Mischa Barton is being killed off in The O.C. The brunette star's troubled character, Marissa Cooper, is to reportedly exit the hit US teen drama after taking a drugs overdose. A source revealed: "Mischa is definitely going. She hasn't been happy for a while and producers think its best she leaves. It is the perfect end to the current series."

News of Mischa's departure comes in the wake of reports suggesting she was trying to get fired from the show by pulling a host of sickies. The 20-year-old actress allegedly had become worried about the show's spiralling ratings and concerned about being typecast as a teen brat.

According to reports, in the last few months Mischa has frequently called in sick or arrived late on set to the displeasure of her bosses.