You probably know Peter Gallagher from starring as everyone’s favorite TV dad, Sandy Cohen, on The O.C.
Well, his fatherly instincts go beyond what we’ve seen on TV, and in a recent interview, he shared that he has always felt “protective” of Mischa Barton, who was only 16 when she began starring in the series.
In 2007, Mischa was arrested in LA for drunk driving, marijuana possession, and driving without a license. She was hospitalized in 2009 and kept under an involuntary psychiatric hold.
In recent years, Mischa has been extremely open about her mistreatment in Hollywood and how she felt “sexualized” at a young age. During the 2000s, she also became a target for paparazzi, which led her to develop PTSD.
Speaking to the Independent, Peter said, “I’ve always felt very protective of her. First fame is toxic. First fame can kill you.”
“She was 16 years old when she started working with us, so just the fact that she’s still alive, I’m just so grateful.”
Mischa exited the series after three seasons, and has spoken candidly about the trauma she faced during her time in the spotlight. “You can go to therapy every day for the rest of your life. But there’s just a certain amount of trauma [from] all that I went through, particularly in my early 20s, that just doesn’t go away overnight,” she told the Sunday Times last year.
Read Peter’s full interview here.
