Caleb Nichol

Infobox character
colour = #ffaa44
name = Caleb Nichol
other_names =


caption =
portrayer = Alan Dale
creator = Josh Schwartz
species =
gender = Male
first = The Girlfriend
(episode 1.06)
last = The O.Sea
(episode 2.23)
cause = Fatal Heart Attack
age = 60
birth =
death =
episode = 36
occupation = former CEO of the Newport Group
family = Kirsten Cohen (daughter)
Hailey Nichol (daughter)
Lindsay Gardner (illegitimate daughter)

spouse = Rose Nichol (ex-wife, desceased)
Gabrielle (ex-girlfriend)
Julie Cooper (widow)
footnotes =

Caleb Nichol is a fictional character on The O.C., portrayed by Alan Dale during the show's first and second seasons.

Character's background

eason 1

Caleb was one of the wealthiest people in Newport Beach, owning the real estate company The Newport Group which owned a large amount of properties in Newport. He was portrayed as quite a suave businessman that was known for dishonest business dealings and practice. He also was somewhat controlling and manipulative, shown perhaps by the way he treated his daughter Kirsten who worked for him, who found it increasingly hard to please him and earn his approval. He did appear however to genuinely care for his children and was something of a prominent social figure. His relationship with his son-in-law, Sandy Cohen, was mixed, being particularly bad and resentful during season one to being somewhat of a mutual understanding in season two when Sandy helped Caleb with his legal troubles. At the end of the season, Caleb married Julie Cooper in an uneventful ceremony. Many suspected the union was for social and financial gain for both parties concerned, and proved to be a troubled marriage.

eason 2

Caleb becomes a main character in Season 2. [Wilkes, Neil (June 8, 2004). [http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/a14666/latest-oc-season-two-cast-news.html Latest 'O.C.' season two cast news] , Digital Spy. Retrieved on July 5, 2008.] With the Newport Group in deep financial debt, which began towards the end of Season 1, a long kept secret of an illegitimate child, Lindsay Gardner, came back to haunt him. He attempted to build a relationship with her at the start and at one point was intent on adopting her, but this relationship collapsed when he caved into Julie's demands for a blood test. The blood test confirmed Lindsay was Caleb's daughter, but Lindsay left with her mother shortly after. Caleb also developed a heart condition throughout season two as well, after having a confrontation with Ryan Atwood about Ryan's interference with his relationship with Lindsay. Later he had a heart attack and slipped into the pool and passed away. His funeral was the biggest in the 4 years of the O.C., with every resident attending & giving speeches.

eason 3

Despite Caleb's status in both the corporate and social world of Newport, it was later revealed that he was bankrupt, with massive company debts in the Newport Group and high interest loans and mortgages. Caleb left both Julie and Kirsten with no money, though he had intended in his will to divide his fortune and assets equally between them. In season 3, it is revealed that Caleb took Julie's suggestion of writing Kirsten an apology letter which is given to her at the reading of his will. In The Chrismukkah Bar-Mitzvahkkah when Seth is watching a video tape of his Bar Mitzvah when he was 13, Caleb's voice is briefly heard on the tape.

References