Luke Ward
Encyclopedia
Luke Ward is a fictional character
in the FOX
television series The O.C.
, portrayed by Chris Carmack
. At the beginning of the series, Luke was in a long-term relationship with Marissa Cooper
. However, it was later revealed that Luke was cheating on Marissa with Holly Fischer
. After seeing the two of them together during their trip to Tijuana
, Marissa ended their relationship. This would be one of the two major factors in her suicide attempt
. Luke is portrayed as a stereotypical jock.
, and Seth Cohen
were all thirteen years old, he had a paintball birthday party at the same time that Seth had his Bar Mitzvah. Summer's father, Neil Roberts
, was going to make Summer go to Seth's party, but when Summer's mother left abruptly, she didn't attend either one to deal with the divorce. This, coupled with most students choosing to attend Luke's party, caused Seth to have self-confidence issues for several years.
Luke had dated Marissa Cooper
for a long period of time before Ryan Atwood
came to Newport Beach
, beginning their relationship in the fifth grade on a class trip to the Museum of Tolerance (according to Seth in the episode The Model Home). Luke seemed to love Marissa, even crying when they broke up. Despite this, he had cheated on her for a long period of time.
(who came from Chino
), in the pilot episode. After beating Ryan up, Luke utters what is arguably the most famous line of the series, "Welcome to the O.C., bitch!" which was used as a tagline
in trailers for the first season. He also bullies Seth Cohen
constantly. However, after a bizarre turn of events, Luke becomes good friends with Ryan and Seth, even accepting Ryan's relationship with Luke's ex-girlfriend Marissa.
Luke was the boyfriend of Marissa Cooper
since fifth grade. Very opposed to Ryan from the start, the two often find themselves fighting. However, Luke does show a slightly sympathetic side early on, saving Ryan from the model home fire in the second episode and assisting Ryan's mother during her drunken meltdown at Vegas Night. Marissa loses her virginity to Luke shortly after. When Marissa catches him cheating on her with one of her best friends, Holly Fischer, during a trip to Tijuana, she is very upset and overdoses on painkillers in a street alley. Ryan saves her and brings her to the hospital, where her mother Julie tries to force her into rehab. Luke appears and, feeling guilty for his role in the overdose, shows Ryan and Marissa an escape route.
Luke all but disappears until he and Ryan are begrudgingly paired together for a school project. The two stumble upon Luke's father, Carson, kissing another man at the car dealership where he works. When word spreads about his father's homosexuality
, the once popular Luke falls out of favor with his clique and finds himself on the bottom of the social ladder for the first time. Ryan, Seth and Marissa then take him in as one of their own.
After that, Luke becomes a member of the group, more friendly and carefree than he had been earlier, becoming known for his lovable goofiness and love of beer. He accompanies the others to a Rooney
concert (where his guitar playing and songwriting talents are displayed) and to a golf resort, where he emerges as a loyal comrade to Ryan. He is the second person, after Ryan, to become suspicious of Oliver Trask
and takes Ryan's side in the ensuing turmoil, going so far as offering to "drop the Great Gatsby." He also makes a play on Summer Roberts
, who laughs him off.
Experiencing loneliness, Luke eventually becomes sexually involved with Marissa's mother, Julie Cooper
, which Marissa eventually finds out about. Luke decides to leave Newport Beach for Portland
to live with his father after his parents' divorce. Luke tries to speak to Marissa, but she refuses. Distraught, he drives away intoxicated and is involved in a car crash. Ryan and Marissa visit Luke in hospital where Marissa forgives him and says that she will miss him. In Luke's last scene of the season Ryan promises to visit him in his new home and Luke jokes about becoming the equivalent of Ryan, to fall for the girl dating the captain of the football team and then fight him and have him say to Luke, "Welcome to Portland, bitch."
. He seems to be faring well, with an attractive new girlfriend, Amanda.
In another episode, Luke briefly appeared in a flashback sequence in the episode "The Case of the Franks" set in 1998 when he was ten years old. He attended class with Seth
, Summer
, Holly
, Taylor
, and Marissa
, who is not seen in the flashback.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
in the FOX
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
television series The O.C.
The O.C.
The O.C. is an American teen drama television series that originally aired on the Fox television network in the United States from August 5, 2003, to February 21, 2007, running a total of four seasons...
, portrayed by Chris Carmack
Chris Carmack
James Christopher "Chris" Carmack is an American actor and former fashion model.-Early life:Carmack was born in Washington, D.C., and grew up in Derwood, Maryland. He has two siblings, a brother and sister. As a young boy, he enjoyed participating in all types of sports: baseball, basketball,...
. At the beginning of the series, Luke was in a long-term relationship with Marissa Cooper
Marissa Cooper
Marissa Cooper is a fictional character on the FOX television series The O.C., portrayed by Mischa Barton. Marissa was among the original "core four" characters on The O.C. until her death in the season three finale, "The Graduates."...
