Sandy, is the son of Sophie and Mr. Cohen, who left the family when Sandy and his older brothers were still young).
Sandy, is married to Kirsten Cohen. Sandy and Kirsten have three children together, two older sons: Seth and Ryan, and a younger daughter: Sophie Rose Cohen.
Sandy went to the University of California at Berkeley to study law where he met and fell in love with Kirsten. Before, he had been engaged to Rebecca Bloom. He was originally a public defender, which brought him into contact with troubled teen, Ryan Atwood, whom he took in and eventually adopted after his own mother abandoned him. He has since then gone into private practice in a law firm, before going to start his own law firm and finally taking over his late father-in-law's company, the Newport Group. After Seth accidentally burned down the Newport Group headquarters, Sandy returns to the public defender's office. He and Kirsten have three children. Sandy supports more liberal politics when compared to his wife Kirsten Cohen. He campaigned for the Democratic presidential candidate Walter Mondale in 1984, while his wife Kirsten, supported the Republican Ronald Regan.
Personality[]
Despite living in Newport and marrying a "Newpsie", it becomes apparent that Sandy does not consider himself to be "one of them". His blue-collar, single-parent upbringing in The Bronx contrasts with that of his wife Kirsten. Like long-time next door neighbor Julie Cooper, he was not raised in the affluent Newport lifestyle but unlike Julie, he generally disassociates himself from his counterparts. He never fails to make known his distaste for the shallow, materialistic and pampered ways of his contemporaries who were born and bred in that lifestyle, even going so far as to describe Harbor School teachers as "preppy little savages" and calling the housewives' social gatherings "Newpsie Conventions".
As the more easy-going parent, Sandy's "hippie parenting" sometimes clashed with Kirsten's more strict and firm style. He prefers to let his children learn the error of their ways by experiencing the consequences themselves.
Sandy has a mainly stable relationship with his wife Kirsten and their only son Seth, albeit with the occasional problem surfacing. Unresolved issues of trust and jealousy rise to the surface with regards to Kirsten's former childhood sweetheart, Jimmy Cooper, who is also their next-door neighbor.
He leaves the Public Defender's Office to go into private practice at Patridge, Savage and Khan, along with his former colleague from the District Attorney's office, Rachel Hoffman. She causes tension between Sandy and Kirsten when Kirsten finds Sandy enjoying a drink with Rachel one night while he was supposed to be at a meeting. Later on, Sandy and Rachel get involved in a case against Caleb's company, the Newport Group. Both were accused by Caleb of having an affair because they had been spending a lot of time together and working very late. Not long afterwards, when Rachel and Sandy were working late in her apartment, she makes a play for him, but he rejects her advances. He and Kirsten then attempt to set her up with the newly divorced Jimmy, to no avail.
In season 2, Sandy, re-meeting his first love : Rebecca Bloom, the daughter of an old Berkeley professor : Max Bloom. Rebecca is wanted by the FBI for a subversive act she had accomplished twenty years ago and Sandy helps her hide in Newport, initially to greet her dying father, then to defend her in court. Soon the two become very intimate, thanks to Sandy's silence with his wife, and they kiss each other. The episode remains, however isolated. Sandy chooses to stay with Kirsten, and Rebecca is forced to flee, disappearing forever. Unfortunately, Sandy's problems with his wife are not resolved, his flirt with Rebecca, contributed towards her growing alcohol problem, and the distance between her and Sandy caused her to almost have an affair with a magazine editor, Carter Buckley, who was hired as editor of Newport Living, a magazine edited by Kirsten and Julie ; He is a political activist with whom Sandy immediately makes friends, but towards which his wife Kirsten develops a strong emotional bond, although he left before anything happened. The departure of Carter, drops Kirsten in a state of deep depression, which culminates with her father's Caleb Nichol, death. Despite Sandy being very close to her during this hard moment, Kirsten's drinking problem runs out of control after attending her fathers funeral, forcing the entire Cohen family and Kirsten's sister, Hailey to stage an intervention and put her in rehab.
In season 3, after Caleb's death Sandy took over management and ownership of the Newport Group. However being The CEO of Newport and the underhanded business dealings neccessary to survive have proven a test for Sandy's character. This leads to a very rough patch with his family. On the night that he is elected "Man of the Year" he says he cannot accept the award and decides to devote himself to his family.
