Chris O’Donnell’s Kids Acted With Him In ‘NCIS’ As His Eldest Son Flaunts Good Looks He Inherited From His Dad

Jun 12, 2023

Chris O'Donnell, an accomplished actor known for his charm, versatility and undeniable talent, has captivated audiences for decades with his remarkable performances in film, television and theater. With his magnetic presence and range of skills, Chris has successfully portrayed a diverse array of characters, leaving an indelible mark on the entertainment industry. 

Born on June 26, 1970, in Winnetka, Illinois, Chris was the youngest of seven children raised in a close-knit Irish-American family. His foray into acting began with small roles in commercials and TV shows. In 1990, Chris landed his breakthrough role as Charlie Sims in the critically acclaimed film "Scent of a Woman," starring alongside the legendary Al Pacino. His portrayal of a student caretaker opposite Pacino's blind and cantankerous retired army colonel garnered widespread acclaim and earned him a nomination for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor. 

Following the success of "Scent of a Woman," Chris continued to impress both critics and audiences with his versatility and natural talent. He took on challenging roles in films such as "Circle of Friends," "The Three Musketeers," and "In Love and War."

One of Chris's most notable roles came in 1995 when he portrayed the iconic superhero sidekick, Robin, in the blockbuster film "Batman Forever." His youthful charisma and chemistry with co-star Val Kilmer's Batman captivated audiences, further solidifying his place in Hollywood. Chris reprised his role as Robin in the sequel, "Batman & Robin."

In the early 2000s, Chris expanded his career to television, taking on the lead role of Special Agent G. Callen in the hit procedural drama series "NCIS: Los Angeles." With his nuanced performance, he breathed life into the complex character, earning widespread acclaim from critics and viewers alike.

Outside of his acting career, Chris leads a fulfilling personal life. In 1997, he married Caroline Fentress, his college sweetheart, and the couple has five children. Coming from a big family himself, it had been Chris's goal initially to have a large family of his own as well. However, after kid No. 4, Chris began to feel the heat.

"I always wanted a big family I always wanted five we got two four kids I said this is insane," the "Vertical Limit" star said in 2013. "It really didn't get harder than having three because, as they get older, they look after each other; the older ones can pitch in… the older you get, the more time you spend (raising children), it's not that big of a deal when something happens," he added.

Chris also credited his wife and their children – Lily O'Donnell, 22, Christopher O'Donnell, 21, Charles O'Donnell, 18, Finley O'Donnell, 15, and Maeve O'Donnell, 14 – with getting him through hard times. "I don't know what I would've done if I hadn't had a really strong family, not only to support me, but giving me the drive to figure something out knowing that I've got people to support as well," he told Watch magazine.

He also credited his children for helping him come up with the idea for "Come Dance with Me," a competition series he created with LL Cool J. 

"Watching my daughter teach my sons how to do these TikTok dances, things just kind of lined up to where the moment was right for something like this," he told Variety. 

Chris is so close to his family that they've not only visited him on set but appeared with him onscreen as well for his show "NCIS: Los Angeles." 

In 2015, Chris's wife and daughter, Maeve, appeared on "NCIS: Los Angeles" as bystanders during a bomb attack. Chris told Entertainment Tonight his then 7-year-old took the job seriously.

"She was a little nervous when she got there, but then she arrived at my trailer and they put a big star with her name on the board. She warmed up when she got in the makeup trailer and they started to let her play with the makeup brushes and do her hair… She had one little line, and she would rehearse it at home and knew her line and she did it and she's like, 'OK.' I was like, 'We're going to do it again,' and she was like, 'But I did it. I did it good,'" he shared. 

Before Maeve's big break, three of her siblings – Lily, Charles and Finley – had already made appearances on their dad's show. But don't count on Chris to push any of them into the acting business.

"I don't know if any of my kids will actually end up in this industry, and if they do, that's terrific, but if my children think they're just going to walk in and have their own television show, that's just not a reality," he told the outlet.

Even if he doesn't follow in his father's footsteps, Chris's oldest son Christopher has already inherited his dad's good looks. In December 2016, Chris gave fans a thrill when he shared a photo of his namesake son on Instagram.

"He looks just like you 25 years ago on Scent of a Woman!" one commenter said, while another wrote, "Chip is definitely a younger version of you, Chris. Like father, like son 😊"

Do you think Chris's oldest son looks like the spitting image of him? Let us know, and then pass this on to family and friends to get their opinions as well.