Chris O’Donnell is an American actor who has enjoyed a successful career in Hollywood for more than three decades. He first gained widespread attention for his performance in the 1992 film Scent of a Woman
He later became famous for playing Robin in the Batman films and Special Agent G. Callen in the long-running crime drama NCIS: Los Angeles.
Although many viewers still associate him with NCIS: Los Angeles, O’Donnell has moved into a new chapter of his television career.
He now stars as Captain Don Hart in ABC’s 9-1-1: Nashville, a drama that follows first responders and the personal challenges they face.
He has been married to Caroline Fentress since 1997, and they have five children together.
So, where is Chris O’Donnell now? He continues to work in television, taking on a new leading role after spending 14 seasons on NCIS: Los Angeles.
His latest project demonstrates that his acting career remains active and that he is still finding new opportunities in the entertainment industry.
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Table of Contents
Who Is Chris O’Donnell?
Chris O’Donnell is an American actor born on June 26, 1970, in Winnetka, Illinois, United States.1
He entered the entertainment industry as a teenager and gradually developed a reputation as a dependable performer in both film and television.
He gained early recognition for his role as Charlie Simms in the 1992 drama Scent of a Woman. Acting alongside Al Pacino, O’Donnell delivered a performance that helped introduce him to a wider audience.
The film became an important milestone in his career and opened the door to additional opportunities in Hollywood. During the 1990s, O’Donnell appeared in a variety of projects.
He played D’Artagnan in The Three Musketeers and starred in the romantic drama Circle of Friends.
He later entered the world of superhero films by portraying Dick Grayson, also known as Robin, in Batman Forever and Batman & Robin.
Despite his success in movies, O’Donnell eventually found one of his most enduring roles on television. In 2009, he began playing Special Agent G. Callen in NCIS: Los Angeles.
The character was a skilled investigator known for his intelligence, adaptability and complicated personal history. O’Donnell remained with the series throughout its 14-season run.
His long association with the character made him a central figure in the show’s identity and helped introduce his work to television audiences around the world.
Couple more promo stills from 9-1-1: Nashville S2
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Early Life and Childhood
Chris O’Donnell grew up in Winnetka, a suburb of Chicago, Illinois. He was raised in a large family and was the youngest of seven children.
His upbringing provided him with a background outside the Hollywood environment he would later enter. His parents are William Charles O’Donnell and Julie Ann Rohs von Brecht.
His father worked in the broadcasting industry, while his mother focused on raising the family. Growing up with several siblings meant that family life played a significant role in his early years.
O’Donnell attended Catholic schools in the Chicago area. He studied at Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Illinois, where he completed his high school education in 1988.
During these years, he began exploring opportunities that would eventually lead him toward acting and modeling. His first entertainment opportunities came while he was still young.
As a teenager, he worked in commercial modeling and appeared in advertisements. These early experiences introduced him to cameras, professional productions and the demands of working in front of an audience.
Modeling helped him gain experience in the entertainment business but acting became his main focus as his career developed.
He began appearing in television and film projects and gradually moved from small opportunities to more substantial roles.
O’Donnell also attended Boston College, where he studied marketing. Balancing education with an emerging acting career gave him a broader experience beyond the film industry.
His academic background is another part of his story that fans may not know about. His early life was not defined by an immediate rise to superstardom.
Instead, he built his career through a combination of early modeling work, acting opportunities, education and steady professional development.
These experiences helped prepare him for the demands of a career that would eventually include major studio films and a successful long-running television series.
