Mischa Barton Reunites With ‘The O.C.’ Parents Tate Donovan and Melinda Clarke: ‘It Was Truly Great to Catch Up’
23.08.2022 - 20:01
/ usmagazine.com
A TV family reunion! Mischa Barton posed for a photo with Tate Donovan and Melinda Clarke, who played her parents on the 2000s teen drama The O.C.
“SO, THIS HAPPENED! Cooper family reunion! Warmed my heart to see these two,” Clarke, 53, captioned a Monday, August 22, Instagram selfie with her fellow Fox alums. “So great to see you all,” Donovan, 58, commented. The get-together took place at a fan convention in Charleston, South Carolina.
Barton, for her part, shared a photo via her Instagram Story of her former onscreen fam as well as Gossip Girl alums Chace Crawford and Jessica Szohr. “It was truly great to catch up with mom & dad,” the former Hills: New Beginnings star, 36, wrote.
The British-American actress’ character on The O.C., Marissa Cooper, was infamously killed in a car crash during the 2006 season 3 finale. The Beautiful Life alum addressed her decision to leave the series during a May 2021 conversation with E! News.
“It’s a bit complicated. It started pretty early on because it had a lot to do with them adding Rachel [Bilson] in last minute as, after the first season, a series regular and evening out everybody’s pay,” she told the outlet, adding that “sort of general bullying from some of the men on set” also played a role in her departure.
The Sixth Sense actress explained that it was also a challenge dealing with the fame “thrust specifically at me” as a result of the show’s popularity. “Just dealing with, like, the amount of invasion I was having in my personal life, I just felt very unprotected, I guess is the best way to put it,” she said.
Bilson, 40, who played Barton’s best friend Summer Roberts, addressed her former costar’s comments during a May 2021 episode of her podcast, “Welcome to the OC, Bitches!”