in reality.
• Four-Temperament Ensemble: Mostly Melancholic, with shades of Choleric due to his temper.
• Genius Bruiser: He's very tough and he has been described as highly intelligent.
• Good Is Not Nice: Mostly subverted, as he really is a nice person, but his exterior would say otherwise. He is a good person at heart and always does the right thing but he isn't exactly affable at first.
• Good Is Not Soft: A prime example: as expected from The Hero, he doesn't hesitate to harshly punish evil.
• Hair of Gold, Heart of Gold: He has blond hair and is immensely good hearted and selfless. He's The Hero, after all.
• Happily Adopted: He goes from the Orphan's Ordeal to this after being adopted by the Cohens.
• The Hero: Counts as this as he's the main character and the first one who acts when the situation requires it, but also because he's definitely heroic.
• Hero with Bad Publicity: He's actually a good and heroic person, despite his reputation as outsider/bad boy from Chino.
• Heterosexual Life-Partners: He and Seth eventually become best friends other than Foster brothers.
• Hidden Depths: He's always been interested in architecture, gets good grades especially in scientific subjects, and becomes an architect in the end, indeed.
• Hunk: Despite his quite short stature, he's an attractive, muscular and manly young man.
• Insomnia Episode: In "The Sleeping Beauty", where after briefly falling into a coma, he and Taylor are in a parallel world.
• Knight in Sour Armor: He is a very good and heroic young man, who is quite cynical due to his crappy upbringing, but always does the right thing nonetheless.
• Mr. Fanservice: He often gets ShirtlessScenes and is reasonably attractive and hunky.
• Nice Guy: Deep down he's a kind and compassionate guy, despite his rough, aloof, brooding exterior. His genuinely selfless nature is his most prominent trait.
• The Napoleon: 5’8 with a short temper to match.
• Not So Stoic: Despite his reserved and aloof exterior he's pretty Hot-Blooded by nature. And despite coming across as stoic, he's definitely not emotionless, and especially being kind and selfless prominently shows he'll never be apathetic towards anyone. Really, there's no single character in need he doesn't help.
• Only Sane Man: Ryan is overall the most realistic and grounded of his friends, especially compared to Seth and Marissa.
• Opposites Attract: Ryan/Marissa (wrong side of the tracks + (seemingly) perfect debutante) and Ryan/Taylor (Book Dumb introvert + intellectual Genki Girl).
• Parental Abandonment: Ryan never had a father figure for much of his life. In regards to his biological family, a major recurring theme was Ryan being abandoned, Dawn abandoned him twice.
• Perpetual Frowner: He rarely cracks a smile and often has a blank or scowling expression on his face.
• Rags to Riches: A poor kid who is taken in by the very wealthy Cohen family.
• Red Oni, Blue Oni:
  • He the Red Hot-Blooded Oni to Seth's relaxed Blue Oni, although it's arguably Zig-Zagged, as Seth is more extroverted while Ryan is rather brooding.
  • But he also the blue to Trey's and Taylor's red. Trey is far more choleric and hot-headed than him, and Taylor is very neurotic and overemotional.
• Savvy Guy, Energetic Girl: When paired with neurotic Go-Getter Girl Taylor in season 4.
• The Scapegoat: In one way or another, he's almost always scapegoated for something.
• Screw the Rules, I'm Doing What's Right!: Very much so. Ryan is tough and protective, and will never be a coward: when he has to protect people he loves, his rough side comes out. While his methods can be harsh and violent when punishing evil, he always does what's right. On a D&D chart, he'd be Chaotic Good (or Neutral Good with more Character Development when he becomes calmer).
• Sensitive Guy and Manly Man: The tough, badass Manly Man to Seth's geeky, naive Sensitive Guy.
• Smoking Is Not Cool: In fact, in the pilot episode it's shown he was an occasional smoker, but he immediately kicks it.
• The Stoic: He's not big on talking, and saying he's reserved about his emotions would be an understatement.
• Straight Man and Wise Guy: The stoic, brooding Straight Man to Seth's geeky, sarcastic Wise Guy.
• Took a Level in Kindness: Downplayed. He never was really a jerk, but he was quite an aloof and brooding hothead, though it soon becomes blatant that he's actually a Nice Guy at heart.
• Troubled, but Cute: A troubled teen from Chino with Parental Issues and abandonment issues, who is also Mr. Fanservice, has a really good heart and attracts some female characters.

Seth Cohen

Seth Cohen (portrayed by Adam Brody)

