Sandy Cohen
Played by Peter Gallagher
Sandy is a loving, palsy father to Seth, and devoted husband to Kirsten.
A rare lawyer with a conscience, he developed his leftist ideals as a student at the University of California in Berkeley. Formerly a public defender, he has found himself dragged into the corporate world thanks to his father-in-law Caleb's shady business dealings. He struggles to maintain his ideals despite having to defend Caleb (primarily out of loyalty to Kirsten) on charges of fraud.
It was Sandy who brought Ryan into the Cohen's, and by extension everyone in Newport Beach's, life. While defending Ryan on a minor thievery charge, Sandy saw his potential, and asked him to come and live with his family.
He now serves as a surrogate father to Ryan, and has helped the lad out of numerous scrapes.
Last season, both Sandy and Kirsten faced temptation, but neither succumbed. Sandy then experienced the drama of having to confront his wife Kirsten about her drinking problem, and sent her to rehab.
