Chris O’Donnell

Christopher Eugene O'Donnell (born June 26, 1970) is an American actor. After modeling and acting in numerous commercials as a teenager, he made his film debut in the comedy-drama film ''Men Don't Leave'' (1990). Following supporting roles in the films ''Fried Green Tomatoes'' (1991) and ''School Ties'' (1992), O'Donnell had his breakout with a starring role in the drama film '' Scent of a Woman'' (1992), which earned him a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture.

After starring roles in the films ''The Three Musketeers'' (1993) and '' Circle of Friends'' (1995), O'Donnell received further mainstream recognition for his role as Dick Grayson / Robin in the DC Comics superhero films ''Batman Forever'' (1995) and '' Batman & Robin'' (1997), as well as his portrayal of writer Ernest Hemingway in the romantic drama film '' In Love and War'' (1996). In the 2000s, O'Donnell starred in the films ''Vertical Limit'' (2000), '' Kinsey'' (2004), and '' Kit Kittredge: An American Girl'' (2008), and had a main role as Jack McAuliffe in the TNT television miniseries '' The Company'' (2007).

From the late 2000s to the early 2020s, O'Donnell had a main role as G. Callen on all fourteen seasons of the CBS police procedural series '' NCIS: Los Angeles'' (2009–2023). He also starred in the spy comedy film '' Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore'' (2010), and will have a main role as Don Sharpe on the upcoming ABC series '' 9-1-1: Nashville'' (2025).

Early life

O'Donnell was born in the Chicago suburb of Winnetka, Illinois, the son of Julie Ann Rohs von Brecht and William Charles O'Donnell Sr., a general manager of WBBM-AM. He is the youngest of seven children, with four sisters and two brothers, and is of German and Irish descent. O'Donnell was raised in a Catholic family and attended Catholic schools. He graduated from Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Illinois in 1988.

O'Donnell attended Boston College and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in marketing in 1992. He had begun modeling at the age of 13 so he was comfortable in front of cameras, and also had already made commercials.

Career

O'Donnell had already appeared in numerous commercials as a teenager, advertising Cap'n Crunch cereal and Fruit Roll-Ups snacks. In a McDonald's fast food commercial, 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), appearing again with Kathy Bates from ''Men Don't Leave''; ''School Ties'' (1992); and '' Scent of a Woman'' (1992) with Al Pacino. For the latter he received 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, 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 played the character of Dick Grayson/Robin in ''Batman Forever'', in which Barrymore also had a role. Reportedly, the field of candidates for the role of Robin included Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jude Law, Ewan McGregor, Corey Haim, Toby Stephens, and Scott Speedman.

Casting directors narrowed their choices to O'Donnell and DiCaprio, and finally selected O'Donnell. He reportedly was considered by 20th Century Fox studios to play the lead role of Jack Dawson in ''Titanic'' (1997), but that role was won by DiCaprio.

O'Donnell had a starring role in 1996's '' The Chamber'', based on the John Grisham novel of the same name. He reprised his role as Robin in 1997's '' Batman & Robin''. Although it was a box-office success, the movie was critically panned. O'Donnell later said that he did not believe it turned out well.

O'Donnell did not appear in another movie for two years. He was the choice of one of the producers for the role of James Darrell Edwards III/Agent J in ''Men in Black'' (1997), but he turned it down as being too similar to his role in ''Batman Forever''. Will Smith played this role. 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 film '' 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 was featured 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, O'Donnell appeared in '' Kit Kittredge: An American Girl'' as the titular character's father Jack Kittredge, and in ''Max Payne'' as Jason Colvin.

From 2009-2023, O'Donnell starred on '' NCIS: Los Angeles'', a spinoff of ''NCIS'', as G. Callen, 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."

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 Church in Washington, D.C. They have five children together.

Filmography

Film

Television

References

External links

*
*
*

Feature article on O'Donnell in June 2008 issue of ''Men's Vogue''

{{DEFAULTSORT:Odonnell, Chris
1970 births
Male actors from Illinois
American male film actors
American people of German descent
American people of Irish descent
American male television actors
Boston College alumni
Living people
Loyola Academy alumni
People from Winnetka, Illinois
20th-century American male actors
21st-century American male actors
People from Northfield, Illinois
People from Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles
People from Islesboro, Maine
Catholics from Illinois
Catholics from Maine