• Author Avatar: Seth Cohen is Josh Schwartz.
• Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: Seth arguably started as one or Took a Level in Jerkass; while he comes across as an awkward, friendly and adorable geek, he actually has a big ego, talking very much about himself most of the time, definitely doesn't like it when others change the subject (to the point he gets mad and nervous), and can be a cowardly Consummate Liar and somewhat petty, especially when things don't go his way. This is still downplayed, as he's not that nasty and he still is a genuinely good person, despite his self-centeredness.
• Bunny-Ears Lawyer: Socially awkward and sometimes goofy, but this certainly doesn't make him any less smart.
• Can't Hold His Liquor: Seth Cohen is stealth, and if he drinks it's hilarious.
• Chick Magnet: He attracts the attention of Summer, Anna, Alex, Taylor, and Kate (a One-Shot Character played by Paris Hilton).
• Classical Anti-Hero: Seth is not exactly flawless: he's pretty insecure, self-absorbed, kind of an apathetic coward, socially awkward and sort of a loser. He would be a loner if it wasn't for Ryan and for Summer, respectively his best friend and girlfriend, who understand he's ultimately a good natured guy with a kind heart (although with a bit of a bratty Jerk with a Heart of Gold streak).
• Cloudcuckoolander: He kinda lives in his own world, as he's a geek who loves comic books, video games and indie rock, living in a place where most young people are shallow jocks and party girls. He's absolutely able to be logical and levelheaded if the situation calls for it, though.
• Consummate Liar: Seth can be this at times. Especially when situations don't go his way and he has to save his own skin, to the expense of others. Summer obviously can't stand his insincerity; he gets better, though.
• Deadpan Snarker: Incarnate. His trademark sarcasm is a notable aspect of his personality, and inherited from his father. However, he doesn't really want to irritate others, despite being sometimes mistaken for being ill-mannered.
• Ditzy Genius: He's clearly very intelligent, with a quick wit, and a good logical thinker, but socially speaking, he's pretty naive and awkward. This is justified due to the frivolous and materialistic society that surrounds him, as he has no problems becoming friends with people who aren't shallow and brainless (and, of course, said people are even more likely to befriend him if they're kinda quirky).
• Endearingly Dorky: A socially awkward, self-proclaimed geek and comic book lover with a great sense of humor. He's shown to be a Chick Magnet, being able to attract popular girls like Summer, tough girls like Alex, and girls who are as nerdy as him like Anna and Taylor.
• Fanboy: Seth is a nerd and loves comic books, anime, and video games.
• Foil: To Ryan. He's outgoing, quite impractical, carefree and witty, while Ryan is brooding and Street Smart. Ryan had Abusive Parents (at least his father and the stepfathers he had), Seth has Good Parents. Ryan is a naturally selfless guy who comes from a poor family, while Seth is rich, spoiled and used to be pretty selfish most of the time, although he gets better. They foil each other also appearance-wise, as Ryan is quite the ruggedly handsome hunk and Seth is a geeky Pretty Boy.
• Four-Temperament Ensemble: A blend of Sanguine and Phlegmatic. He's quite outgoing, friendly and cheerful, but not bubbly and energetic as Summer.
• Four-Philosophy Ensemble: The Apathetic, as he can be cowardly and mostly doesn't care about the society that surrounds him, and therefore tends to live in his own world.
• Fun Personified: He's an Endearingly Dorky, funny and rather eccentric guy, is a geek to the bone, and his nearly constant Deadpan Snarker moments combined with his quirks are hilarious.
• Give Geeks a Chance: For somebody who is supposed to be a socially awkward geek and outcast, Seth seems to have little trouble attracting beautiful young women.
• Heterosexual Life-Partners: He and Ryan eventually become best friends other than adoptive brothers.
• High-School Sweethearts: With Summer. They get married in the series finale.
• Intelligence Equals Isolation: In the beginning of the series, though he has glaring social quirks that contribute as well.
• It's All About Me: He can be incredibly self-absorbed and gets mad when other people change the subject.
• Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Downplayed - and he mostly evolves into a Nice Guy. In the first season mostly he was self-absorbed, kind of a liar and slightly petty at times, but otherwise, especially later on, he's shown to be a genuinely kind person, who is ultimately not as mischievous as he looks, and to be fair he's just a bit cowardly and insecure rather than a true jerk. He loves Summer more than anything, and most of his selfless and sweet moments occur when he's with her, or when the situation involves her. When he wasn't accepted to his preferred university, and she refused to go without him, he broke up with her and told her he didn't love her anymore just so she would go. And he clearly did still love her. And how can we forget all the times where he looked after her and his mother while they were drunk? Plus, as far as he's concerned, Ryan is his best friend and brother and he will do whatever is in Ryan's best interests (even when Ryan doesn't want it).
• Jewish and Nerdy: Geeky and Jewish on his father's side.
• Jewish Smartass: Half-Jewish, 100% a smartass.
• The Lancer: To Ryan's The Hero, as he's his best friend and also serves as his Foil. Where Ryan acts, Seth gives advice, and he's more of a thinker than a doer.
• Large Ham: He's very emphatic and takes what he says very seriously, getting mad if others change the subject.
• Lonely Rich Kid: Before Ryan's arrival, he had no friends at all.
• Motor Mouth: Especially when nervous, which happens a lot.
• Mr. Fanservice: He gets a couple of Shirtless Scenes.
• Mushroom Samba: In Season 4, Seth takes hallucinogenic berries in an attempt to "heal his animus". He then has a vision of walking through a tripped-out version of the Cohen house until he walks into his room. His room now has a pool in it, where Seth's spirit animal, an otter, flops out of the pool. Seth begins to talk to him. When the vision ends, Seth has been renewed spiritually by 'saving his spirit animal', and is thus ready to love again.
• Nerds Are Sexy: Played by the handsome Adam Brody and has quite a few girls attracted to him on the show.
• Nice Guy: Despite his tendency to be self-absorbed, he Took A Level In K Indness and is ultimately a kind and good-natured person.
• Nice Jewish Boy: A snarkier version of one but one nevertheless.
• Opposites Attract: Seth/Summer, nerd + popular party girl.
• Pretty Boy: Of the cute and nerdy variety. Serves as a foil to Ryan's hunk, as he's not very muscular, rather slim and with a gentler appearance.
• Red Oni, Blue Oni: He's the blue to Summer's red, as he's more relaxed while Summer is a Genki Girl.
  • Zig-Zagged with Ryan. Ryan is more Hot-Blooded, but is also quite brooding, while Seth is more relaxed but also outgoing.
• Savvy Guy, Energetic Girl: Snarky Savvy Guy to bubbly, gossipy Genki Girl Summer.
• Self-Deprecation: Seth's weapon of choice.
• Sensitive Guy and Manly Man: The geeky, naive Sensitive Guy to Ryan's stoic, badass Manly Man.
• The Stoner: In season 3, after failing to get into Brown.
• Tall, Dark, and Snarky: He's taller than Ryan, dark-haired, handsome and definitely a Deadpan Snarker.
• Took a Level in Jerkass: As mentioned above, it's arguable whether Seth did this or started as a bit of a Bitch in Sheep's Clothing.
• Uke: A rare, male het example, to Summer's Seme. He also attracts a couple of seme-ish girls throughout the series.

