For 14 seasons, NCIS: Los Angeles delivered high-stakes missions, heart-pounding action, and a tight-knit team of unforgettable characters. Fans came to know and love the main cast — from Chris O’Donnell’s stoic G. Callen to LL Cool J’s dependable Sam Hanna. But hidden in plain sight throughout much of the show’s run was a bona fide piece of Hollywood royalty: an Academy Award-winning legend whose career has spanned decades.
That star? The one and only Linda Hunt, who brought the enigmatic and razor-sharp Operations Manager Henrietta “Hetty” Lange to life. While Hetty became a fan-favorite thanks to her cryptic one-liners and mysterious backstory, Hunt’s real-life achievements extend far beyond the NCIS universe.
🏆 A Historic Oscar Win
Long before she was guiding agents through undercover operations, Hunt made cinematic history. In 1984, she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Billy Kwan in The Year of Living Dangerously (1982), starring alongside Mel Gibson and Sigourney Weaver.
In the film, Hunt played a male Chinese-Australian photographer — a groundbreaking performance that earned her not only critical acclaim, but also a place in the record books as the first person to win an Oscar for portraying a character of a different gender. Her transformation was so complete that many viewers didn’t realize they were watching the same actress.
From the Big Screen to the Ops Center
By the time NCIS: Los Angeles premiered in 2009, Hunt had already built a remarkable résumé that included stage work, blockbuster films, and voice acting (yes, that’s her distinctive voice in The Incredibles as Edna Mode’s inspiration). As Hetty Lange, she brought warmth, wit, and a no-nonsense approach that kept even the toughest agents in line.
Despite her reduced appearances in later seasons due to health and scheduling factors, Hetty remained a vital presence in the show’s universe — her absence often becoming a plot point in itself. Fans loved that beneath her intimidating exterior lay a deep loyalty and almost maternal care for her team.
Notable NCIS: LA Stars (But No Oscars… Yet)
While Hunt holds the show’s only Academy Award, her co-stars boast their own accolades:
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LL Cool J (Sam Hanna) – Multiple Grammy Awards, but no Oscar nods.
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Chris O’Donnell (G. Callen) – Acclaimed for Scent of a Woman, but no Academy recognition.
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Daniela Ruah (Kensi Blye) – Award-winning actress in Portugal, including winning Dança com as Estrelas.
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Eric Christian Olsen (Marty Deeks) – Beloved for comedic and dramatic roles, but no Oscar history.
A Legacy That Outshines Awards
While Hunt’s Oscar is a glittering highlight in her career, her role as Hetty Lange proved that true legacy comes from creating characters that audiences can’t forget. Whether she was delivering a sly warning, orchestrating an international rescue, or simply sipping tea in her office, Hetty brought a gravitas to NCIS: Los Angeles that no award could fully measure.
Even after the show’s 2023 finale, fans continue to hope for one more Hetty appearance somewhere in the NCIS universe. And if she does return, it’ll be a reminder that sometimes the greatest treasures in a TV series are the ones we didn’t realize were award-winning icons all along.