. However, it was later revealed that Luke was cheating on Marissa with Holly Fischer
Holly Fischer
Holly Fischer is a fictional character from the first and fourth season of the FOX series The O.C., played by Ashley Hartman.-Season One:Holly is introduced at the outset of the series as one of the best friends of Summer Roberts and Marissa Cooper....
. After seeing the two of them together during their trip to Tijuana
Tijuana
Tijuana is the largest city on the Baja California Peninsula and center of the Tijuana metropolitan area, part of the international San Diego–Tijuana metropolitan area. An industrial and financial center of Mexico, Tijuana exerts a strong influence on economics, education, culture, art, and politics...
, Marissa ended their relationship. This would be one of the two major factors in her suicide attempt
The Escape (The O.C. episode)
"The Escape" is the 7th episode of the FOX television series, The O.C.. The episode was written by Josh Schwartz and was directed by Sanford Bookstaver. It originally aired on Tuesday September 16, 2003.-Guest stars:- Plot :...
. Luke is portrayed as a stereotypical jock.
Background
When Luke, Summer RobertsSummer Roberts
Summer Roberts is a fictional character on the FOX television series The O.C., portrayed by Rachel Bilson.-Background:Summer Roberts grew up in Newport Beach, California, with her wealthy father, Dr. Neil Roberts...
, and Seth Cohen
Seth Cohen
Seth Ezekiel Cohen is a fictional character on the FOX television series The O.C., portrayed by Adam Brody. Seth was one of the "core four" characters on The O.C. alongside Ryan Atwood, Marissa Cooper, and Summer Roberts.-Background:...
were all thirteen years old, he had a paintball birthday party at the same time that Seth had his Bar Mitzvah. Summer's father, Neil Roberts
Dr. Neil Roberts
Dr. Neil Roberts is a fictional character on the FOX series, The O.C., portrayed by Michael Nouri.A plastic surgeon in wealthy Newport Beach, California, Neil is the father of Summer Roberts. He was married to Summer's mother until his daughter was 13 years old, when Summer's mother left for...
, was going to make Summer go to Seth's party, but when Summer's mother left abruptly, she didn't attend either one to deal with the divorce. This, coupled with most students choosing to attend Luke's party, caused Seth to have self-confidence issues for several years.
Luke had dated Marissa Cooper
Marissa Cooper
Marissa Cooper is a fictional character on the FOX television series The O.C., portrayed by Mischa Barton. Marissa was among the original "core four" characters on The O.C. until her death in the season three finale, "The Graduates."...
for a long period of time before Ryan Atwood
Ryan Atwood
Ryan Francis Atwood is a fictional character on the FOX television series The O.C., portrayed by Benjamin McKenzie. A troubled teenager from Chino, California, he is considered the protagonist of the show, beginning as an outcast and is brought to a lifestyle of luxury by the Cohen family and is...
came to Newport Beach
Newport Beach, California
Newport Beach, incorporated in 1906, is a city in Orange County, California, south of downtown Santa Ana. The population was 85,186 at the 2010 census.The city's median family income and property values consistently place high in national rankings...
, beginning their relationship in the fifth grade on a class trip to the Museum of Tolerance (according to Seth in the episode The Model Home). Luke seemed to love Marissa, even crying when they broke up. Despite this, he had cheated on her for a long period of time.
Season 1
Luke is a rich, spoiled and popular Newport Beach student and captain of the water polo team who does not have much of a tolerance for outsiders, as shown by his fight with Ryan AtwoodRyan Atwood
Ryan Francis Atwood is a fictional character on the FOX television series The O.C., portrayed by Benjamin McKenzie. A troubled teenager from Chino, California, he is considered the protagonist of the show, beginning as an outcast and is brought to a lifestyle of luxury by the Cohen family and is...
(who came from Chino
Chino, California
Chino is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. It is located in the western end of the Riverside-San Bernardino Area and it is easily accessible via the Chino Valley and Pomona freeways....
), in the pilot episode. After beating Ryan up, Luke utters what is arguably the most famous line of the series, "Welcome to the O.C., bitch!" which was used as a tagline
Tagline
A tagline is a variant of a branding slogan typically used in marketing materials and advertising. The idea behind the concept is to create a memorable phrase that will sum up the tone and premise of a brand or product , or to reinforce the audience's memory of a product...
in trailers for the first season. He also bullies Seth Cohen
Seth Cohen
Seth Ezekiel Cohen is a fictional character on the FOX television series The O.C., portrayed by Adam Brody. Seth was one of the "core four" characters on The O.C. alongside Ryan Atwood, Marissa Cooper, and Summer Roberts.-Background:...
constantly. However, after a bizarre turn of events, Luke becomes good friends with Ryan and Seth, even accepting Ryan's relationship with Luke's ex-girlfriend Marissa.
