Chris O’Donnell
O'Donnell at the premiere of Max Payne in 2008
Born
Christopher Eugene O'Donnell

(1970-06-26) June 26, 1970
Winnetka, Illinois, U.S.
Alma materBoston College (BS)
OccupationActor
Years active1986–present
Spouse
Caroline Fentress
​
(m. 1997)​
Children5

Christopher Eugene O'Donnell (born June 26, 1970) is an American actor. He played Charlie Sims in Scent of a Woman, Chris Reece in School Ties, D'Artagnan in The Three Musketeers, Jack Foley in the drama film Circle of Friends, Dick Grayson/Robin in Batman Forever and Batman & Robin, Jason Brown in Robert Altman's Cookie's Fortune, Peter Garrett in Vertical Limit, and Wardell Pomeroy in Kinsey. O'Donnell starred as Special Agent G. Callen on the CBS crime drama television series NCIS: Los Angeles, a spin-off of NCIS.

Early life

O'Donnell was born in the Chicago suburb of Winnetka, Illinois, the son of William Charles O'Donnell Sr., a general manager of WBBM-AM, and Julie Ann Rohs von Brecht.[1][2] He is the youngest of seven children, with four sisters and two brothers, and is of German and Irish descent.[3][4] O'Donnell was raised in a Catholic family and attended Catholic schools.[5] He graduated from Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Illinois in 1988.[6][7] O'Donnell then attended Boston College and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in marketing in 1992.[8][9]

O'Donnell began modeling at the age of 13.[10][9]

Career

O'Donnell started his career by appearing in numerous commercials as a teenager, including commercials for Cap'n Crunch cereal and Fruit Roll-Ups snacks, as well as a McDonald's fast food commercial in which he served NBA great Michael Jordan. An early television series role was an appearance on the TV series Jack and Mike in 1986. In the early 1990s, he appeared in several films including Men Don't Leave (1990), starring Jessica Lange; Fried Green Tomatoes (1991), reuniting him with Kathy Bates with whom he appeared with in Men Don't Leave; School Ties (1992); and Scent of a Woman (1992) with Al Pacino; O'Donnell would receive two nominations: one for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor-Motion Picture (which was won by Gene Hackman for Unforgiven), and one for a Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Most Promising Actor (which he won). He was also named one of the 12 Promising New Actors of 1992 in John Willis's Screen World, Vol. 44.

After appearing in the film Blue Sky (1994), reuniting him with Jessica Lange from Men Don't Leave, he starred in Circle of Friends (1995) with Minnie Driver, Mad Love (1995) with Drew Barrymore, and In Love and War (1996) with Sandra Bullock. O'Donnell then went on to play the character of Dick Grayson/Robin in Batman Forever, in which Barrymore also made an appearance. He reportedly was part of a field of candidates for the role of Robin that included Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jude Law, Ewan McGregor, Corey Haim, Corey Feldman, Toby Stephens, and Scott Speedman. Casting directors narrowed their choices to O'Donnell and DiCaprio with O'Donnell eventually winning the role. O'Donnell was said to be one of the considerations of 20th Century Fox studios to play the lead role of Jack Dawson in Titanic (1997), but that role was ultimately won by DiCaprio.[11]

O'Donnell followed with a starring role in 1996's The Chamber, based on the John Grisham novel. He subsequently reprised his role as Robin in 1997's Batman & Robin. Although it was a box-office success, the movie was critically panned and O'Donnell attested he believed it didn't turn out well.[12]

O'Donnell did not appear in another movie for two years. He was one of the producers choice for the role of James Darrell Edwards III/Agent J in Men in Black (1997), but after turning it down because he thought the character would be too similar to his role in Batman Forever, the role went to Will Smith.[13] The subsequent films Cookie's Fortune (1999) and The Bachelor (1999) were moderately successful, while Vertical Limit (2000) was a box office hit.

Following a four-year hiatus, O'Donnell returned in 2004 with the widely praised Kinsey. He also appeared in the 2004 episode of Two and a Half Men entitled "An Old Flame With A New Wick." O'Donnell took a lead role in the Fox Network television series Head Cases in 2005. The show was the first of the fall 2005 season to be canceled, and only two episodes were aired. He was subsequently cast as veterinarian Finn Dandridge on the ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy.

O'Donnell and Mark Harmon filming in 2009

O'Donnell featured prominently in the TNT miniseries The Company as CIA case officer Jack McAuliffe, a character who progressed from spoonfed Yale elitist to jaded, post-Cold War cynic. In 2008 he appeared in Kit Kittredge: An American Girl as the titular character's father Jack Kittredge, and in Max Payne as Jason Colvin.

Between 2009 and 2023, O'Donnell starred on NCIS: Los Angeles, a spinoff of NCIS, as G. Callen,[14] an NCIS Special Agent in charge of the Office of Special Projects Team stationed in Los Angeles. CBS describes Callen as "a chameleon who transforms himself into whomever he needs to be to infiltrate the criminal underworld."[15]

In 2010, O'Donnell appeared in the sequel to the 2001 movie Cats & Dogs, The Revenge of Kitty Galore.

Personal life

O'Donnell married Caroline Fentress in April 1997 at St. Patrick in the City in Washington, D.C.[16] They have five children.[17][18][19] He is not related to actress Rosie O'Donnell.