Marissa Cooper

Marissa Cooper (portrayed by Mischa Barton)

• The Alcoholic: In season 2, she struggles with alcohol and depression. She already drank quite a lot in season 1, and it was at that moment that Ryan started to be very worried about her.
• All Girls Want Bad Boys: Besides Ryan, there's also Volchok in season 3. She is aware that he is "bad" by most people's standards, but continues to engage in a relationship with him until he cheats on her.
• Anyone Can Die: Especially surprising considering there was no real warning for it in the press, and the character dies on the way to a bus trip.
• Attention Whore: Craving attention from her family through her substance abuse and questionable relationships.
• Broken Bird: Starting off as a privileged do-gooder whose family falls apart, and is then forced to deal with her conniving mother, negligent father, controlling stepfather, and basically everyone around her ignoring her rapidly declinging mental health. She's also almost raped by her boyfriend's brother and is then forced to shoot said brother to save Ryan, which sees her kicked out of her school and forced to move away from her friends and boyfriend. And then there's everything else she goes through in Season 3, including watching a friend die, Ryan breaking up with her and falling into a borderline-abusive relationship.
• Byronic Heroine: Even more than Ryan, as she's similar personality wise, but is by far more self-destructive than him. And this very troubled and conflicted girl dies in the end.
• Damsel in Distress: She's rescued by Ryan more than a few times.
• Dude Magnet: Marissa attracts the attention of Ryan, Luke, Oliver, DJ, Trey, Johnny and Volchok.
• Doom Magnet: Not really her fault, but she does attract a lot of drama. Most of it is due to external circumstances for which she is constantly (and unfairly) blamed.
• Even the Girls Want Her: Bisexual girl Alex.
• Fallen Princess:
  • Her family went bankrupt thanks to her father and she lost her popularity due to the revelation that her father was stealing from his clients (most of whom are parents of her friends), finally sealing her fate when she overdoses in Tijuana in the first season.
  • In season 3, Marissa is once again broken (despite having been rich again, thanks to her mother marrying Caleb in season 2), due to her stepfather's secret bankruptcy, and she's expelled from the private high school and begins attending public school due to Trey's shooting.
• Four-Temperament Ensemble: Like Ryan, a Melancholic with shades of Choleric; she's troubled and had an impulsive streak, though unlike Ryan she's also self-destructive and addicted to alcohol (and briefly drugs, before her death).
• Four-Philosophy Ensemble: The Conflicted. Very conflicted. She's insecure, often self-destructive, and is definitely vulnerable and emotionally unstable. This is mostly due to her family situation, though.
• Freudian Excuse: Her family situation certainly is the main cause of her emotional instability.
• Girl Next Door: Literally to Seth and Ryan, despite being a rebellious Broken Bird rich girl unlike the typical Girl Next Door character.
• Hard-Drinking Party Girl: Although she is much more vulnerable than the typical "party girl".
• Heterosexual Life-Partners: With Summer. They're best friends for a long time until Marissa's death.
• Horrible Judge of Character: In the Oliver story-line of Season 3. Her later dalliance with Volchok doesn't count because she is fully aware he is bad for her.
• Ms. Fanservice: Often wears revealing clothes, has some bikini scenes, and especially her scene where she wears a naughty midriff-exposing schoolgirl outfit (to help her sister, tricking a boy making him believe she was a stripper) is very fanservicey.
• Ms. Vice Girl: Marissa is a good person but has several bad habits, especially drinking, and later on becomes drug-addicted. This is due to her emotional instability.
• Nice Girl: Marissa really is a kind and loving person, with good intentions at heart, despite all the troubles she went through and her self-destructive behaviour.
• Opposites Attract: Ryan/Marissa (wrong side of the tracks + (seemingly) perfect debutante).
• Rebellious Princess: A privileged rich girl with a history of substance abuse and rebellious behavior.
• Second Love: To Ryan. The first was Theresa.
• Smoking Is Not Cool: Early on, she's seen smoking at times but kicks the habit. Sadly, she becomes drug-addicted later on...
• Socialite: Like her mother and her friends, this is her lifestyle in Newport.
• Statuesque Stunner: She's pretty tall, attractive with a slender physique.
• Tomboy and Girly Girl: Girly Girl to Alex's Tomboy.
• Tragic Heroine: Word of God said her death in the series perfectly fits her troubled, tragic character.
• Trauma Conga Line: She goes through some traumatic experiences before dying in season 3.
• Uptown Girl: To Ryan (the poor kid from the wrong side of the tracks). This is the primary storyline for the first half of the show.

Summer Roberts

Summer Roberts (portrayed by Rachel Bilson)

• All Girls Like Ponies: Summer and Princess Sparkle.
• All Girls Want Bad Boys: Initially was attracted to Ryan due to his brooding "bad boy" image.
• Ascended Extra: Summer wasn't even a series regular until halfway through the first season, until it became apparent that audiences responded well to her romance with Seth.
• Book Dumb: The writers seemed unsure whether Summer was merely Book Dumb or The Ditz. She seems to vary with different episodes, and at least one episode hinted she was more a Seemingly Profound Fool ("what is a Jihad?").
• Brilliant, but Lazy: It's discovered in season 3 that she has higher SAT scores than Seth, and Dr. Kim notes to Summer that every few years Harbor has a student with high aptitude and potential that remains untapped as they spent their time gossiping and shopping rather than studying.
• Catchphrase: "Eww".
• Character Development: In the first episode she was more like Holly Fischer, going as far as to dump the drunk Marissa on her front door and flirt with Luke... Later, the shallow, somewhat bitchy party girl becomes a Nice Girl who's a loyal friend and a bit of an airhead.
• Daddy's Girl: Summer and her dad really love each other and have a very good relationship. She always describes her dad as her best friend.
• Deadpan Snarker: Leaning more to the snarker side of this trope.
• Defrosting Ice Queen: Part of her Character Development in season 1, although to be fair her act was vain and materialistic rather than icy.
• The Ditz: Ultimately subverted; at the beginning, she's slightly Book Dumb and appears vain and materialistic, but turns out to be Brilliant, but Lazy and is definitely smarter than she looks.
• Divergent Character Evolution: At the beginning, Summer and Holly were distingushable only by hair colour, both being vapid, self absorbed party girls who happened to be friends of Marissa. Summer grew more likeable, became a main character and hooked up with Seth. Holly had an affair with Marissa's boyfriend and was quickly Put on a Bus after the cheating was revealed.
• Dude Magnet: Just watch all of boys waiting to kiss her during "The Kissing Booth" event in 1x20.
• Four-Temperament Ensemble: Sanguine. She's very energetic, has a bright and optimistic outlook on life, and is ultimately a very sweet and kind girl. She is also definitely emotional and can act on impulse.
• Four-Philosophy Ensemble: The Optimist. She's the Genki Girl who is cheerful and happy most of the time, and has an optimistic outlook on life.
• Genki Girl: Has a very bubbly personality, and an optimistic outlook on life.
• Granola Girl: In Season 4 she becomes an environmentalist.
• Hidden Depths: Thanks to Character Development she goes from a slightly bitchy airheaded bimbo to... well, a nice airheaded bimbo and then to nice airheaded bimbo with a conscience.
• Heterosexual Life-Partners: With Marissa. They're best friends for a long time until Marissa's death. Becomes this with Taylor too.
• High-School Sweethearts: With Seth. They get married in the series finale.
• Jerkass Façade: It's shown pretty soon that she isn't by any means vain and materialistic as you may think at the beginning of the series.
• Jerk with a Heart of Gold: At the beginning, she was a bit bitchy at times; later on however she evolves into a Nice Girl. She has a genuinely good heart, is a good friend to Marissa and Ryan and a loving girlfriend to Seth.
• Last-Name Basis: She persists in calling Seth by his last name, Cohen, even after they're in a relationship.
• Lovable Alpha Bitch: Or more precisely, her Character Development goes from a bit of a rude Alpha Bitch to a Nice Girl, becoming more of a somewhat ditzy, but likable girlfriend for Seth.
• The McCoy: Easily the most open one about her emotions among the main cast.
• Meaningful Name: The name Summer fits her optimistic, happy-go-lucky Genki Girl personality.
• Ms. Fanservice: Often wears revealing clothes. She even wears a bikini at some point.
• Nice Girl: Post-Character Development. Summer has an incredibly good heart deep down, and it's revealed pretty soon that she's actually really nice, despite her initial shallow, somewhat bitchy act.
• Opposites Attract: Summer/Seth, nerd + popular party girl.
• Pint-Sized Powerhouse: She's rather short, but is physically stronger than Seth, who even lampshaded that. Also there is the off-scren hit she gave him in 3x12 which proven with his mark on his face.
• Plucky Girl: She's the most optimistic of the quarter, not giving up when the situation is complicated, as during the Season 2 Chrismukkah episode for instance.
• Promotion to Opening Titles: Promoted to the opening credits halfway through season 1.
• Rich Bitch: Ultimately subverted, but she came across as a snobby brat in early episodes.
• Savvy Guy, Energetic Girl: Snarky Savvy Guy Seth to bubbly, gossipy Genki Girl Summer.
• Seme: A rare, female het example, to Seth's Uke.
• Smarter Than You Look: Later episodes reveal that she's by far more intelligent than she appears.
• Took a Level in Kindness: At the beginning, she was a bit of a bitchy Jerk with a Heart of Gold, but then she becomes a full-fledged Nice Girl thanks to Character Development.
• Tsundere: Type B by season 4. By that time she's easily one of the nicest characters in the series, and yet she's not above getting nervous due to Seth's antics.