In season 4, Sandy helps Ryan sort things out with Kevin Volchok, who was responsible for the death of Marissa and he was also the one who talks Ryan into helping Taylor Townsend, who was in the middle of a divorce from her French husband, Henri-Michel de Momourant.
Later in the season, Sandy bumps into a man at the New Year's Eve party and investigates further. The man is revealed to be Ryan's biological father, Frank Atwood, whom Sandy meets. Frank wants to see Ryan, so Sandy tells Ryan who refuses. Frank tells Sandy that he has cancer so Kirsten invites him to dinner but Sandy is suspicious. It is later revealed Frank lied in a last-ditch attempt to see Ryan, prompting Sandy to punch him in front of everyone.
Sandy helps in the preparation for Kirsten's fortieth birthday. He finds a mail truck, exactly the same model as the one that both of them lived in Berkeley, while his real present to her was two first-class tickets around the world. When he tells a stunned Kirsten, she announces that she is having a baby. After an earthquake hits Newport Beach, Sandy finds Kirsten on the ground, and tries to help her up, but had difficulties because of the falling objects around them. At the hospital, Sandy and Kirsten discover that they are going to have a daughter.
Six months later, he and Kirsten move to Berkeley; back to the house where they had Seth. It is in this house that Seth and Ryan's sister, Sophie Rose Cohen, starts her life. In the flashforward set five years later, Sandy is now a law professor at UC Berkeley.
Seth: Yeah, a divided house can not eat. Now we all gotta get together between a single action hero.
Sandy: Steve McQueen.
Seth: Steve Ma-who?
Sandy: My own son doesn't know Steve McQueen.
Trey: You know a lot of people like Great Escape. I gotta go with Bullit.
Sandy: He cooks breakfast and a McQueen fan. I knew I liked you.
Seth: He surfs, he sings, he practically fights crime. Maybe Sandy Cohen could be our action hero.
Sandy: Just say the word, son.
Sandy: He very chivalrous, not unlike a young Steve McQueen.
Sandy: So a charity event where the donors keep half the profits and a yardsale with no yard. Hm. So that's how they do it in the OC.
Kirsten: Sandy, it's an honorary chair. A figure-head position. You'd be the master of ceremonies, like an auctioneer. And you know what an MC has.
Sandy: An unfair advantage. You know the opponent's weakness.
Kirsten: That's right. A microphone. On stage. With an audience. A captive audience.
Sandy: And a few showtunes, perhaps.
Kirsten: You just have to go by the Club today and say hello.
Sandy: Just a figurehead?
Kirsten: With a mic.
Sandy: Hey, guys. I'm chairing The OC Pseudo-Charity Non-Yard sale.
Newpsie: The job of the chair is to choose table linens, flatware, centerpieces.
Sandy: Alright, okay. I'll help Trey with the lifting.
Sandy: Joanne. Tell me you didn't order those napkin rings? This is not a mob wedding.
Joanne: Gosh, Sandy, I thought they were kind of fun.
Sandy: No.
Sandy: Okay, folks, here's a beautiful Erté-esque statue. Yes, indeed. Very fetching. What do we start the bidding at? $75. I guess it's more "esque" than Erté.
Kirsten: Neither of us are actually in the right shape to drive just yet, so—.
