It’s been 13 years since the series finale ofThe O.C., Fox’s seminal teen drama, but starPeter Gallagherretains many fond memories of his experience.
“We really had something with that show,” Gallagher, 64, tells PEOPLE. “And the audience felt the same way.”
Joe Pugliese
For Gallagher, the timing of the series was perfect.
“The script [forThe O.C.] showed up and I thought, ‘This is exactly what this country has been waiting for,’ ” says Gallagher. “It was just post 9/11 and people were drumming up a xenophobia, a fear of the outsider. I thought it was giving into our worst instincts, and it was entirely un-American.”
The O.C.cast.
Gallagher’s character, Sandy Cohen, was “this Jewish guy from the Bronx, a public defender, living in a gated conservative Republican community, and he doesn’t change,” says the actor. “He throws his arms open. And people responded to that character because he wasn’t afraid. He wasn’t afraid to love his kids, or other kids or his wife, or to do what was right.”
Gallagher’s new show,Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist(new episodes stream Feb. 17 on NBC), felt surprisingly familiar.
Jane Levy and Peter Gallagher inZoey’s Extraordinary Playlist.Sergei Bachlakov/NBC/Getty
And despite their busy schedules, Gallagher says he’s managed to keep up with hisO.C.costars all these years later.
“We try to get together, but it doesn’t quite work out, because someone has to go somewhere,” he admits of catching up in person with Bilson, Barton, McKenzie and Brody. “But I love those kids. And I root for them, always.”
source: people.com
