Actor Tate Donovan has blasted the young stars of former soap The O.c., insisting they were "incredibly difficult" to work with.

The former Friends star, who played Jimmy Cooper on the once cult drama series, has laid the blame for The O.c.'s many on-set problems at the feet of the show's stars Mischa Barton, Benjamin McKenzie, Rachel Bilson and Adam Brody.

He says, "They were really tough. Directors were leaving the set and saying, `I'm never going to work with (them again).'"

"I think they all wanted movie careers and did not want to be on a television show. All four of them were, like, 'This show is ruining my career.'"