O'Donnell is a practicing Catholic.[20]

According to Rolling Stone, O'Donnell is afraid of heights.[16]

O'Donnell is an avid golfer and is a member of Bel-Air Country Club, Cypress Point Club, Valley Club of Montecito, Seminole Golf Club, Shoreacres Golf Club and Chicago Golf Club.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1990Men Don't LeaveChris Macauley
1991Fried Green TomatoesBuddy Threadgoode
1992School TiesChris Reece
Scent of a WomanCharlie SimmsNominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor
1993The Three MusketeersD'ArtagnanNominated – Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actor
1994Blue SkyGlenn Johnson
1995Circle of FriendsJack Foley
Mad LoveMatt Leland
Batman ForeverDick Grayson/Robin
1996The ChamberAdam Hall
In Love and WarErnest "Ernie" Hemingway
1997Batman & RobinDick Grayson/RobinNominated – Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actor
Nominated – Razzie Award for Worst Screen Couple (with George Clooney)
1999Cookie's FortuneJason Brown
The BachelorJimmie Shannon
2000Vertical LimitPeter Garrett
200229 PalmsThe Hitman
2004KinseyWardell Pomeroy
2005The SistersDavid Turzin
2008Kit Kittredge: An American GirlJack Kittredge
Max PayneJason Colvin
2010Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty GaloreShane
A Little HelpBob Pehlke
2016PGMaxShort film

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1986Jack and MikeEvanEpisode: "Cry Uncle"
2003The PracticeBrad Stanfield4 episodes
2004Two and a Half MenBill ShraderEpisode: "An Old Flame with a New Wick"
The Amazing WestermansTV movie
2005Head CasesJason Payne2 episodes
2006Grey's AnatomyDr. Finn "McVet" Dandridge9 episodes
2007The Company Jack McAuliffeTV miniseries
2009 & 2023NCISG. Callen3 episodes
2009–2023NCIS: Los Angeles323 episodes
Nominated - People's Choice Award for Favorite TV Crime Drama Actor (2017)[21]
2010WWII in HD: The Air WarJohn GibbonsVoice
2012Hawaii Five-0G. CallenEpisode: "Pa Make Loa"
2013Who Do You Think You Are?HimselfEpisode: "Chris O'Donnell"
2014Robot ChickenMr. Fantastic / Commander Rex KlingVoice; Episode: "Catdog on a Stick"
2017American Dad!G. CallenVoice; Episode: "Casino Normale"
2017 & 2021The Price Is RightHimself2 episodes
2023NCIS: HawaiʻiG. CallenEpisode: "Deep Fake"
BupkisPete's AgentEpisode: "Crispytown"; uncredited

References

  1. ↑ "Chris O'Donnell Biography – Yahoo! Movies". Movies.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on February 9, 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
  2. ↑ Kessler, Mike (December 8, 2010). "William C. O'Donnell dies at 88 — Winnetka & Northfield news, photos and events —". Triblocal.com. Archived from the original on June 14, 2012. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
  3. ↑ Polunsky, Bob. "Express-News Archives : MySA.com".
  4. ↑ "Actor's roles range from the birds & the bees to just a bird – Robin.(Originated from The Virginian-Pilot)". Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service. April 13, 1995.
  5. ↑ "Music News". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 13, 2007.
  6. ↑ "Actor Chris O'Donnell sells seldom-used townhouse here". Chicago Tribune.
  7. ↑ "Chris O'Donnell from 'NCIS LA': Age, net worth, family, children". November 26, 2021.
  8. ↑ "Boston College to Celebrate 150 Years with Concert at Symphony Hall". March 19, 2013.
  9. 1 2 "Chris O'Donnell helps Boston College celebrate 150 years". www.boston.com.
  10. ↑ "Watch! Magazine Photos on CBS" – via www.cbs.com.
  11. ↑ "'Titanic' Casting: What Other Stars Were Considered For James Cameron's Masterpiece?". HuffPost. June 22, 2012. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  12. ↑ Archived September 18, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  13. ↑ "Trivia for Men in Black". at the Internet Movie Database. Retrieved October 21, 2007.
  14. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (February 27, 2009). "O'Donnell nabs lead role in "NCIS" spin-off". Reuters. Archived from the original on January 7, 2016. Retrieved February 27, 2009.
  15. ↑ "NCIS Los Angeles". CBS. Retrieved August 11, 2009.
  16. 1 2 Smith, Russel Scott (December 8, 2000). "Chris O'Donnell's Personal High". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  17. ↑ Chiu, Alexis (December 18, 2007). "Chris O'Donnell and Wife Have Fifth Baby". People. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
  18. ↑ "Chris O'Donnell's Daughter Steals the Show on 'NCIS: Los Angeles' Set". ET Online. October 12, 2015.
  19. ↑ Donahue, Wendy (November 25, 2014). "Johnnie-O label finds sweet spot between East and West Coast prep". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
  20. ↑ "Chris O'Donnell Interview – Sarah's Backstage Pass". sarahsbackstagepass.com.
  21. ↑ "People's Choice Awards 2017: Full List Of Winners". People's Choice. January 19, 2017. Archived from the original on January 20, 2017. Retrieved January 19, 2017.
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