Ryan Atwood

The O.C.'s casting director Patrick Rush found the role of Ryan Atwood particularly hard to cast.[1] Chad Michael Murray refused the role in favor of playing Lucas Scott on One Tree Hill.[2] Rush invited Benjamin McKenzie to audition after Warner Bros. introduced him after an unsuccessful audition for a UPN sitcom. McKenzie, who had spent two years in New York and Los Angeles seeking acting work, lacked experience and later described his selection as "a tremendous leap of faith" on the producers' part.[1][3] Show creator Josh Schwartz said in 2014, "[McKenzie] took it really seriously, and brought just a lot of integrity, and integrity is not always required in a Fox teen drama."[4]

The character Ryan was physically abused by his biological father Frank and some of his mother Dawn's boyfriends. He has a complicated, love-hate relationship with his older brother Trey.[5] Both parents struggled with alcohol – Frank became physically abusive while Dawn neglected and verbally abused him – and it left a deep impression on him, as shown by his aversion to strong alcoholic drinks.[6] By his own statements, Ryan never had a father figure for much of his life, prior to being adopted by the Cohens due to Frank's prison sentence and his mother's revolving door of boyfriends.[7] The Atwoods lived in Fresno but moved to Chino after Frank was imprisoned.[8]

In season 4, it is stated that Ryan had not seen Frank in eight years.[9] Regarding Ryan's biological family, a major recurring theme revolved around abandonment.[10] His mother abandoned him twice, his brother left for Las Vegas without telling him and his father left the brothers and their mom "with nothing" after serving his prison sentence.[11] This is contrasted by the character's adopted family—the Cohens—who stood by Ryan despite his juvenile record, vocal criticisms and disdain from the other "Newpsies" about his adoption and his multiple attempts to run away from them. Although he does not address Mr. and Mrs. Cohen (Sandy and Kirsten respectively) as Dad or Mom, he makes it clear that he considers them to be his parents.[9]

Ryan generally dislikes speaking about his biological family hints during Christmas and Thanksgiving that holidays bring up painful memories for him. During his first Chrismukkah in Newport, RI he tells the Cohens that his holidays mainly consisted of him "getting [his] ass kicked" and sums up his Christmas memories in three words: drinking, crying and cops.[12]

As Ryan was born to and then raised in a working class family, he knows the lifestyle and attitudes of people from his neighborhood of Chino, California as well as the dangers that occur if outsiders are influenced by its environment. His abusive past enabled him to develop an extremely high pain threshold[13] and he displays an impassive expression after being physically abused. He is tough, cynical and quick-tempered,[6] yet compassionate and empathetic toward people in trouble and those less fortunate than himself.

During his first months in Newport, he expressed his anger physically after incessant teasing from his schoolmates, which led them to intentionally goad him more. Ryan gradually calmed, after a lecture from Sandy and stint at an anger management counseling session. He at times appears burdened by an almost-compulsive need to rescue others at the expense of his own well-being, and as a result is overly protective of Marissa, who is his main love interest on the show. Ryan displays intimacy issues—an inability to form close relationships—due to his birth family's collective problems. He is extremely loyal to his family (both biological and adopted) and those he cares about. He is quiet and rarely smiles which is a running joke among other members of the Cohen household. Early in the first season when he first moves in with the Cohens, he avoids making eye contact, and would stiffen when hugged, but by the final season, he eclipses these issues with his adoptive family. Despite his reticent nature and emotionless exterior, Ryan is transparent, often "convey[ing] everything with just a look,"[14] and is virtually incapable of lying. Dad Sandy proved this in episode "The O.Sea" when he caught Ryan trying to cover-up for Seth but Ryan's "guilty face" gave it away.

Ryan's personality is the opposite of the socially awkward, sheltered and sometimes naïve adopted brother Seth, and Ryan frequently uses his street-savvy skills to get Seth out of trouble. Seth often jokes about how he knew both Summer and Marissa since elementary school despite having never spoken to them.