Taylor Townsend

Taylor Townsend (portrayed by Autumn Reeser)

• Abusive Parents: Her cold-hearted and judgmental mother.
• Academic Alpha Bitch: She starts out as an extremely competitive power-grabbing overachiever who antagonizes Summer. In early season 3 she also acts like a stereotypical Alpha Bitch except she isn't popular at all.
• Alliterative Name: Taylor Townsend
• Ambition Is Evil: Before her Character Development. Although she never was a bad person to begin with, she was somewhat antagonistic, using rather petty and underhanded means to become popular.
• Ascended Extra: A literal example as Autumn Reeser was an actual extra in Season 1.
• Broken Bird: Revealed as one due to her horrible mother.
• Character Development: She definitely Took a Level in Kindness.
• Cloudcuckoolander: She's quite eccentric, has a vivid imagination, and is definitely talkative.
• Cunning Linguist: Fluent in French, Korean, Spanish and Latin.
• Determinator: There are very few things that can stop Taylor from getting what she wants.
• Freudian Excuse: Her cold and unloving mother, Veronica. Who, despite being a massive jerkass and thinking only about herself most of the time, redeems herself in the end.
• Full-Name Basis: Not quite constantly but much more frequently than any other character.
• Genki Girl: She has all the energy of the typical Go-Getter Girl.
• Heel–Face Turn: While she never was villainous, she starts out as an egotistical Smug Snake, before developing into a lovable Genki Girl.
• Heterosexual Life-Partners: With Summer. They grow closer during the two last seasons.
• Iconic Sequel Character: Introduced in season 3, becomes part of the core cast and eventually the main character's Love Interest in the final season.
• I Have No Son!: Gets kicked out of her house by her mother and told she isn't welcome there anymore after her marriage is revealed. Given how her home life was characterized by intense verbal and emotional abuse, it was probably the nicest thing she did for Taylor, albeit unintentionally.
• I Just Want to Be Loved: She will relentlessly pursue anyone who shows her even the slightest amount of affection due to growing up with a heartless, emotionally abusive mother. She at least seems aware of it though. A flashback scene shows that this goes all the way back to her elementary school days, when she instantly traded a school project she'd worked hard on in exchange for an invitation to Summer's birthday party.
• Intelligence Equals Isolation: Though her unpopularity in season 3 was mostly caused by her Academic Alpha Bitch attitude.
• Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Or rather, her Character Development goes from jerk to heart of gold. Initially she was conniving, self-serving, manipulative and Summer's Arch-Enemy. Eventually she has a Heel–Face Turn and becomes a good friend to Summer and the other main characters (as well as Ryan's Love Interest in season 4).
• Manic Pixie Dream Girl: She saves Ryan Atwood from the soulless and brooding world of cage-fighting, "El Guapo Taco", and insomnia.
• Motor Mouth: Once Taylor gets talking, she can't stop, especially when she is excited or panicked about something.
• Nice Girl: Becomes this thanks to Character Development, and it starts when she starts befriending Summer and Seth after her Heel–Face Turn.
• Opposites Attract: Taylor/Ryan, Book Dumb introvert + intellectual Genki Girl.
• Promotion to Love Interest: In season 4, she ends up as the romantic interest of the protagonist (mostly for Pair the Spares reasons).
• Promotion to Opening Titles: Season 4, she is added to the opening credits.
• Remember the New Guy?: She first appears at the start of the third season, but apparently had been going to the same school as the main characters for the entire time. Indeed a later flashback reveals she had been friends (or at least on name terms) with Summer since they had been in elementary school.
• The Rival: Initially she was this to Summer, before her Heel–Face Turn.
• Savvy Guy, Energetic Girl: Energetic Go-Getter Girl to Ryan's The Stoic Savvy Guy.
• Smug Snake: In the beginning, she was an egomaniac, obsessed with popularity and had a somewhat antagonistic role. Then, she Took a Level in Kindness.
• Stalker with a Crush: She stalks Ryan early in their relationship. But it's played for laughs rather than being depicted as creepy, due to Taylor's adorableness.
• Teacher/Student Romance: With Jack Hess, the new Dean, in early season 3.
• Tomboyish Name: Taylor is a unisex name.
• Took a Level in Kindness: Very much so. She goes from an egotistical Smug Snake to a kind Genki Girl.
• When She Smiles: Her entire face seems to light up when she is happy, which usually occurs after an encounter with Seth or Ryan.