Sandy: A little too much of the Indian Spirit, huh
Seth: (sighs) hey (touches Ryan's shoulder) (Ryan looks at him) dude you cannot blame yourself, alright (Ryan shakes his head and rubs his eyes) all you did was give Trey a chance an you believed in him an its like look (Ryan sighs) whatever he did at Marissa's party that's all on him
Ryan: the thing is (looks at Seth) I don't think he did it...I mean Treys alott'a things but eh I don't know I jus don't think he's a drug dealer
Seth: ok, so then (Ryan listens) when the cops showed up an asked who's responsible for the...girl floating in the pool he was like what (Ryan sighs) (puts his hand up) I'm an ex-con, on parole I know, ill say me (waves his hand)
Ryan: no I think that when the cops showed up an went to put the cuffs on Marissa he did what he had to do (looks at Seth) ta stop em
Seth: (looks at Ryan) what makes you say that Ryan: I was...about to do the same thing (Seth laughs and nods his head)
Ryan: (laughs) yeah
Seth: (thinks) sure (smiles) the compulsive need to rescue Marissa Cooper mus be in the Atwood DNA
Ryan: it would explain alot
Seth: well look, the good news is if he really didn't do it (Ryan looks at him) then my dad'll get him off (Sandy and Trey walk into the kitchen)
Sandy: oh I wouldn't be so sure about that (Ryan looks at Trey, Trey looks at Ryan, worried. Ryan stands and slowly walks towards Trey, Trey again looks at him, unsure what Ryan is thinking)
Ryan: (softly) hey (puts his hand on the back of Treys neck and pulls him into a tight hug {just as Trey has done to him a few times, aww})
(Trey is thrown by this, but definitely happy. he touches Ryan's back briefly. Ryan pulls away and looks at Trey)
Trey: I...thought you'd be mad at me
Ryan: why would I be mad (smiles) I mean...you didn't do it right
Trey: no man no way...its jus when I...saw em about to take Marissa off I (Ryan looks at him) had to do somethin
Sandy: from the gallantry and or stupidity with defences to felony dealing charges (Ryan and Trey look at Sandy) he'd be a free man (holds out coffee to Trey) here why don't you go get settled in the pool house
Ryan: (looks at Trey) what...you're uh staying with us again
Trey: I...am in Sandy's custody (walks away) it's the only way he could get the judge not ta lock me up
(Ryan watches Trey leave the kitchen. Seth is now standing next to Sandy)
Seth: (looks at Sandy) you couldn't get him off
Sandy: well you know the old expression...no good deed goes unpunished (looks at Ryan) Trey is facing hard time.
Sandy: Caleb Nichol was not a man of many words. He was however a brilliant man. He leaves a legacy of possibility. But his true achievement were his children. He was a caring father, a wonderful grandfather, a truly terrible father-in-law... So, he may be gone, but he won't soon be forgotten. Rest in peace, Caleb. And if you can't do that, I'm sure heaven could use a few more McMansions.
Julie: If it would help, I could take over Kirsten Watch for awhile.
Sandy: I don't know if anything's gonna help.
Julie: So then let her glower at me. I'm used to it.
Sandy: Unfortunately, so am I these days. Thank you Julie.
Hailey: How long has this been going on?
Sandy: Too long. Last night sealed the deal. She's getting help whether she wants it or not.
Sandy: You are a part of it. Whether you want to or not. You want to run away again? Get in your boat and sail away? Your mother needs you.
Jimmy: No no I mean. No, are you kidding, everything's fantastic. I just wanted to give my fiancée a little peace of mind.
Sandy: Well anything for the soon-to-be Mrs. Cooper-Nichol-Cooper.
Ryan: You and I are both here because someone gave us a break. Now Marissa needs one.
Sandy: Well, I think having Kirsten gone is making me all sentimental. Or maybe my brain is fried from doing all these real estate deals. Your plan poses a myriad of obstacles.
Kirsten: Dr. Butcher said I should confront my fears. And mine is cooking.
Sandy: So's mine.
Kirsten: Well, we'll confront my cooking together.
Sandy: Honey, I got everything on the list, including a little Chunky Monkey that's mostly for me. Alright, it's all for me. Best. Ben and Jerry's. Ever.
Sandy: I'll have to think about this. You know what that means, don't you? I gotta ask my wife.
Kirsten: I thought you loathed corporate America.
Sandy: Oh I do. I loathe it all. The greed, Republicans, navy suits.
Sandy: I haven't had tequila in forever.
Matt: Then we should have a whole bottle. Game on, man.
Sandy: What's next? A frat party at UC?
Matt: No, I just wanted to celebrate.
Sandy: Listen I expect you to take this job seriously. I'm not gonna be out drinking with you every night after work. Weekends maybe. And tonight. Game on, Matt.
Julie: Sandy, I don't think I'm in favor of low income housing.
Kirsten: Julie, you live in a trailer park.
Julie: And I'm highly motivated to change my circumstances. If you make being poor too comfortable, what's the incentive to get rich? Believe me, if anyone should know.
Sandy: On that uplifting note, I'll leave you two to hash out the finer points of the free market economy.
Kirsten: Is that a pirate costume?
Seth: Summer and I are at war.
Sandy: A pirate war?
Seth: Well it turns out Brown usually takes only one student from Harbor and we both want to be it so I need a hook.
Sandy: Oh, you mean like a Captain Hook?
Kirsten: Summer going to Brown? I mean no offense...
Sandy: We can't give into threats like that. We don't negotiate with the Newpsies.
Sandy: Do you know Veronica Townsend?