As a student, Ryan is described as highly intelligent despite his behavior problems (he was suspended multiple times for fighting and truancy). In the pilot episode, the audience learns that he took his SATs (the only sophomore doing so) and scored in the 98th percentile. According to his mother Dawn, Ryan was always "the smart one, the good one" in the family.[8]

Ryan's favorite fruit is peaches, and his favorite band is Journey and he suffers from acrophobia.[14] Athletically, he plays football (safety)[15] and soccer (striker) in school.[14] Despite the generosity of his adoptive family, Ryan earns money at various part-time jobs around town—as a busboy at the Crab Shack, a construction worker, an intern at the Newport Group, and a barback position. Ryan is an ex-smoker.[9][16]

Of the characters in the show, Ryan is closest to his adoptive brother Seth, and their respective love interests—Marissa and Summer. This "core four" group of friends is the basis of Seth's Atomic County comic series. Ryan and Seth often finish each other's sentences, according to Summer, "like they're composing a lie on the spot"[13] and they also read each other's body language and facial expressions.[17]

When Ryan and his biological brother Trey are caught attempting to steal a car, his mother Dawn kicks him out of the house. His attorney, (who becomes his adoptive father) Sandy Cohen, takes him into his home in Newport Beach, California, despite objections from his wife, Kirsten. Sandy notices Ryan's intelligence despite poor grades, which are largely attributed to poor attendance rather than limited ability.

Initially Kirsten is wary of him and wants to return him to juvenile detention, but, after she witnesses him defending her from an unruly inmate, she agrees to give him a chance in their home and ultimately invites him to stay permanently when she realizes that his biological mother—Dawn—is an alcoholic, incapable parent.[8] In the episode "The Debut", Sandy and Kirsten become his legal guardians and Ryan becomes part of the Cohen family, living in their pool house, and becoming adoptive-brother to Seth Cohen, Sandy and Kirsten's son. Although he's technically their "ward," Sandy and Kirsten consider Ryan to be their second son. He is accepted by the immediate Cohen family but continues to feel like and is seen by other characters in the show as an outsider. This is a recurring theme throughout the season. In particular, Harbor School dean Dr. Kim, water polo team captain Luke Ward, Kirsten's father Caleb Nichol and the Cohens' neighbor Julie Cooper all had reservations about Ryan. Shortly after meeting, Ryan and Marissa Cooper (Julie's daughter) begin a relationship.

Initially Ryan has trouble fitting in at Harbor School, the local private school most "Newpsies" attend. He joins the soccer team, only to find that Luke—his Rival for Marissa's attention—is also on the team.[14] In a jealous rage, Ryan tackles Luke during soccer practice, earning him a suspension and a stern reminder from Sandy that they (the Cohens) were "always one mistake away from someone taking you from us".[14] Ryan and Luke become friends in the aftermath of a discovery that Luke's father is gay, and Ryan is the first person to whom Luke feels he can confide.[7] Luke joins Ryan's circle of "outcasts:" Marissa, who is ostracized by other girls following her parents' divorce and suicide attempt, and the socially awkward Seth, whom he (Luke) and other jocks used to bully.

Ryan's relationship with Marissa is interrupted by Oliver Trask, a deeply disturbed boy Marissa meets in therapy, and who becomes obsessed with her. Ryan is suspicious, highlighting significant trust issues between himself and Marissa which eventually results in their breakup. The two still remain friends.

At the same time, Ryan's childhood sweetheart -- Theresa Diaz—arrives in Newport and their romance is rekindled. However, Theresa leaves Newport after her fiancé Eddie, one of Ryan's friends in Chino, convinces her to return to Chino with him. Ryan and Marissa resume their relationship but it's complicated when Theresa returns after Eddie abuses her. Theresa reveals she is pregnant but does not know whether the father is Ryan or Eddie. She decides to keep the baby and return home to Chino to be with her mother. Feeling compelled to help her raise the child, Ryan decides to join Theresa, leaving Marissa, the Cohens, and everything else in his life behind.

Ryan quits school, and gets a construction job. Ryan and Theresa live together, but when she realizes how unhappy Ryan is, she encourages him to visit Seth in Portland, Oregon. He is hesitant, but goes, hoping to convince Seth to go home to his parents before the fall semester starts. While Ryan is in Portland, Theresa calls and tells him she has miscarried the baby. Ryan is devastated and wants to return to her, but Theresa tells him to go back to Newport with Seth.[18]

Ryan returns to school, still uncertain about his plans beyond high school. By chance, he catches Sandy and Kirsten's contractor cutting corners and exposes him by pointing out discrepancies between the plan and the finished product. When the school counselor discovers a notebook filled with technical drawings and sketches Ryan created of the Cohen's house, Ryan is advised to consider architecture as a career.[19]

Ryan and Marissa reconnect as a result of Seth's reunion of the "Fab Four" (Ryan, Marissa, Seth and his girlfriend Summer Roberts). Upon overhearing Marissa admitting to Summer that Ryan is the only one she ever loved and she misses him every day, he confesses his own lingering feelings for her. The two get back together just as Ryan's brother Trey is released from jail.[5] Ryan, the Cohens and Marissa attempt to help Trey get back onto his feet. When Ryan, Sandy and Seth are out of town, Trey—high on drugs—attempts to rape Marissa. Marissa does not tell anyone, and tensions between her and Ryan develop when Ryan begins to suspect she cheated on him with Trey. After he questions his brother who hides at a bar in Chino and blames a drunken Marissa, Ryan bumps into Theresa and confides in her. She tells him that Marissa is who he should trust, inspiring Ryan and Marissa to reconcile.

