On NCIS: Los Angeles, Assistant Director Owen Granger was the sharp, no-nonsense authority figure who rarely backed down from a fight. Played with gravitas and grit by veteran actor Miguel Ferrer, Granger became an essential piece of the show’s fabric beginning in Season 3 — a complex presence in a world of agents, double-crosses, and personal loyalty.
But behind the camera, Ferrer was fighting a far more personal battle — one that would ultimately claim his life, even as he continued showing up to work with unwavering determination. His final episodes on NCIS: LA weren’t just performances; they were acts of perseverance that moved everyone around him.
This is the real-life story behind one of the show’s most tragic losses — and how Miguel Ferrer’s strength, legacy, and unforgettable voice still echo through the halls of the NCIS: LA set.
The Man Behind Granger
Miguel Ferrer joined NCIS: Los Angeles in 2012, entering the scene in Season 3, Episode 12 (“The Watchers”). His role as Assistant Director Owen Granger brought new energy to the show — sometimes abrasive, always efficient, and layered with a guarded sense of honor. Over time, viewers warmed to the man whose bark often masked a deep moral code. He became not just an integral part of the narrative but a character whose presence grounded the team in Washington authority.
Ferrer wasn’t just acting — he was living every moment as Granger, even as throat cancer began to take its toll. Though visibly struggling in later episodes, he continued to film through 2016 and into early 2017, with his final appearance coming in Season 8, Episode 15 (“Payback”). Behind the scenes, the reality was devastating.
“It Gave Him Something to Look Forward To”
According to NCIS: LA star Chris O’Donnell, Ferrer’s dedication to the show went far beyond professionalism — it became a lifeline.
“It was kind of keeping him alive for a while there,” O’Donnell said in a CBS tribute. “It gave him something to look forward to.” Even when speaking became difficult, Ferrer showed up on set. His co-stars and the production team adapted scenes to accommodate his condition, ensuring he could continue doing what he loved until the very end.
Executive producer Frank Military later revealed how painful yet inspiring it was to witness Ferrer’s fight: “His voice — one of the beautiful parts of his instrument — that’s what was affected,” Military explained. “Even having that hobbled, he just kept fighting on. And it was really hard for him. It was not easy.”
That resilience was unmistakable. You could see it onscreen, woven into Granger’s sharp eyes and every clipped line. And you could feel it off-screen in the silence that fell over the crew each time the cameras stopped rolling and Ferrer quietly pushed through another take.
More Than Just Granger: Ferrer’s Legendary Career
Though his final role may have been as Owen Granger, Miguel Ferrer was no stranger to iconic characters. His acting debut came on Magnum, P.I., and from there, his filmography reads like a roadmap of genre-defining projects.
In 1987, Ferrer exploded onto the big screen in RoboCop, playing ruthless corporate climber Bob Morton — the man who launched the RoboCop program. The role, full of swagger and tragic ambition, remains one of the most memorable in Ferrer’s career.
He also had roles in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, Twin Peaks (as FBI Agent Albert Rosenfield), Crossing Jordan, and Desperate Housewives. With his gravelly voice, piercing gaze, and ability to deliver a line like a verbal scalpel, Ferrer carved out a career built on character work — the kind that made you feel like he was always the smartest person in the room.
An On-Set Family in Mourning
When Ferrer passed away on January 19, 2017, at age 61, NCIS: LA lost more than a cast member. They lost a friend, a fighter, and a mentor.
“It was incredibly emotional,” Daniela Ruah shared during a cast interview after his death. “He brought something to this show that was completely irreplaceable. He was a force.”
The writers chose not to dramatize Granger’s death onscreen. Instead, they allowed the character to disappear under mysterious circumstances — a quiet, dignified exit that mirrored Ferrer’s own quiet bravery. It felt fitting. Owen Granger simply walked off into the shadows — just like the man who portrayed him with so much heart.
His Voice May Be Gone, But His Impact Remains
Even in a franchise known for high-stakes drama and rotating casts, some losses hit differently. Miguel Ferrer wasn’t just another actor passing through the NCIS universe — he was a cornerstone in the show’s middle years, a quiet warrior whose personal struggle became an unspoken source of inspiration to his colleagues.
Fans still remember his final scenes, where the lines between fiction and reality blurred. Granger wasn’t dying — but Miguel Ferrer was. And still, he stood tall.
As Chris O’Donnell put it: “He never complained. He just showed up. That’s who he was.”
In Memoriam: Miguel Ferrer (1955–2017)
Gone too soon — but never forgotten.