Luke Ward

Luke Ward (portrayed by Chris Carmack)

• Amicable Exes: Zig-Zagged with Marissa. She was extremely angry at Luke when she found out he'd been cheating on her, and ends their relationship. Luke is devastated, but eventually comes to accept that he deserved it. After apologizing to her, they decide to remain friends, and they're shown being amicable with one another in later episodes. This comes to a halt when she later finds out Luke's been sleeping with her mom, and she's furious with him to no end. However, after Luke gets into a car accident, they eventually reconcile and part on good terms.
• Bash Brothers: He gets there with Ryan, however short-lived it may have been.
• Big Man on Campus: The popular Newport Beach captain of the water polo team.
• The Bully: Initially, to both Seth and newcomer Ryan.
  Luke: Welcome to the O.C., bitch!
• Fire-Forged Friends: He goes from their bully to a good friend of Ryan and Seth. He's also one of the few people who stands by Ryan during the Oliver arc and sees through Oliver's manipulations.
• Heel–Face Turn: In the early episodes he was pretty much your typical Jerk Jock, but by the end of the first season he had turned into a sympathetic, likable character.
• Hunk: A tall, muscular, handsome and manly young man. As dickish as he might have been...
• Jerk Jock: Early on, as the captain of the water polo team who was dating Marissa and always picking fights with Ryan. He later becomes a Lovable Jock.
• Jerk with a Heart of Gold: He starts out as a complete Jerkass, and eventually becomes a genuinely good friend to the main cast, who is always there to help them.
• May–December Romance: With Julie Cooper, the mother of his ex-girlfriend Marissa.
• Mr. Fanservice: He also has Shirtless Scenes.
• Odd Friendship: With Ryan for the latter half of Season 1, since they start out as enemies. Luke also accepts Ryan's relationship with his ex-girlfriend Marissa
• Pet the Dog: He has several of these before his Heel–Face Turn:
  • Despite instigating a fight with Ryan, he does save Ryan's life when the model home he's living in catches fire and burns down. When the police later arrest Ryan, Luke tells them that the fire was an accident and gets arrested as well.
  • He assists Ryan's mom when she gets drunk on Casino Night.
  • While he's pissed with Marissa because he believes she's cheating on him with Ryan, he does come to check on her after her father gets attacked at Cotillion for embezzling money.
  • He visists Marissa in the hospital after her attempted suicide, and helps Ryan smuggle Marissa out of the hospital when Julie wants to have her institutionalized.
• Put on a Bus: By the end of season one he had become a fairly major character. However, after the season two premiere he is never seen again.
• Really Gets Around: He was cheating on Marissa during their relationship.
• Took a Level in Kindness: He starts becoming nicer after his father comes out as gay and gets ostracized at the high school for it. He eventually comes to accept his father's sexual orientation, begins hanging out with Ryan and Seth more, and shows a more lovable and carefree side to his personality.

Sandy Cohen

Sandy Cohen (portrayed by Peter Gallagher)

• Big Ol' Eyebrows: Portrayed by Peter Gallagher, who is known for having thick eyebrows.
• Brooklyn Rage: He is from The Bronx.
• Deadpan Snarker: Gives his son a run for his money.
• Good Parents: To both Seth and his adopted son Ryan.
• The Idealist: Through and through. He's an idealistic public defender.
• Informed Judaism: He's Jewish but other than having a stereotypical Jewish Mother his Judaism is only infrequently mentioned.
• My Beloved Smother: His mother is a handful to say the least.
• Nice Guy: The creator of the series describes him as "He is never a man who can refuse to help someone". He's kind and compassionate and always does what's right.
• Opposites Attract: Sandy/Kirsten, geeky Jewish liberal lawyer + WASP princess.
• Papa Wolf: Has a quiet but powerful moment after rescuing Seth.
  Sandy: Since the minute you were born I knew, I would never take another easy breath without knowing that you were all right.
• Reasonable Authority Figure: As a father figure, he serves as a moral center, often guiding and supporting Seth and Ryan.

• Supreme Chef: He is a very good cook, in contrast to Kirsten who is a Lethal Chef (although she eventually gets better).
• Trademark Favorite Food: Bagels, since it's a family tradition.

Kirsten Cohen

Kirsten Cohen (portrayed by Kelly Rowan)

• The Alcoholic: In season 2, when her marriage with Sandy begins to deteriorate.
• Blonde Republican Sex Kitten: At one point in the show Sandy mentions to another character that Kirsten is a political conservative. There are also a few points in the show where Kirsten criticizes Sandy's "hippie parenting."
• Broken Bird: Probably the most traditional version, born into a wealthy, emotionally-detached family with a cheating, power-hungry father and an alcoholic mother who dies long before the series begins. She channels this trauma into becoming a "Well Done, Daughter!" Girl and eventual Lady Drunk.
• Deadpan Snarker: Not to her son and husband's extent, but she's still pretty sarcastic.
• Defrosting Ice Queen: Before Ryan joined the family and caused her to soften, although she was rather disillusioned and strict than actually cold. Lampshaded in a touching scene in the fourth season premiere, "The Avengers", when Seth puts together a comic book illustrating the Cohens' lives before he joined the family.
  Kirsten: The ice queen was surrounded by an impenetrable force field and her silver cell phone was her only link to the outside world.
• Good Parents: Like her husband, she's a good parental figure to both Seth and later to Ryan.
• Hair of Gold, Heart of Gold: She may be somewhat distrustful and was a bit distant towards Ryan, but she's undoubtedly kind-hearted and one of the most morally upstanding individuals in the series. And she's a blonde.
• Lady Drunk: Played for laughs in the first season but builds to drama by the end of the second.
• Lethal Chef: Played straight at first, then used as Character Development after the end of season 2.
• Like Parent, Unlike Child: Contrarily to her father, who is a selfish and amoral businessman, Kirsten is a genuinely good hearted and selfless woman who does what's right and cares about others.
• Mama Bear: Like Sandy, she is fiercely protective of her family and friends.
• Nice Girl: Although she used to be somewhat diffident towards Ryan at the beginning, she's a kind and gentle woman, and a good maternal figure.
• Opposites Attract: With Sandy, geeky Jewish liberal lawyer + WASP princess.
• Sugar-and-Ice Personality: In the first episodes; it takes her a bit to warm up to Ryan.