Luke was the boyfriend of Marissa Cooper
Marissa Cooper
Marissa Cooper is a fictional character on the FOX television series The O.C., portrayed by Mischa Barton. Marissa was among the original "core four" characters on The O.C. until her death in the season three finale, "The Graduates."...
since fifth grade. Very opposed to Ryan from the start, the two often find themselves fighting. However, Luke does show a slightly sympathetic side early on, saving Ryan from the model home fire in the second episode and assisting Ryan's mother during her drunken meltdown at Vegas Night. Marissa loses her virginity to Luke shortly after. When Marissa catches him cheating on her with one of her best friends, Holly Fischer, during a trip to Tijuana, she is very upset and overdoses on painkillers in a street alley. Ryan saves her and brings her to the hospital, where her mother Julie tries to force her into rehab. Luke appears and, feeling guilty for his role in the overdose, shows Ryan and Marissa an escape route.
Luke all but disappears until he and Ryan are begrudgingly paired together for a school project. The two stumble upon Luke's father, Carson, kissing another man at the car dealership where he works. When word spreads about his father's homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
, the once popular Luke falls out of favor with his clique and finds himself on the bottom of the social ladder for the first time. Ryan, Seth and Marissa then take him in as one of their own.
After that, Luke becomes a member of the group, more friendly and carefree than he had been earlier, becoming known for his lovable goofiness and love of beer. He accompanies the others to a Rooney
Rooney
Rooney may refer to:People*Rooney , the forename of various people*Rooney , the surname of various people*The Rooney family, of the Pittsburgh Steelers American football franchise...
concert (where his guitar playing and songwriting talents are displayed) and to a golf resort, where he emerges as a loyal comrade to Ryan. He is the second person, after Ryan, to become suspicious of Oliver Trask
Oliver Trask
Oliver Trask is a fictional character on the FOX television series The O.C., portrayed by Taylor Handley. Oliver appeared in the series' first season as thorn in Ryan Atwood and Marissa Cooper's relationship, soon developing a severe obsession with the latter...
and takes Ryan's side in the ensuing turmoil, going so far as offering to "drop the Great Gatsby." He also makes a play on Summer Roberts
Summer Roberts
Summer Roberts is a fictional character on the FOX television series The O.C., portrayed by Rachel Bilson.-Background:Summer Roberts grew up in Newport Beach, California, with her wealthy father, Dr. Neil Roberts...
, who laughs him off.
Experiencing loneliness, Luke eventually becomes sexually involved with Marissa's mother, Julie Cooper
Julie Cooper
Julie Cooper is a fictional character on the FOX television series The O.C., portrayed by Melinda Clarke.-Background:...
, which Marissa eventually finds out about. Luke decides to leave Newport Beach for Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
to live with his father after his parents' divorce. Luke tries to speak to Marissa, but she refuses. Distraught, he drives away intoxicated and is involved in a car crash. Ryan and Marissa visit Luke in hospital where Marissa forgives him and says that she will miss him. In Luke's last scene of the season Ryan promises to visit him in his new home and Luke jokes about becoming the equivalent of Ryan, to fall for the girl dating the captain of the football team and then fight him and have him say to Luke, "Welcome to Portland, bitch."
Season 2
Luke appeared with his father in the first episode of the second season. Seth had apparently been living at Luke's house in Portland after Seth fled Orange CountyOrange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
. He seems to be faring well, with an attractive new girlfriend, Amanda.
Season 4
Luke appears only in a cartoon drawing of Seth's in The Avengers when Ryan, Seth, Summer, Sandy and Kirsten are at the comic book shop watching a slide show.In another episode, Luke briefly appeared in a flashback sequence in the episode "The Case of the Franks" set in 1998 when he was ten years old. He attended class with Seth
Seth Cohen
Seth Ezekiel Cohen is a fictional character on the FOX television series The O.C., portrayed by Adam Brody. Seth was one of the "core four" characters on The O.C. alongside Ryan Atwood, Marissa Cooper, and Summer Roberts.-Background:...
, Summer
Summer Roberts
Summer Roberts is a fictional character on the FOX television series The O.C., portrayed by Rachel Bilson.-Background:Summer Roberts grew up in Newport Beach, California, with her wealthy father, Dr. Neil Roberts...
, Holly
Holly Fischer
Holly Fischer is a fictional character from the first and fourth season of the FOX series The O.C., played by Ashley Hartman.-Season One:Holly is introduced at the outset of the series as one of the best friends of Summer Roberts and Marissa Cooper....
, Taylor
Taylor Townsend
Taylor Townsend is a fictional character on the FOX television series The O.C., played by Autumn Reeser.-Personality:...
, and Marissa
Marissa Cooper
Marissa Cooper is a fictional character on the FOX television series The O.C., portrayed by Mischa Barton. Marissa was among the original "core four" characters on The O.C. until her death in the season three finale, "The Graduates."...
, who is not seen in the flashback.