The O.C. was and always will be quintessential early 2000s television. From the soapy storylines to the clothes to the music and the cast we love so dearly, the crew at the center of this series had us all wishing to be Southern California teens from the comfort of our homes. Following the story of Ryan (played by Ben McKenzie), a troubled teen who finds himself a part of the Cohen family after they take him in, this series brought stardom to the likes of Adam Brody, Rachel Bilson, Mischa Barton and countless other faces we’ve come to love. It also put Peter Gallagher on our screens as beloved father-figure Sandy Cohen.
While the faces that led this show made it so beloved, countless guest stars also left their mark on the series that you might not even remember. From actors and actresses who grew up to be teen stars themselves to those we know and love watching in the biggest shows and blockbusters of today, check out some of the O.C. guest stars you might have forgotten about.
Max Greenfield
It only makes sense that the actor who played young Sandy Cohen would be someone as beloved as New Girl’s Max Greenfield. The icing on the cake? Peter Gallagher went on to play the father of Greenfield’s character, Schmidt, in New Girl! Talk about full circle!
Chris Pratt
Before making his way down to Southern California on The O.C., Chris Pratt was making a name for himself on another teen drama, Everwood. On The O.C., Pratt played Summer’s friend from college named Che, an animal activist.
Shailene Woodley
In the show’s debut season, a young Shailene Woodley played the part of Marissa’s kid sister. As she grew older, Woodley found fame in a teen drama series of her own: The Secret Life of the American Teenager. She could also be seen in countless films that dominated the 2010s, including The Fault in Our Stars (2014) and the Divergent film series.
Olivia Wilde
Many will remember the famed actress and director appearing on The O.C as Alex, a bartender who becomes romantically involved with both Seth and Marissa during the series, but today, we love her most for the films she’s directed including Booksmart (2019) and Don’t Worry Darling (2022).
Jeffrey Dean Morgan
This hunky actor is known by many for his work on The Walking Dead as well as Grey’s Anatomy, but while his career was on the rise, he appeared in The O.C., his character being in prison.
Paris Hilton
The famed socialite has dipped her toes in the acting pool countless times over the years, and her cameo in The O.C. is another one that we’ll never forget.
Gisele Bundchen
Random, but totally true. The stunning fashion model known by many for her long marriage to NFL icon Tom Brady actually appeared in an episode of the series in an uncredited role.