Meanwhile, Sandy becomes concerned with Kirsten's alcoholism and stages an intervention. Ryan reassures Sandy he is doing the right thing. Ryan participates, stating that having lost his mother to alcoholism, he would not be able to bear it if he lost another loved one to the bottle. Following similar sentiment from the rest of the Cohens, Kirsten acquiesces and checks into rehab. Marissa tells Summer about her near-rape by Trey, and Summer tells Seth, who, knowing he cannot lie to Ryan, tells him, which prompts a confrontation between the brothers. They fight, and Trey nearly kills Ryan. Marissa arrives and trying to protect Ryan, shoots Trey in the back with his own gun.

Marissa's death in "The Graduates" (episode 3.25)

Trey survives the gunshot but is in a coma. When he regains consciousness, Marissa's mother Julie blackmails him to blame Ryan to protect Marissa (who actually shot Trey), but Marissa convinces him to tell the truth. With Ryan's charges dropped, Trey flees Newport, leaving Marissa expelled from Harbor School and she must now attend public school. When she befriends amateur surfer Johnny Harper, Ryan becomes jealous, fueling their on and off relationship. When Johnny dies in an accident, Ryan questions Marissa's true feelings about Johnny, which ends their relationship. Following their split, Marissa spirals into a disastrous relationship with Kevin Volchok, Johnny's former surfing rival. While this relationship grows, Ryan develops a rivalry against Volchok, with instances of blackmail, extortion and violence.

In the season 3 finale, Ryan, Marissa, Seth and Summer graduate from high school. Ryan becomes the first in his family to graduate from high school[20] and is accepted to the University of California, Berkeley, which is both Sandy and Kirsten's alma mater. Volchok attempts to blackmail Ryan, threatening to inform the authorities of Ryan's earlier involvement in a robbery in which he was forced to participate. In an effort to fulfill Volchok's ransom, Marissa gives Ryan her mother's graduation gift—pearls—to pawn for the money. Volchok doesn't accept the money, demanding more, including a talk with Marissa, which she refuses. While Ryan drives Marissa to the airport, Volchok, drunk and furious, attempts to crash Ryan's car. In a rage, he sideswipes Ryan's vehicle, knocking it over a barrier to roll down an embankment. Ryan manages to pull an unconscious Marissa out of the wreckage before the car explodes. Moments later, Marissa dies in Ryan's arms.

Following Marissa's death, Ryan moves into a storage closet at the bar where he works. He avoids the Cohens and starts cage fighting, which is an outlet for his anger and grief. The Cohens repeatedly call him to check up on him, invite him to dinner and Sandy even goes to the bar to look for Ryan who continues to intentionally elude them. Meanwhile, a desperate Seth calls Summer, who is away at Brown University in Rhode Island, to come back and hopefully convince Ryan to return home with the Cohens. Sandy, Kirsten and Seth convince Ryan to return home when they reveal to him, through Seth's Atomic County comic strips, how he has changed their family for the better. Julie, finding any way necessary to cope with her grief, hires a private investigator to dig up evidence of Volchok's whereabouts, hoping to gain her revenge. She passes the information to Ryan, the only person who can truly understand her pain, and suggests he do with Volchok whatever he wishes, as giving the police the information is too valuable a deal to pass up. Ryan heads to Mexico to finish the job, but Seth tags along to ensure Ryan doesn't ruin his life by committing murder. Seth calls Sandy and Kirsten, who drive to Mexico to find the boys, then warns Volchok to leave town before Ryan gets to him and advises that he take advantage of his lawyer father. His plan fools Ryan, who returns home and his relationship with Seth is severely compromised. Heeding Seth's advice, Volchok contacts Sandy to be his defense attorney, although Ryan discovers it. Sandy, knowing Ryan would never kill anyone, drives him to the hotel where he's housed Volchok. Inside, Ryan puts a broken bottle against Volchok's throat, but he spares Volchok's life, leaving him for the police.

