The NCIS star proves fatherhood is his greatest role yet
While Chris O’Donnell has portrayed many heroes on screen, off-screen he’s known for a much more personal role: proud father of five. The NCIS: Los Angeles star shares a beautiful, close-knit family with his college sweetheart and wife of 27 years, Caroline Fentress.
Together, they’ve raised five incredibly unique and talented children—Lily, Chip, Charlie, Finley, and Maeve—and although Chris has enjoyed a steady career in Hollywood, he’s always said that family comes first.
“Until you have children, you just have no idea what it means to love somebody,” he once shared on Who Do You Think You Are?
“For sure, my top priority is family.”
Let’s take a closer look at the remarkable O’Donnell kids and what makes each of them shine.
Lily Anne O’Donnell, 25
Born: September 3, 1999
The eldest of the O’Donnell clan, Lily was born while Chris was on location filming Vertical Limit in New Zealand. Although her dad famously fainted in the delivery room, he’s been a pillar of support in her life ever since.
Lily dipped her toes into acting at age 10 with a cameo on NCIS: Los Angeles alongside her father and brother Charlie. But Hollywood wasn’t her calling—she later pursued film and cinema studies at Boston College, followed by internships in London and now works in TV distribution at Lionsgate in New York City.
Christopher “Chip” Eugene O’Donnell Jr., 24
Born: October 24, 2000
Named after his dad but affectionately called “Chip,” he’s the family’s first son and a sports enthusiast through and through. From football and lacrosse to golf, Chip’s love for athletics defined his upbringing.
Though he’s the only O’Donnell child who hasn’t made a cameo on NCIS: LA (a planned appearance was canceled due to a COVID outbreak), he’s remained his father’s biggest cheerleader—famously telling fellow plane passengers, “My dad was Robin in the Batman movie!”
Now 24, Chip is in college and still shares a close bond with Chris, especially over golf.
Charles “Charlie” McHugh O’Donnell, 21
Born: July 11, 2003
A natural performer, Charlie has already followed in his dad’s footsteps. He portrayed a young version of his father’s character in NCIS: LA, alongside sister Lily.
But Charlie is more than just an actor—he’s a guitarist, stage performer, and golfer. His dad once proudly shared that Charlie played Emmett in a high school production of Legally Blonde: The Musical, showing that the O’Donnell talent runs deep.
Finley O’Donnell, 19
Born: March 24, 2006
Described by Chris as “the easiest baby ever,” Finley was the fourth addition to the O’Donnell household. He made his NCIS: LA cameo at just five years old, playing a young G. Callen.
These days, Finley is often spotted attending sports games with Chris, especially basketball. While he keeps a lower profile than his older siblings, his warm relationship with his dad is regularly on display.
Maeve Frances O’Donnell, 17
Born: December 10, 2007
The youngest of the O’Donnell kids, Maeve has been charming fans since her NCIS: LA debut in 2015, when she joined her father onscreen. Chris proudly marked the moment on Instagram, writing, “Somebody is making the debut performance Monday night.”
In recent years, Maeve has become her dad’s TikTok dance buddy and even walked the red carpet with him at the 2022 Emmy Awards, radiating confidence and charm.
Her enthusiasm inspired Chris to co-create the dance reality show Come Dance With Me in 2022, a heartwarming series that pairs kids and their parents in a competition—a perfect reflection of his bond with Maeve.
The O’Donnell Family: Love, Legacy & Laughter
Growing up in a family of seven siblings himself, Chris always envisioned a big, bustling household—and he got it. Though his Hollywood career soared, he intentionally stepped back after becoming a father, only returning to acting full-time when NCIS: LA offered him a chance to work closer to home.
“It’s the most amazing feeling in the world to hold your child in your arms,” Chris once said.
“I’d do anything for them.”
From award show red carpets to quiet moments on the golf course, Chris O’Donnell has built a family that not only supports him, but grows and shines in their own ways.
Bottom Line: Chris O’Donnell may be a star on screen, but at home, he’s just “Dad”—and judging by the incredible lives of Lily, Chip, Charlie, Finley, and Maeve, it’s the role he was born to play.