Julie Cooper

Julie Cooper (portrayed by Melinda Clarke)

• Anti-Villain: A Noble Demon. Julie isn't outright evil, but definitely morally ambiguous. She's utterly selfish, opportunistic and greedy, but has redeeming qualities. On a D&D chart, she'd be Chaotic Neutral.
• Chronic Villainy: She switches between trying to be a good mom and being a gold-digging manipulative slut schizophrenically throughout the series.
• Defrosting Ice Queen: Although by far more bitchy than icy, Julie Cooper very gradually becomes more sympathetic as the show goes on. By the final season, she had shed much of the bitchiness that defined her in the show's first few seasons.
• Even Evil Has Loved Ones: Evil is a stretch, as she ultimately isn't a truly bad person, but as cynical and amoral as she is, she still genuinely cares about her daughters and loyal friends such as Kirsten.
• Everyone Has Standards: She may not be the most morally upstanding character in the series, but at least when con artist Charlotte proposes her, she doesn't betray Kirsten, as she considers her as a good friend and she doesn't want to take advantage of her good heart.
• Evil Redhead: Although evil is a stretch, she's definitely one of the most devious, selfish characters. She's also the main antagonist in early seasons.
• Femme Fatale: She uses her beauty to exploit wealthy and influential men... And even to seduce attractive boys such as Luke.
• Fiery Redhead: Has a pretty fiery attitude and is a redhead. And she sometimes acts as a Drama Queen.
• Gold Digger: She marries Caleb Nichol for his money.
• It's All About Me: Julie is very selfish and self-centered. Although, there is nothing that she wouldn't do for her children, notably Marissa.
• Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Selfish and a bitch, sure, but she has her redeeming qualities and really isn't a bad person, although it would be a stretch to say she's a good one.
• Manipulative Bitch: A cunning, manipulative Gold Digger, who would practically do anything for money.
• May–December Romance: Constantly, but the most prominent example would be with Luke Ward. And on the opposite side with Caleb.
• Mrs. Robinson: She has an affair with her daughter's ex-boyfriend.
• Noble Demon: For all her greed, lies, schemes and manipulation, at the end of the day Julie refuses to betray a genuine friend like Kirsten for money, and she genuinely cares about her daughters and loved ones.
• Nominal Hero: She's this being an Anti-Hero and Anti-Villain at the same time, as she's ultimately morally neutral and truly cares only about herself and money.
• Pet the Dog:
  • While she is a Jerkass to Ryan about it, she does take his warnings about Oliver seriously enough to call the school and Oliver's hotel to find out more about him and where his parents are, which shows she's concerned about Marissa's safety around Oliver.
  • She shows genuine concern for Kirsten when she begins drinking more than usual in season 2, and even tries to assist her when she's drunk after Caleb's funeral.
  • Despite being broke in season 3, she refuses to go through on a scam set up by Charlotte that would make both of them rich, telling her she won't betray Kirsten like that. When Charlotte threatens to report her to the cops, Julie calls her bluff and tells her to get out and never come back.
• Promotion to Opening Titles: Along with Summer, she is promoted to the opening credits halfway through season 1.
• Rich Bitch: An opportunistic rich woman who only cares about money.
• Screw the Rules, I Have Money!: As to be expected by such a materialistic woman.
• Socialite: The scheming socialite mother of Marissa.
• Teen Pregnancy: Julie had Marissa when she was 18.
• The Vamp: Not outright evil, but still an Anti Villainous seductress.

Jimmy Cooper

Jimmy Cooper (portrayed by Tate Donovan)

• And Starring: "And Tate Donovan".
• The Bus Came Back: In the season 4 episode "The Chrismukk-huh?".
• Good Parents: He's certainly a better parent to Marissa than Julie is.
• Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Irresponsible and immature, but he loves his daughter Marissa. While he committed crimes because of his personal problems, he's still a good man deep down.
• Put on a Bus: Despite being important enough that he received an And Starring in the opening titles. With his relationship with Hailey ending early in the second season, he kinda just floated around (Literally, he was living on a boat) for the first half of the season as the character had run his course. The writers figured this out towards the middle of the season, so he was written out of with the explanation he was worried, since he was restarting his relationship with Julie, that he was just repeating the cycle that cost him his marriage & reputation so he was going to move to Maui.

Caleb Nichol

Caleb Nichol (portrayed by Alan Dale)

• Batman Gambit: Caleb Nichol almost pulls this off in Season One. This results in Jimmy punching him in the face and ruining his deal.
• Corrupt Corporate Executive: A powerful businessman known for dishonest business dealings and practice.
• Even Evil Has Loved Ones: Caleb is more selfish and amoral rather than outright evil, but in spite of that, he does genuinely care for his family, even if he sucks at showing it.
• Jerkass: An amoral and selfish man who only cares about money.
• The Patriarch: The patriarch of the Nichol family.
• Promotion to Opening Titles: He was promoted at the start of season 2.
• Screw the Rules, I Have Money!: He's an opportunistic, greedy, selfish and amoral businessman, who solves everything with money.
• Villainous Respect: He will never admit it publicly, but he does have a grudging respect for his son-in-law Sandy and what he's able to accomplish as a lawyer. In some ways, he views Sandy as a Worthy Opponent.

