Ben McKenzie Looks Back at Mischa Barton's Surprising Exit From 'The O.C.'

Ben McKenzie is reflecting on his time on The O.C.

The 41-year-old actor chatted with PeopleTV’s Couch Surfing about his hit teen drama that ran from 2003 to 2007.

“It was a rocket ship,” Ben said, “and I think we all kind of hung on for dear life.”

Starring as Ryan Atwood, Ben‘s role in The O.C. was his first TV role to last more than one episode.

“Is this normal?” Ben said he asked himself when the show became a huge hit. “This seems like it’s going well, but I have nothing to compare it to. Is it going to be okay?”

Later in the interview, Ben looked back at co-star Mischa Barton‘s surprising exit from the show.

“It was…very odd to have someone who was in it from the beginning leave, but you know, it was dramatic in all the O.C. ways,” Ben said.

Mischa‘s character Marissa Copper was killed off in a car explosion in the season three finale. Ryan pulled Marissa out of the car and she died in his arms.

Looking back on that scene, Ben thinks the show “gave her a proper sendoff, hopefully.”