You know that feeling when you've watched a show for fourteen years and the characters start feeling like actual cousins? That’s the spell NCIS Los Angeles cast on us. When the series finally wrapped up in 2023, it wasn’t just the end of a procedural; it was the end of a Sunday night ritual.
But honestly, looking back from 2026, there is a lot of revisionist history about who these people were and why they left. People remember the "bromance" between Sam and Callen, but they forget how rocky the start was. They remember Kensi and Deeks as the ultimate couple, but they ignore the weird reality of their behind-the-scenes family tree.
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The Core Duo: Chris O’Donnell and LL Cool J
Basically, the show lived and died on the chemistry between G. Callen and Sam Hanna. Chris O’Donnell played Callen as this enigma—a guy with no first name and a "Foster Kid" chip on his shoulder the size of a Buick. Then you had LL Cool J as Sam, the rock-solid ex-SEAL who loved his family and his car in equal measure.
Their "bromance" wasn't just for the cameras. They spent over a decade together. You’ve probably seen the old interviews where LL gushes about Chris being a "solid guy" who can actually swing a golf club. It’s rare. Most TV partners can’t stand each other by season five. These two? They were still doing crossovers into 2024 and 2025, with LL Cool J even popping up in NCIS: Hawai’i to keep the Sam Hanna legend alive.
The Kensi and Deeks "Weird" Factor
Let’s talk about the thing everyone eventually finds out: Daniela Ruah (Kensi) and Eric Christian Olsen (Deeks) are actually related in real life.
No, they aren't siblings.
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Daniela Ruah is married to Eric’s brother, David Paul Olsen. Think about that for a second. Every time Kensi and Deeks had a big romantic "Densi" moment or a heavy onscreen kiss, Daniela was technically kissing her brother-in-law. And to make it even more of a family affair? David Paul Olsen was Eric’s stunt double on the show. So, the guy Kensi was "actually" married to was often the one jumping off buildings for the guy she was "pretending" to love.
Ruah has been pretty open about it, saying it was "no big deal" because they’re all professionals. Still, it’s the kind of trivia that makes you do a double-take during a rewatch.
Why Did the "Tech Twins" Actually Leave?
When Barrett Foa (Eric Beale) and Renée Felice Smith (Nell Jones) rode off into the sunset at the end of Season 12, it felt abrupt. It was.
Fans were convinced there was drama. There wasn't.
- Barrett Foa wanted to get back to his Broadway roots.
- Renée Felice Smith had a stack of personal projects, including writing and directing, that she'd been putting off for a decade.
- The showrunners basically gave them a "billionaire" exit, sending them to Tokyo so the door would stay open for a return.
They did eventually show back up for the series finale, which was a relief. Seeing Nell lead a covert team to find Hetty was the closure we actually needed.
The Mystery of Hetty Lange
Linda Hunt is a legend. Period. But her absence in the final seasons of NCIS Los Angeles was a gaping hole.
People think she was written out because of age, but it was actually a car accident in 2018 that started the "reduced hours" trend. Then the pandemic hit. Because of her age, the production team went to extreme lengths to keep her safe—they even filmed scenes in her actual driveway to keep her out of the crowded studios.
In the story, she was "in Syria" on some vague mission. In reality, she was just being protected by a crew that genuinely loved her. Even though we only got her voice in the very last episode, her presence loomed over the whole finale.
What the Cast is Doing in 2026
Where are they now? It’s a mix.
Chris O’Donnell has leaned into the "family man" life while staying in the CBS orbit. Daniela Ruah has pivoted hard into directing—she’s actually behind the camera for episodes of the newer NCIS spin-offs now. Gerald McRaney (Admiral Kilbride) is still the busiest veteran in Hollywood, seemingly appearing in every prestige drama that needs a "grumpy but wise" authority figure.
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If you’re looking to dive back into the world of the NCIS Los Angeles cast, the best move is to check out the NCIS: Tony & Ziva spin-off or the NCIS: Origins prequel. While the OSP team isn't the focus there, the "shared universe" means cameos are always a possibility, and the DNA of the LA show is all over the current franchise.
For the most authentic experience, skip the "best of" clips on YouTube and rewatch the Season 3 episode "Blye, K." It’s arguably the moment the cast clicked into the legendary ensemble they became.