Kaitlin Cooper

Kaitlin Cooper (portrayed by Shailene Woodley (Season 1) / Willa Holland (Seasons 3 — 4)

• All Girls Like Ponies: Kaitlin's pony China who had alopecia.
• Ascended Extra: Kaitlin was pretty irrelevant in Season 1 before she was recast and returned in Season 3 and eventually promoted to main cast in Season 4.
• Bratty Teenage Daughter: In season 4, she is portrayed as rebellious and problematic.
• Broken Bird: Most prevalent in the Alternate Universe of "The Chrismuk-huh?" where after Marissa's death in Tijuana, she locked herself in her studies and graduated high school at 15.
• The Bus Came Back: She was shipped off to boarding school off-screen between seasons one & two. She comes back in season 3.
• Deadpan Snarker: Sarcastic and sassy, with a mischievous sense of humor.
• Freudian Excuse: Like for Marissa, her family situation, except even more so since she got shipped off to Boarding School and felt abandoned.
• Generation Xerox: She seems to have some of her famously scheming mother's personality traits. Julie even says that while Marissa is more like Jimmy, Kaitlin (who has just told a story they are debating the veracity of) is her daughter.
• I Want My Beloved to Be Happy: She breaks up with her boyfriend Will because she doesn't like how she's changing him.
• Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Kaitlin may be bratty and mischievous, but she has a big heart, and though she doesn't always say it the right way, she cares about people. She once threw a party solely so two girls that she barely knew could attend because they hadn't been invited to the Alpha Bitch's party.
• Obfuscating Stupidity: When she returns in season 3, she goes on a rambling, ditzy-sounding tangent about how she didn't know Marissa moved out of their old house and embarrassed herself showing up there unannounced. However, later scenes in the episode have her tell a series of convincing lies about the money she stole to buy a ticket home, and she later admits that she knew Marisa had moved the whole time and she came back to see how her family was doing.
• Promotion to Opening Titles: Added to the opening credits in season 4, along with Taylor.
• The Stoner: Although, she seems to be completely unaffected by it. She never gets stoned.

Recurring Characters

Anna Stern

Anna Stern (portrayed by Samaire Armstrong)

• Better as Friends: With Seth, they break up because they were too similar and Seth was still interested in Summer.
• The Bus Came Back: In season 3, for only two episodes.
• Deadpan Snarker: Just as sassy and snarky as Seth.
• Distaff Counterpart: Anna is in many ways, a female Seth.
• Girl Next Door: In contrast to Summer's Lovable Alpha Bitch, in a Betty and Veronica triangle.
• Meaningful Name: Anna Stern likes to sail.
• Nice Girl: She's still nice and supportive to Seth, even after their break up.
• Put on a Bus: She eventually moves back to Pittsburgh in season 1.
• Romantic False Lead: Another potential girlfriend for Seth, introduced when his true love Summer starts to realize his feelings for him.

Hailey Nichol

Hailey Nichol (portrayed by Amanda Righetti)

• Annoying Younger Sibling: To Kirsten. While staying in the Cohen household, due to her continuing irresponsible and brash lifestyle leading to a fight with Kristen and Sandy.
• Amazonian Beauty: Portrayed by beautiful and muscular actress Amanda Righetti.
• The Bus Came Back: For her father's funeral, in the last episode of season 2.
• Daddy's Girl: Hailey was Caleb's favorite child.
• Fiery Redhead: She's a redhead, and definitely energetic and fun-loving.
• Hard-Drinking Party Girl: She persuades Sandy and Kirsten to go out and throws a party that gets out of control.
• Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Immature, irresponsible and hedonistic, but not a bad person by any means.
• Ms. Fanservice: Her first appearance has Hailey wearing nothing but her underwear and a top. Later, she briefly works as a stripper.
• Obnoxious In-Laws: She doesn't get along with Sandy.
• Put on a Bus: She leaves Newport in season 2.
• Rebellious Princess: The rebellious daughter of one of the wealthiest men in Newport Beach who leaves home at 17.
• Spoiled Brat: Kirsten's spoiled younger sister, notorious for not doing anything with her life other than spending her father's money.
• Upper-Class Twit: Squandering her trust fund and traveling around the world at the expense of her father.

Oliver Trask

Oliver Trask (portrayed by Taylor Handley)

• Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: While he seems to be a gentle, if somewhat unstable guy, he's actually a complete psychopath.
• Crazy Jealous Guy: He's obsessed with Marissa.
• Green-Eyed Monster: His obsession with Marissa turns him into this. He's jealous and manipulative towards her and Ryan.
• Freudian Excuse: Parental Neglect.
• Hate Sink: Easily one of the most loathsome characters in the series. He's a pathological liar who makes up stories to get attention, he pretends to be nice but is really a Wolf In Sheep's Clothing, he tries Gaslighting Ryan so that Ryan comes off looking unstable to everyone else (including his best friend Seth), he fakes suicide as a manipulative attempt to get sympathy, and he intentionally drives a wedge between Ryan and Marissa so he can Marissa all to himself.
• Lonely Rich Kid: His parents were largely absent from his life.
• Love Makes You Crazy: When Marissa rejects him, he threatens to kill himself.
• Manipulative Bastard: Perfectly able to manipulate Marissa and make Ryan look bad.
• The Mentally Disturbed: In an early episode, it is mentioned that Oliver was previously diagnosed with depression. However, he also exhibits many of the criteria for borderline personality disorder.
• Put on a Bus: He only appears in season 1.
• Stalker with a Crush: Towards Marissa, in a very creepy way.
• Yandere: It turns out Ryan was right about Oliver's crazy intentions and his creepy, possessive and obsessive personality.

Theresa Diaz

Theresa Diaz (portrayed by Navi Rawat)

• Ambiguously Brown: In Real Life, Navi Rawat, Theresa's portrayer, is actually half white and half Indian.
• Better as Friends: With Ryan. Theresa ends their short relationship by leaving Newport.
• Broken Bird: Being abused by ex-boyfriend, Eddie.
• The Bus Came Back: In season 2, and later in season 3.
• Childhood Friend Romance: With Ryan, in "off and on" relationship before he moved away.
• Domestic Abuse: Victim of domestic violence by her ex-boyfriend.
• Romantic False Lead: To the Ryan/Marissa dynamic in season 1.

Zach Stevens

Zach Stevens (portrayed by Michael Cassidy)

• The Ace:
  Summer: He is good looking but not into himself, smart but not a show-off, athletic but sensitive, a politician's son... Hey, he's, like, Newport's Prince William.
• The Generic Guy: Essentially because he's Seth minus any of the quirks.
• Lovable Jock: Zach is a water polo player and an athlete but he's a nice guy. Lampshaded in his more jerkish moments when he states "I'm a water polo player. We're never nice".
• Nice Guy: Like Anna, he was a sympathetic Romantic False Lead.
• Put on a Bus: He eventually leaves Newport Beach to work with George Lucas on the comic.
• Romantic False Lead: As Summer's temporary boyfriend, he gets caught in the middle of the Summer/Seth dynamic in season 2.
• Vitriolic Best Buds: With Seth, as they even get into fights because of Summer, but they're ultimately friends.

