As NCIS: Los Angeles reached the end of its 14-season run, the series slipped in one final family tribute — this time featuring Chris O’Donnell’s real-life son.
In the action-packed finale, Callen and Sam (played by O’Donnell and LL Cool J) travel to Morocco, where they reunite with Nell (Renee Felice Smith). She reveals she’s been working to locate and rescue longtime OSP leader Hetty (Linda Hunt), who has once again landed in dangerous territory.
Nell introduces the duo to her new team — consisting of returning faces Nate Getz (Peter Cambor), CIA operative Sabatino (Erik Palladino), and one fresh recruit simply called “the new guy.” As he starts to say his name, Sabatino cuts him off, and the camera shifts between the newcomer and Callen… making the uncanny resemblance impossible to miss.
That’s because the new team member is played by none other than Chris O’Donnell’s oldest son, Chip.
Showrunner R. Scott Gemmill confirmed the casting choice, noting that Chip was the last of O’Donnell’s five children who hadn’t yet appeared on the series. Each of his siblings had previously featured in episodes over the years:
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Lily O’Donnell — “Young Amy,” Season 1
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Charlie O’Donnell — appeared twice in Season 1, including as Young Callen
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Finley O’Donnell — portrayed Young Callen in Seasons 2 and 3
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Maeve O’Donnell — appeared in Season 7’s “Command and Control” (with mom Caroline O’Donnell playing her on-screen mother)
Gemmill also revealed that Chip had originally been slated to play a younger Callen in a flashback episode before the pandemic disrupted those plans. With the series ending, the showrunner made sure he got his moment.
“Everyone else in Chris’ family had appeared,” Gemmill said. “I was running out of time, so I put Chip in the finale. It was a nice homage to Chris.”