Quick Stats
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Christopher Eugene O’Donnell |
| Known as | Chris O’Donnell |
| Date of birth | June 26, 1970 |
| Age | 56 years old as of October 2026 |
| Birthplace | Winnetka, Illinois, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Actor and director |
| Education | Loyola Academy; Boston College |
| Height | Approximately 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm) |
| Wife | Caroline Fentress |
| Children | Five |
| Years active | Late 1980s to present |
| Breakthrough film | Scent of a Woman (1992) |
| Famous film role | Dick Grayson / Robin in Batman Forever and Batman & Robin |
| Most recognized television role | Special Agent G. Callen in NCIS: Los Angeles |
| Major television series | NCIS: Los Angeles (2009–2023) |
Chris O’Donnell’s Career Journey
Early Acting Roles and His Breakthrough
O’Donnell began gaining attention in the late 1980s and early 1990s. One of his early film appearances was in Men Don’t Leave, released in 1990.2
Although he was still developing as an actor, the role gave him valuable experience working on a major motion picture. His breakthrough arrived in 1992 when he appeared in Scent of a Woman.
He played Charlie Simms, a student who takes a job assisting Frank Slade, a blind and outspoken retired Army officer played by Al Pacino.
The film received significant attention and earned Pacino an Academy Award for Best Actor. O’Donnell’s performance also received praise and helped establish him as a promising young actor.
The success of Scent of a Woman gave him access to more high-profile projects. He followed it with roles in films such as The Three Musketeers in 1993 and Circle of Friends in 1995.
These performances demonstrated his ability to work across different genres. He could play a young man facing difficult moral decisions, a classic literary hero or a character navigating relationships and personal challenges.
Becoming Robin in the Batman Films
One of the most recognizable chapters of O’Donnell’s film career began when he was cast as Dick Grayson, also known as Robin, in Batman Forever in 1995.
The film starred Val Kilmer as Batman and introduced O’Donnell’s character as a young man seeking justice after a personal tragedy. Robin became Batman’s ally, bringing energy and a more youthful perspective to the superhero story.
O’Donnell returned as Robin in Batman & Robin in 1997, appearing alongside George Clooney as Batman. The film featured an ensemble cast and became a major part of the Batman franchise’s cinematic history.
Although the two films received mixed critical responses, O’Donnell’s portrayal of Robin remains one of his best-known movie roles. Fans of 1990s superhero films continue to associate him with the character.
Expanding His Film Career
Following his success in the Batman movies, O’Donnell continued appearing in films across several genres. His credits include The Bachelor in 1999, Vertical Limit in 2000 and Kinsey in 2004.
These projects allowed him to move beyond the image of a young action star. He took on roles in romantic comedies, adventure films and biographical dramas, demonstrating a willingness to explore different types of characters.
While his movie career remained an important part of his professional identity, television eventually provided the role that would define a large portion of his working life.
His Long Run on NCIS: Los Angeles
In 2009, O’Donnell joined NCIS: Los Angeles as Special Agent G. Callen. The crime drama followed a team of investigators working on complex cases involving national security, organized crime and undercover operations.
Callen was a particularly interesting character because his past was mysterious and his professional life often required him to adopt different identities. O’Donnell brought a mix of seriousness, confidence and emotional depth to the role.
The series also featured LL Cool J as Special Agent Sam Hanna. The relationship between Callen and Hanna became one of the show’s defining elements.
Their partnership combined action, humor and loyalty, helping viewers connect with the characters beyond their investigative work. O’Donnell’s performance remained central to the series throughout its run.
He also took on directing duties for selected episodes, expanding his responsibilities behind the camera. The show concluded in May 2023 after 14 seasons.
Its long run gave O’Donnell a stable place in television and introduced his work to audiences who may not have followed his earlier films.
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Where Is Chris O’Donnell Now?
Chris O’Donnell’s most recognizable television role ended when NCIS: Los Angeles concluded in 2023. However, the end of the series did not erase his long-standing place in the entertainment industry.3
Since the finale, interest in O’Donnell has often centered on his next professional steps and his life after playing Callen for so many years.
After spending more than a decade with one television production, a change in schedule offers an opportunity to consider different projects and spend time away from the demands of a weekly series.
O’Donnell has generally kept his private life away from excessive public attention. He is known for maintaining a relatively grounded image compared with many Hollywood celebrities and his family remains an important part of his public story.