Alex Kelly

Alex Kelly (portrayed by Olivia Wilde)

• The Bartender: Works as a bartender at the local hangout, The Bait Shop.
• Deadpan Snarker: She's pretty sarcastic.

• Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Somewhat brash and gross, but she's ultimately pretty kind, and isn't a bad person by any means.
• The Lad-ette: A badass, edgy, bisexual female bartender.
• Put on a Bus: She only appears in season 2.
• Romantic False Lead: For both Seth and Marissa, to the Summer/Seth and Ryan/Marissa dynamics in season 2.
• Tomboy and Girly Girl: The Tomboy ("bad girl" bartender) to Marissa's Girly Girl (the privileged rich girl).
• Tomboyish Name: Alex.
• Troubled, but Cute: Female example. Has a Dark and Troubled Past, her parents never were on her side, she dropped out of school and was forced to work. Still, she's definitely attractive and despite her tough image and brash attitude she's quite kind.

Lindsay Gardner

Lindsay Gardner (portrayed by Shannon Lucio)

• Brooding Boy, Gentle Girl: The Gentle Girl to Ryan's Brooding Boy.
• Go-Getter Girl: She's an over-achiever, and Ryan even becomes more studious when dating her.
• Long-Lost Relative: To Caleb, Kirsten and Hailey. Caleb is her biological father and Kirsten and Hailey are her paternal half-sisters.
• Nice Girl: A nice girlfriend to Ryan.
• Put on a Bus: She only appears in season 2.
• Romantic False Lead: For Ryan in season 2, to the Ryan/Marissa dynamic.
• Scholarship Student: She attends Harbor on a scholarship who also drives a lemon, in comparison to her wealthier schoolmates.
• Shoo Out the New Guy: She is Caleb's illegitimate daughter who occupied the first half of Season Two. Ryan, supposedly deeply in love with her, forgot her during the episode after her departure.

Trey Atwood

Trey Atwood (portrayed by Logan Marshall-Green)

• Aloof Older Brother: To Ryan, although he's rather brash and completely unpredictable than aloof.
• Attempted Rape: In season 2, he attempts to rape Marissa, while high.
• The Atoner: He tried to become this with Ryan's support, but it didn't last.
• Big Brother Instinct: Towards Ryan. He has risked his own safety to rescue Ryan and also sends him birthday and Christmas presents.
• The Bus Came Back: In the second half of season 2.
• Delinquents: Was involved in criminal activities.
• Evil Counterpart: To Ryan. Besides his villainy, like Ryan, Trey has a quick temper but is more impulsive where Ryan is more controlled.
• Hair-Trigger Temper: It's partly why he screws up so often. He's very choleric.
• Put on a Bus: Literally in the season three premiere.
• Sibling Yin-Yang: With Ryan. They are vastly different in personalities and outlooks.
• The Stoner: Trey resorts to his bad boy lifestyle, using drugs and stealing.

Johnny Harper

Johnny Harper (portrayed by Ryan Donowho)

• Love Hurts: His feelings for Marissa are unrequited, and Johnny is very sad about it, until his death.
• Love Makes You Crazy: Because of his unrequited love for Marissa, he drinks too much and falls off a cliff before Ryan could save him. Sadly, when the doctors try to save him, he dies in the hospital, and his mother calls Ryan to tell him he tragically didn't manage to survive.
• Nice Guy: He's kind and gentle, although troubled.
• Settle for Sibling: In his short relationship with Marissa's sister Kaitlin.
• Troubled, but Cute: A guy with a Dark and Troubled Past who is pretty similar to Ryan. Johnny is a good person, but he had to beat the crap out of his father because of how he treated his mother, and now he's lonely and depressed.

Kevin Volchok

Kevin Volchok (portrayed by Cam Gigandet)

• Arch-Enemy: To Ryan, for most of season 3.
• The Bully: He repeatedly tries to fight Ryan because he wants a rematch after the latter punches him in the face.
• The Corrupter: When he blackmails Ryan initially to participate in a robbery, along with car theft, to help him escape Newport.
• Delinquents: A bully and a thief who also blackmails Ryan into a crime.
• Hidden Heart of Gold: Although "gold" is a stretch. This is seen mostly in season 4, but he shows signs of this even in season 3: he was really sad about Johnny's death and deep down, he really cared about his relationship with Marissa, albeit in a dysfunctional way.
• Jerk Jock: A jerkass surfer dude. He's rude, amoral and lives the typical bad boy life.
• Last-Name Basis: He's called by his last name Volchok.
• Mr. Fanservice: He has a couple shirtless scenes showing his abs.
• The Rival: To Johnny. He's his top rival for a surfing sponsorship.
• The Stoner: He's on drugs, and also involves Marissa.
• Tuckerization: Named after Adam Brody's talent agent.

Holly Fischer

Holly Fischer (portrayed by Ashley Hartman)

• Alpha Bitch: Along with Summer, she's introduced as another of Marissa's snobby friends in season 1.
• Brainless Beauty: After she Took a Level in Dumbass.
• The Bus Came Back: Returned in Season 4 (after two whole Seasons!) initially in the All Just a Dream set "The Chrismukk-huh?" and then a few episodes later in 'reality'.
• Divergent Character Evolution: Very early on she and Summer were distinguishable only by hair colour, both being vapid, self-absorbed party girls. This is actually Lampshaded by the show in the "The Chrismukk-huh?" where see a universe where Summer continued to be friends with Holly rather than going through Character Development. It is not a pretty picture.
• Dumb Blonde: In season 4, there are a lot of jokes about her airheadedness ("Who says I can't have a baby and a six pack?").
• Jerk with a Heart of Jerk: She was never a true friend to Marissa like Summer was. Unlike Luke who regretted cheating on Marissa, Holly displayed no remorse for her behavior, and even made fun of Marissa after her suicide attempt in Tijuana. Even when she comes back in season 4, she's undergone no character development, and still remains shallow and superficial.
• Put on a Bus: After only 6 episodes in Season 1.
• Took a Level in Dumbass: While she never displayed any particular intelligence in her early appearances she wasn't noticably dumb either. When The Bus Came Back however she was firmly in Brainless Beauty territory.