On the set of NCIS: Los Angeles, the long days and tight schedules make for more than just TV magic — they also create real bonds between castmates. But for Daniela Ruah, stepping behind the camera to direct episodes of the beloved CBS drama came with a new kind of pressure, especially when it meant directing someone as seasoned and revered as Gerald McRaney.
Best known to fans as the formidable Retired Admiral Hollace Kilbride, McRaney joined NCIS: LA later in its run but quickly became a powerful presence — both on-screen and off. For Ruah, who has played Special Agent Kensi Blye since Season 1, the idea of guiding a veteran actor like McRaney through a scene felt, at first, intimidating.
“The first time I directed on the show, I was like, ‘Mac, I’m a little hesitant about giving someone like you any notes whatsoever other than step left or step right,’” Ruah admitted in an October 2022 interview with Smashing Interviews Magazine.
No Ego, No Problem
To her surprise — and relief — McRaney wasn’t just receptive; he was collaborative.
“He was so gracious,” Ruah recalled. “He said, ‘This is something we do together.’ That immediately put me at ease.”
That one sentence set the tone for their working relationship. Far from the stereotype of a rigid, ego-driven veteran, McRaney proved himself to be a true team player — supportive, generous, and grounded.
“He really leads with love and respect for what’s around him, and it shows,” Ruah shared, adding that he’s one of her favorite people on set.
A Legacy of Professionalism
With a career spanning decades and including iconic roles in Major Dad, Simon & Simon, House of Cards, and This Is Us, McRaney is no stranger to commanding roles. His gravitas as Admiral Kilbride gave NCIS: LA a steady new center in its later seasons. But according to Ruah, it’s McRaney’s humility that made him such a joy to work with — especially for a director still sharpening her craft.
For a show that spent 14 seasons highlighting loyalty, trust, and teamwork, it’s only fitting that the man behind the show’s final commanding officer embodied those same values off-camera.
“There’s no ego with Mac,” Ruah emphasized. “That’s the kind of actor every director hopes to work with.”
Final Salute
As NCIS: LA wrapped its final season in May 2023, it left behind more than just 322 episodes of action-packed storytelling. It also left a legacy of collaboration and respect — the kind that Daniela Ruah and Gerald McRaney modeled with grace.
And while the sets may now be quiet, the stories — both scripted and behind the scenes — continue to resonate with the fans who followed the journey from day one.
