Who Plays NCIS Callen
Chris O'Donnell is the actor who portrays Special Agent G. Callen in the CBS procedural series NCIS. He joined the franchise in 2009 as the lead of the spin-off NCIS: Los Angeles, which is produced by CBS Studios and created by Shane Brennan. The character leads the Office of Special Projects team based in Los Angeles, California.
O'Donnell's casting followed his earlier roles in films such as Batman Forever and S.W.A.T. His casting was confirmed by CBS in 2009, and he has remained the lead through multiple seasons. The NCIS franchise is one of the highest-grossing TV franchises in the United States, with NCIS: Los Angeles contributing significantly to its viewership and syndication revenue.
Chris O'Donnell Career Timeline and NCIS Role
Before NCIS: Los Angeles, O'Donnell starred in the Fox legal drama The Practice from 2001 to 2004. He later joined the NCIS franchise in 2009, taking on the role of G. Callen, an undercover agent who assumes different identities for missions. The series is filmed primarily in Los Angeles and is distributed by CBS Media Ventures.
As of the latest public data, O'Donnell continues to serve as the lead actor on NCIS: Los Angeles. The show has aired over 300 episodes across more than 14 seasons. In the NCIS universe, Callen is classified as a senior field agent, and the character's storylines frequently involve federal law enforcement operations, counterintelligence, and organized crime investigations.
NCIS Callen Actor Salary and Current Projects
Chris O'Donnell's reported per-episode salary for NCIS: Los Angeles was in the range of $300,000 to $400,000 during the show's later seasons, according to industry reports. This places him among the higher-paid actors on network television. The NCIS franchise generates substantial advertising and syndication revenue for CBS and its parent company, Paramount Global.
O'Donnell has also appeared in other projects, including the Netflix series The Witcher, where he played the character Dettlaff. He remains active in both television and film. His continued presence in high-profile productions supports his standing as a recognizable figure in American entertainment, with ongoing relevance in both streaming and broadcast television markets.