On-screen, NCIS: Los Angeles fans have watched Special Agent Kensi Blye, played by the fiercely talented Daniela Ruah, navigate high-stakes missions, heart-pounding chases, and a romance for the ages with Marty Deeks, portrayed by Eric Christian Olsen. But beyond the cameras, Ruah’s real-life love story rivals anything the writers’ room could have dreamed up—and it all started with a bit of matchmaking from her on-screen partner.
It’s the kind of Hollywood twist that feels too perfect to be true: Daniela Ruah didn’t fall for Eric Christian Olsen, her co-star of more than a decade, but for his older brother, David Paul Olsen. As fate would have it, David was more than just family—he was also Eric’s stunt double on the hit series.
The Set-Up Nobody Saw Coming
The sparks didn’t fly right away. In fact, when Daniela first met David, both were in relationships that left them less than happy. Eric saw it instantly. “They weren’t themselves,” he recalled during a 2014 appearance on The Queen Latifah Show. Knowing his brother’s adventurous spirit and Daniela’s warm, magnetic personality, Eric decided to step in.
“I’d drop little compliments about her to him, and then about him to her,” Eric admitted with a grin. “That was enough to get them curious—and talking.” It worked better than he could have imagined.
As David began appearing regularly on set for stunt work, the pair’s professional paths crossed more and more often. What started as casual conversations between takes turned into something deeper—a connection rooted in shared values, easy laughter, and a spark neither could ignore.
Love, Then Life-Changing News
By early 2014, the couple’s relationship had quietly blossomed. That January, they welcomed their first child, a son named River Isaac. Speaking to People, Ruah described the overwhelming rush of love she felt. “It’s amazing how in love you can be with this little person you’ve only seen on a black and white screen,” she said, reflecting on her pregnancy.
Eric couldn’t resist weighing in either, telling the world that “two of my favorite people just had a third.” It was a family moment not only for the Olsens, but for the entire NCIS: LA cast and crew, who had watched the romance unfold behind the scenes.
A Wedding to Remember
In June 2014, just months after River’s birth, Daniela and David exchanged vows in a ceremony that was both intimate and culturally rich. “Just lived the best week of my life; I married my best friend,” Daniela tweeted shortly afterward.
The wedding honored both of their faiths—Daniela is Jewish and David is Lutheran—blending traditions seamlessly. Under a chuppah, the couple shared a Kiddush wine ceremony, broke the traditional glass, and celebrated with blessings led by both of their fathers. David’s father, ordained as a minister, and Daniela’s father, who guided the Jewish customs, stood together to marry them. It was a moment that beautifully symbolized the joining of their worlds.
Life as a Family of Four
Two years later, the couple’s love story reached another milestone. In September 2016, Daniela gave birth to their daughter, Sierra Esther—three weeks ahead of schedule. With her trademark wit, she announced the news on Instagram: “Apparently, she thought Labor Day weekend meant LABOR day weekend!”
Between filming grueling action scenes and raising two young children, Daniela credits David’s steadfast support and understanding of the industry as essential. As a fellow performer—albeit behind the camera—he knows the demands and unpredictability of Hollywood life.
More Than Just a Love Story
What makes Daniela and David’s romance so compelling isn’t just that it began in the shadow of a major network TV show—it’s that it’s endured through the chaos of it. They’ve weathered long filming schedules, physical demands of stunt work, cross-country family visits, and the spotlight that comes with a hit show, all while keeping their relationship grounded and joyful.
For NCIS: LA fans, it’s also a reminder that the family they see on screen often mirrors the bonds off-screen. Eric Christian Olsen didn’t just give Kensi her partner in crime—he gave his brother a partner for life.
Happily Ever After, NCIS Style
Today, more than a decade since that first fateful meeting, Daniela and David continue to build a life filled with adventure, faith, and family. And while NCIS: Los Angeles may have wrapped its final season, the love story it sparked behind the scenes is still going strong—proof that sometimes, the best scripts are the ones life writes itself.
As Ruah once put it, “I married my best friend. We laugh, we argue, we grow together—and at the end of the day, we know we’re exactly where we’re supposed to be.”
And for fans, that’s a romance worth cheering for, both on and off the screen.
