Marissa Cooper

Marissa Cooper is a fictional character on FOX series The O.C. She is played by British-born American actress Mischa Barton.

Related Topics:
Fictional character - FOX - The O.C. - British - American - Mischa Barton

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In the show, Marissa is a rich socialite in Newport Beach, California, whose family was about to go through some dramatic changes throughout the season. First, Marissa's father, Jimmy Cooper, was caught committing fraud and eventually went bankrupt. Later, Marissa discovered that her boyfriend, Luke Ward, was cheating on her. During this time, she went to drugs and alcohol and collapsed while she, Summer Roberts, Ryan Atwood and Seth Cohen were on a trip to Tijuana.

Related Topics:
Newport Beach - California - Jimmy Cooper - Luke Ward - Summer Roberts - Ryan Atwood - Seth Cohen - Tijuana

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Throughout the season, Marissa was involved in an on-again, off-again relationship with Ryan, with the relationships being interrupted by Luke and Oliver Trask, respectively. Oliver Trask eventually was discovered to be mentally unstable and hiding an unhealthy obsession with Marissa.

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During this time, her mother was romantically involved with Kirsten Cohen's father, Caleb Nichol. During a brief break-up with Caleb, Marissa's mother had a fling with Marissa's ex-boyfriend Luke, which caused Marissa to run away, strangely enough, to Chino and Ryan's ex-girlfriend Theresa's house.

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At the end of the season, Julie Cooper and Caleb Nichol married, making Marissa stepdaughter to the most powerful man in Newport.

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During the second season, Marissa struggles with alcohol and depression and seeks out relationships that seem specifically chosen to make stabs at her mother—first with DJ, the lawn boy, and then with Alex, Seth's ex-girlfriend. Marissa moves out of her mother's house briefly to live with Alex and returns home once she and Alex break up. At the end of season two, Marissa almost killed Trey Atwood by shooting him with a gun. Ironically, this happened only very shortly after her mother Julie also attempted to kill someone.

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In the third season of the programme, Marissa is under investigation regarding the shooting of Trey Atwood. Her mother, Julie, attempts to obstruct justice by bribing Trey into accusing Ryan. Marissa becomes aware of this, and convinces Trey to confess the truth, detailing that Marissa fired only to protect her boyfriend. Thus, after Trey's abrupt exit from the show, Ryan and Marissa are both determined to be innocent of any crime.

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Whilst there were no legal repercussions, the event caused Marissa to be expelled from the prestigious Harbour School, also with respect to her past of flagrant shoplifting and substance abuse. The third season of the show thus portrays Marissa's attempts to rebuild her future, in light of the fact that her parents are now reunited.

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