Ryan settles back down to life in Newport, determined to have an uneventful summer, until Taylor Townsend returns from France trapped in a loveless marriage, seeking a divorce. Ryan is reluctantly drawn in and, during a heart-to-heart conversation with Sandy, he is reminded that he's always been the one to help people when they need it the most. Ryan kisses Taylor in front of her husband's lawyer, who can grant a divorce only if one member was unfaithful and agrees that their kiss was heartfelt. Seth warns Ryan that Taylor is unstable and clings to anyone who shows her kindness. While Ryan appreciates the notion, he admits that he is not yet over Marissa and decides to confront Taylor. She initially denies her own feelings but later confesses that she is attracted to him. Following a second kiss, the idea being to discover if it sparks any feelings, he admits he does like her but does not want anything too serious.

During Chrismukkah (a combination of Christmas and Hanukkah celebrated at the Cohen house), Ryan discovers a letter from Marissa but gets distracted by Kirsten. While he's hanging decorations on the house roof, Taylor arrives with her gift to him. He is preoccupied by Marissa's letter, however, and acts coldly towards her. When she climbs the ladder he's working on to angrily give him his present, the ladder falls, along with the two of them, knocking them both unconscious. While in the hospital, Ryan and Taylor dream of being in an alternate dream universe of Newport, as if Ryan had never been adopted by the Cohen family. When Taylor misunderstands a conversation with a housekeeper from this world, she informs Ryan that Marissa is alive. Ryan says he never wants to wake up so he can be with Marissa again. When he finds out about her arrival at an airport from Berkeley and goes to meet her, he finds this world's version of Marissa's sister Kaitlin, who tells him that Marissa died of the overdose he had saved her from. In the real world, Kirsten shows Julie Marissa's letter to Ryan, which she wrote to him before leaving for Greece. In the letter, Marissa states that she had to leave because, even though she still loved him, they could not be together. After Julie sets the note beside an unconscious Ryan, it appears for him to read in his dream, during which he realizes he has to forgive himself for Marissa's death and move on. Moments later, he regains consciousness. He finally gathers the courage to visit Marissa's grave, where he bumps into Julie, who consoles him with the knowledge that at least Marissa did not die alone. Since her daughter's death, Julie has softened towards Ryan after realizing that he sincerely cared for Marissa.

Days later, Ryan discovers that his biological father, Frank Atwood, is out of jail and wants to meet. Ryan is hesitant, recalling Frank's abusiveness, but Frank convinces him by claiming that he has lung cancer. Following dinner with the Cohens, an already-suspicious Sandy reveals that Frank lied about the cancer after checking up with his contacts in the prison system.[9] Frank leaves Newport, although he returns apologetically and with help from Taylor forms a tentative relationship with his son. The situation becomes even more awkward when Frank begins dating Julie and stays at her house. They remain on friendly terms but Ryan has made it clear that even though he addresses Frank as "dad", he considers Sandy to be his father figure.[9]

Meanwhile, Taylor's ex-husband Henri-Michel comes to Newport on a book tour for his best-selling novel about their marriage. Feeling insecure about Taylor's exotic life in France, Ryan breaks up with her, claiming they are "too different". A week later, Ryan decides he was wrong but discovers it might be too late as Taylor is already considering a reconciliation with Henri, who still loves her. Ryan upstages a poetry reading by Henri at a book store with a poem of his own, where he confesses he can grow to love Taylor, given time.

Ryan gives Taylor a pocket dictionary for her nineteenth birthday, but he rethinks this and gives her what he originally bought—a bound book full of love poems that she translated. He admits his love for her, and they reconcile just as an earthquake hits Newport. The two survive, but Ryan is injured while protecting Taylor and is brought to the hospital for recovery. Six months later, Ryan and Taylor spend time together before she leaves Newport for college in Paris. Ryan thanks her for saving him from self-destruction, and he and the Cohens depart from their Newport home, damaged beyond repair, to Sandy and Kirsten's old home in Berkeley, California, while Seth leaves for RISD.

In a flashforward, Ryan attends UC Berkeley, where Sandy is now a law professor. Ryan is best man at Seth and Summer's wedding and shares a smile with Taylor, the maid of honor (their relationship status is left ambiguous). Ryan achieves his dream of becoming an architect. As he walks away from a construction site, he notices a teenager down on his luck, reminding him of his own youth. He offers the youth help, and the story comes to a full circle.