Dr. Neil Roberts

Neil Roberts
The O.C. character
First appearance	"The Shower" (episode 1.25)
Last appearance	"The French Connection" (episode 4.10)
Created by	Josh Schwartz
Portrayed by	Michael Nouri
In-universe information
Gender	Male
Occupation	Plastic surgeon
Spouse	Unnamed woman (ex-wife; 1 child) Gloria Roberts (ex-wife)
Children	Summer Roberts (daughter)
Relatives	Seth Cohen (son-in-law, via Summer)
Residence	Newport Beach, California

Dr. Neil Roberts is a fictional character on the FOX series, The O.C., portrayed by Michael Nouri.

A plastic surgeon in wealthy Newport Beach, California, Neil is the father of Summer Roberts. He was married to Summer's mother until his daughter was 13 years old, when Summer's mother left for unexplained reasons. This was at the time that Luke Ward had his 13th birthday party, which also when Seth had his Bar Mitzvah. Summer had RSVP'd to Seth that she was going to come to his Bar Mitzvah, but she wanted to go to Luke's party instead. Summer's parents wouldn't let her go to Luke's event due to her prior engagement, so she locked herself in her room for days, and when she came out her mother had left. No one came to Seth's Bar Mitzvah as they all went to Luke's party.

Rarely seen during the first two seasons, Neil has an increased presence by the middle of the third season when he develops a relationship with the widowed and newly economically challenged Julie Cooper, as he alludes to an unraveling marriage to Summer's stepmother. Neil and Julie then get engaged. He proposed to Summer's mother on a cruise ship after dating for a week, leading Summer to panic when she intercepts his mail and finds a travel brochure for a cruise. But after the death of Marissa, Julie becomes addicted to medication pills, and Neil is seen by Kaitlin Cooper with his ex-wife, whom Summer calls "stepmonster". Neil and Julie break up, and Neil moves to Seattle to work at Seattle Grace Hospital (home of Grey's Anatomy). He kept a skeleton called "Uncle Alistair", which Summer explains was from his medical school days, in the attic.

In a flashforward, his only daughter Summer, marries Seth. However, Dr. Roberts does not appear in the wedding, despite his paternal love for Summer. Subsequently, Summer walks alone down the aisle, but she does not appear to be affected negatively by the absence of her father.