You’ll Never Believe These NCIS Actors Played More Than One Role Across the Franchise md03

NCIS 0

10 ‘NCIS’ Actors Who Played Multiple Characters Across the Franchise

The NCIS franchise is massive. Like, “TV-universe-spanning-two-decades” massive. With hundreds of episodes across NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles, NCIS: New Orleans, NCIS: Hawaiʻi, and even its roots in JAG, it’s no surprise that some familiar faces pop up more than once.

But here’s the twist: several actors didn’t just return — they came back as entirely different characters.

Yep. Different names. Different personalities. Sometimes even opposite sides of the law.

Let’s break down 10 NCIS actors who pulled double (or triple) duty across the franchise, and why most fans never noticed.

Why the NCIS Franchise Reuses Actors

Before we dive in, let’s clear something up.

Reusing actors isn’t lazy casting — it’s strategic.

With:

  • A shared universe

  • Long gaps between appearances

  • Different creative teams across shows

…casting directors often bring back talented performers they trust. If the original role was small or years ago, chances are most viewers won’t connect the dots.

And honestly? It’s kind of fun when you do notice.

1. David Dayan Fisher – The Ultimate NCIS Chameleon

If there were an award for “Most NCIS Appearances as Different People,” David Dayan Fisher would win it, hands down.

Characters Played

  • Multiple unnamed or minor roles

  • Appeared across different NCIS series

Why Fans Missed It

Fisher is a master of disappearing into characters. Different accents, different energy, different moral alignments — he never plays the same guy twice.

🕵️ Blink and you’ll miss him… twice.

2. Michael Bellisario – From Troublemaker to Trusted Face

Yes, he’s related to NCIS creator Donald P. Bellisario — but Michael Bellisario earned his screen time.

Notable Roles

  • Chip Sterling (NCIS)

  • Additional appearances across the franchise as different characters

Why It Works

Bellisario often plays young, conflicted characters, but each role feels distinct. Different motivations. Different moral compass.

Think of him as the franchise’s “reset button” actor.

3. Scott Lawrence – A Familiar Face in a New Uniform

Scott Lawrence is a franchise favorite, dating all the way back to JAG.

Across the NCIS Universe

  • Appeared in JAG

  • Later showed up in NCIS in a separate capacity

Why It’s Confusing

Same actor. Same military presence. Different roles.

Unless you’re a hardcore fan with encyclopedic knowledge, you’d never spot the switch.

4. Tim DeKay – One Face, Very Different Threat Levels

Before he was leading White Collar, Tim DeKay made multiple appearances across procedural TV, including the NCIS universe.

Why His Roles Stand Out

  • Played characters with very different agendas

  • Shifted from authority figures to morally gray players

Same charisma. Completely different intentions.

5. Eric Christian Olsen – Before He Was Marty Deeks

Most fans know Eric Christian Olsen as Marty Deeks, the heart and humor of NCIS: Los Angeles.

But before that?

Plot Twist

  • Olsen appeared in the NCIS universe before becoming Deeks

  • His earlier role was brief — and easy to forget

Once Deeks became iconic, his earlier appearance faded into trivia territory.

6. Brian Dietzen – A Background Role Before Dr. Palmer

This one surprises even longtime fans.

What Happened

  • Brian Dietzen appeared briefly in NCIS before being cast as Dr. Jimmy Palmer

  • That early role was small, uncredited, and completely different

Then boom — he becomes one of the most beloved characters in the franchise.

Talk about a glow-up.

7. Zoe McLellan – Two Very Different NCIS Vibes

Before becoming a core cast member on NCIS: New Orleans, Zoe McLellan appeared elsewhere in the franchise.

Why Her Return Worked

  • Different tone

  • Different personality

  • Different emotional weight

Her later role felt richer, more grounded — proof that the right character can change everything.

8. Mark Harmon – The JAG-to-NCIS Transformation

Okay, this one comes with a technical asterisk — but it’s too important to ignore.

The Evolution

  • Introduced as Leroy Jethro Gibbs in JAG

  • Later retooled and refined for NCIS

While the character name stayed the same, the portrayal evolved so dramatically that early Gibbs feels like a different man entirely.

Same badge. New legend.

9. Liza Lapira – Small Roles, Big Impact

Liza Lapira is another actor who quietly navigated multiple corners of the NCIS universe.

Why She’s Memorable

  • Strong screen presence, even in brief appearances

  • Played roles with entirely different emotional stakes

You might not remember the names — but you remember the energy.

10. Ricardo Chavira – A Face You Recognize, A Role You Don’t

Before Desperate Housewives, Ricardo Chavira appeared in procedural dramas, including the NCIS sphere.

Why Fans Miss It

  • Early career role

  • Short appearance

  • Completely different character arc

It’s one of those “Wait… was that him?” moments during a rewatch.

Why This Keeps Happening (And Why Fans Love It)

Let’s be real — part of the fun is spotting these hidden connections.

The NCIS franchise thrives on:

  • Long-term storytelling

  • A rotating cast of guest stars

  • Familiar faces that feel like Easter eggs

Recasting talented actors isn’t a mistake. It’s a feature, not a bug.

Conclusion: The NCIS Franchise Loves a Good Comeback

When a universe runs as long and as wide as NCIS, repetition is inevitable — but reinvention is intentional.

These actors didn’t just return.
They reinvented themselves.

And the next time you binge an old episode and think, “Wait… haven’t I seen this person before?” — trust your instincts.

You probably have.

Rate this post
Post Views: 28