Neil: Do I know Veronica Townsend? Sandy, I know every former A-cup in this town.
Sandy: Well how would you feel about having dinner with her tonight?
Neil: You mean a date?
Sandy: Look, I know she is a bitch on wheels, but she wants to go out with you. And she's willing to make Marissa's life at Harbor very difficult if it doesn't go through.
Neil: Oh c'mon, Sandy. That's preposterous.
Sandy: I wouldn't be asking if I didn't think she'd follow through on this. Look, it's one dinner. Crowded restaurant. Meet there. Kirsten and I will pick up the tab.
Sandy: How about this? How about we find a strategy that doesn't involve liquor or sexual favors?
Sandy: Who would have thought the Newport Group would be where I go for to a moment of Zen?
Kirsten: You know, sometimes this job makes you do a lot of hard thinking.
Sandy: I want this hospital more than I've wanted anything in a long time.
Kirsten: Then you can't let Matt's relationship with Maya Griffin stand in your way. For all you know, she could be using him too. Or they could live happily ever after. The point is, if you want this as bad as I think you do, you have to go for it.
Sandy: So where is the line?
Kirsten: I'm not worried about you knowing where the line is. You always do. It's who you are.
Sandy: They're calling the hospital phase one of Orange County's renaissance. They think it could be a model for responsible development for the entire country.
Kirsten: Responsible for development? Sandy, the only thing that's responsible for is a lot of sleepless nights and Matt Ramsey's black eye. You know my father was Man of the Year.
Sandy: The irony is not lost on me, believe me.
Summer: Oh my god. Mr. C. you totally scared me.
Sandy: Sometimes I scare myself, Summer.
Sandy: I want to talk to you.
Seth: Good. I want to talk to you.
Sandy: I love you, and I'm worried about you.
Seth: Right back atcha.
Sandy: You snoked pot in our home.
Seth: Would you rather I do it somewhere else? Like my college down?
Sandy: That would require you getting into college.
Seth: Do you think it's such a great idea me going away to college when mom's been drinking again?
Sandy: What are you talking about?
Seth: Maybe if you paid attention to anything other than that stupid hospital you'd notice mom's been out before dinner.
Sandy: Don't talk to your father like that.
Seth: That would require you to act like my father.
Sandy: I know the last few years have been a roller coaster. There's been tragedy and comedy and first loves, broken hearts, family members we've lost and found. It hasn't all been perfect, but we're all a family here. So cheers.
Jason Spitz: Look, if you came to haggle me on the Ramirez plea, forget about it. I'm up to my ass in unhappy ADAs.
Sandy: No, I'm just passing through.
Jason Spitz: What, you've come to admire the wainscoting?
Sandy: This is my old office.
Jason Spitz: You're Sandy Cohen?
Sandy: My reputation precedes me?
Jason Spitz: Well, self-righteous, arrogant and a little nutso?
Sandy: I see that it does.
Jason Spitz: Jason Spitz.
Sandy: Nice to meet you.
Jason Spitz: Nice to meet you. You're a legend. Not to mention I heard about your post-victory karaoke bar performances.
Sandy: Defend the poor, sing the classics. I had a reputation and a routine.
There is a Sandy Cohen Public Defender Fellowship at Berkeley Law School. Students commonly refer to it as "The Sandy" or "The Sandy Cohen Public Defender Fellowship for Lawyers Who Dare to Dream."
Max Greenfield plays young Sandy Cohen. Later on, Peter Gallagher plays Max Greenfield's dad on New Girl.
He has been married to Kirsten for 17 years in Season 1. However, they celebrate their 20th anniversary in Season 2. Later, in Season 4, they renew their vows. [1]
He’s a Democrat. He campaigned for Mondale in 1984. He met his future wife, Kirsten (raised Republican), while giving out flyers at Berkeley.
In The Accomplice, Seth says “I still don’t know where Alex stands. Is she back together with her lesbian ex? And if so, are they open to some sort of ménage à three-way, as in the film Summer Lovers?” Peter Gallagher starred in that movie.
In The Power of Love, Seth mentions that his father was Danny Zuko in the original UC Berkeley production of Grease. Peter Gallagher actually played that role in Grease at the Monmouth Arts Foundation in 1978.
In an alternate reality, where he never brought Ryan home, his marriage to Kirsten doesn’t last. Instead, he’s the uptight mayor of Newport Beach and married to Julie Cooper. [2]
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