Alex O'Loughlin's Role as Steve McGarrett
Alex O'Loughlin starred as Lieutenant Commander Steve McGarrett in the CBS police procedural Hawaii Five-0, a modern reboot of the 1968 series. McGarrett leads the Hawaii Five-0 Task Force, a special state law enforcement unit with broad authority to investigate major crimes in Hawaii. The character is portrayed as a decorated former Navy SEAL who returns to Hawaii to head the task force after his father's murder. O'Loughlin's casting was announced in February 2010, and the series premiered on September 20, 2010. He appeared in 240 episodes across 10 seasons, with the series concluding on April 3, 2020. The role established him as a lead in mainstream American television and expanded his international profile.
The show was produced by CBS Studios in association with K/O Paper Products and 101st Street Entertainment. Peter Lenkov served as the original showrunner and executive producer until his death in 2020. The series was filmed primarily on location in Honolulu, Oahu, and other Hawaiian islands, with interior scenes shot at Hawaiian Film Studio facilities. Hawaii Five-0 aired on CBS in the United States and was distributed internationally by CBS Studios and Sony Pictures Television. The reboot was developed for broadcast television, distinguishing it from streaming-originated crime dramas.
Hawaii Five-0 Ratings, Schedule, and Broadcast Details
Hawaii Five-0 aired on CBS in the U.S. and was scheduled in the Monday 10:00 PM ET timeslot for most of its run. The series averaged approximately 10 million viewers per episode in its early seasons, with ratings declining in later years as the broadcast landscape shifted. The show was also available on CBS All Access, the predecessor to Paramount+, and on Amazon Prime Video for digital purchase and rental. International broadcast rights were held by multiple networks and streaming platforms, including Sky in the UK and CTV in Canada.
The series finale aired on April 3, 2020, and was watched by approximately 7.4 million viewers in the U.S. on CBS. Hawaii Five-0 was renewed for a tenth and final season in May 2019. The show ranked among the top 30 most-watched programs on U.S. broadcast television in its first three seasons. It was also one of the highest-rated scripted series on CBS during the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 television seasons.
Alex O'Loughlin Career and Earnings
Before Hawaii Five-0, Alex O'Loughlin appeared in Australian and international film and television projects, including the series McLeod's Daughters and the film Oyster Farmer. He was also considered for the role of James Bond in the early development stages of Casino Royale. His salary for Hawaii Five-0 was reported to be approximately $200,000 per episode by later seasons, placing him among the higher-paid actors on network television. O'Loughlin also served as a producer on several episodes of the series.
After Hawaii Five-0 ended, O'Loughlin did not immediately take another lead broadcast television role. He has continued to work in film and voice acting, and remains associated with the Hawaii Five-0 brand through syndication and streaming availability. The series continues to generate revenue through digital licensing, international sales, and reruns on CBS Media Ventures platforms. O'Loughlin has not publicly disclosed detailed net worth figures, but industry estimates have placed his earnings from the series in the tens of millions of dollars over the show's run. For more information on his career, see his profile on IMDb.