His career also gives him several possible paths forward. He has experience in television drama, action films, romantic stories and directing.
That range could support future work in a variety of formats, although individual projects should be confirmed through reliable announcements rather than speculation.
For fans wondering whether he has disappeared from Hollywood, the answer is no. O’Donnell remains an established actor whose previous work continues to be available to new audiences.
His films from the 1990s and the complete run of NCIS: Los Angeles provide a substantial body of work for viewers to revisit.
As of October 2026, it is important to distinguish his confirmed career history from unverified reports about future casting.
The most reliable way to follow his next move is to check official network announcements, reputable entertainment publications and verified professional updates.
Chris O’Donnell’s Personal Life
Away from the screen, O’Donnell has built a long family life with Caroline Fentress. The couple married in 1997 and have five children: Lily, Christopher, Charles, Finley and Maeve.
O’Donnell has spoken publicly about the importance of his family and has often been described as a private person. His approach to celebrity has generally focused on his work rather than constant publicity.
Raising five children while maintaining a long acting career has been an important part of his life. His years on NCIS: Los Angeles required a significant professional commitment but he continued to keep his family life relatively separate from his public career.
His personal life has also helped shape his image as an actor who has remained in the industry for decades without relying on controversy to maintain attention. Instead, much of the interest in him comes from his roles, his career longevity and the familiar characters he has played.
Chris O’Donnell’s Most Famous Movies and TV Shows
O’Donnell’s career includes several projects that remain popular with audiences.
- Scent of a Woman (1992): His breakthrough role as Charlie Simms opposite Al Pacino.
- The Three Musketeers (1993): A major adventure film in which he played D’Artagnan.
- Circle of Friends (1995): A romantic drama that highlighted his work in a different genre.
- Batman Forever (1995): His first appearance as Robin, one of his most recognizable film roles.
- Batman & Robin (1997): His return to the Batman franchise.
- Vertical Limit (2000): An action-adventure film set in the dangerous world of high-altitude mountaineering.
- Kinsey (2004): A biographical drama exploring the life and research of Alfred Kinsey.
- NCIS: Los Angeles (2009–2023): The long-running crime drama that made him a major television star.
These projects demonstrate the variety of work that has sustained his career.
His move from films to television also shows how an actor can build a new audience without abandoning the recognition earned through earlier roles.
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FAQ’s
1. Who is Chris O’Donnell?
Chris O’Donnell is an American actor best known for playing Special Agent G. Callen in NCIS: Los Angeles. He is also recognized for playing Robin in Batman Forever and Batman & Robin.
2. How old is Chris O’Donnell?
He was born on June 26, 1970. He is 56 years old as of October 2026.
3. Where is Chris O’Donnell now?
O’Donnell remains known for his acting career following the conclusion of NCIS: Los Angeles in 2023. For the latest confirmed information about his current projects, consult official announcements and reputable entertainment news sources.
4. Is Chris O’Donnell still on NCIS: Los Angeles?
No. NCIS: Los Angeles ended in May 2023 after 14 seasons. O’Donnell played Special Agent G. Callen throughout the show’s run.
5. Is Chris O’Donnell married?
Yes. He married Caroline Fentress in 1997.
6. How many children does Chris O’Donnell have?
He and his wife have five children: Lily, Christopher, Charles, Finley and Maeve.
Conclusion
Chris O’Donnell has built a career that spans more than three decades.
From his early work in commercials and his breakthrough performance in Scent of a Woman to his role as Robin in the Batman films, he became a familiar face in Hollywood during the 1990s.
His career reached another major milestone when he took on the role of Special Agent G. Callen in NCIS: Los Angeles.
The series ran for 14 seasons and helped establish him as a leading television actor. Its conclusion in 2023 marked the end of a significant chapter in his professional life.
For viewers searching for Chris O’Donnell today, his story is more than a question about what happened after NCIS: Los Angeles.
It is the story of an actor who successfully moved between film and television, built a long-running career and created memorable characters across different generations of entertainment.
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