Over its 14-season run, NCIS: Los Angeles featured a long list of guest stars — some before they hit it big, and others during unexpected career turns. Here are 10 surprising celebrities you may have forgotten appeared on the show:
1. LL Cool J (Before Going Full-Time)
Wait — wasn’t he always in the main cast? Yes, but LL Cool J originally appeared in a guest spot in the backdoor pilot for NCIS: LA in NCIS Season 6. It was his first time stepping into Sam Hanna’s shoes before becoming a series regular.
2. Aisha Hinds
Before her major roles in 9-1-1 and Underground, Aisha Hinds guest-starred in Season 3, playing an agent involved in a high-stakes investigation. Her intensity and command foreshadowed her breakout roles to come.
3. Sterling K. Brown
Before winning Emmys for This Is Us, Brown appeared in NCIS: LA Season 4 as Lance Talbot, a secretive character connected to a high-profile assassination. It was a brief but chilling role.
4. Daniela Ruah (Double Duty!)
While Ruah starred as Kensi Blye, she also appeared as Kensi’s lookalike — criminal Mandy Ellis — in a Season 4 twist. A fun acting challenge, it proved her range beyond the fan-favorite field agent.
5. Jericho Rosales
The Filipino actor and heartthrob surprised fans with a guest role in Season 13. His appearance as a Southeast Asian diplomat entangled in a kidnapping plot was both unexpected and memorable.
6. Mercedes Mason
Long before Fear the Walking Dead, Mason played DEA Agent Talia Del Campo, a recurring guest star with chemistry opposite Marty Deeks. Her appearances always brought some spark — and tension.
7. Peter Cambor
As Operational Psychologist Nate Getz, Cambor was part of the original team. He returned sporadically across later seasons, often helping analyze suspects or counsel team members.
8. Christopher Lambert
The Highlander star appeared in Season 6 as Marcel Janvier, aka “The Chameleon” — one of the team’s most cunning and dangerous foes. His cold menace made him an unforgettable villain.
9. Danny Trejo
Known for his tough-guy roles, Trejo popped up in Season 5 as Tuhon, a legendary former assassin with ties to Sam and Callen. Unsurprisingly, Trejo owned the screen with every growl and glare.
10. Linda Hunt’s Stunt Double
Okay, not a celebrity per se — but in Season 10’s “The Guardian,” Hunt (Hetty) had limited screen time due to an accident. The show cleverly used stand-ins and camera angles, and it sparked fan theories about her “replacement” being a known guest star (it wasn’t, but fans sure had fun guessing!).
Honorable Mentions:
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Eric Roberts as a manipulative businessman
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Vyto Ruginis reprising his NCIS role
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Perrey Reeves (Entourage) as a high-level CIA operative
NCIS: LA may have ended, but its legacy — and unforgettable guest spots — live on.
