Chris O'Donnell

Chris O'Donnell is an American actor best known for his roles in major Hollywood films and long-running television series. He gained early fame for his performances in movies like Scent of a Woman and Batman Forever, and later achieved widespread recognition as Special Agent G. Callen on the CBS series NCIS: Los Angeles. His career spans from teen idol roles in the 1990s to a respected leading man in television drama.

Early life and education

Christopher Eugene O'Donnell was born in Winnetka, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, to Julie, a homemaker, and William O'Donnell, a manager for WBBM radio. He is the youngest of seven children in a family of Irish and German descent. He attended Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Illinois, where he was a champion wrestler. O'Donnell initially pursued a career in advertising, enrolling at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and later transferring to Boston College's Carroll School of Management, from which he graduated with a degree in marketing in 1995. His entry into acting began with television commercials, including a notable national spot for McDonald's.

Career

O'Donnell's film debut was a minor role in Men Don't Leave (1990). His breakthrough came playing Charlie Simms opposite Al Pacino in Scent of a Woman (1992), for which he received a Golden Globe nomination. This led to starring roles in ''The Three Musketeers'' (1993) and as D'Artagnan in the Disney film. He solidified his status as a leading man with roles in Circle of Friends (1995) and Mad Love (1995). In 1995, he was cast as Robin in Joel Schumacher's Batman Forever, a role he reprised in the sequel Batman & Robin (1997). Following a period of fewer film roles, he returned to prominence on television, starring in the short-lived series The Company (2007) on TNT. His most defining role began in 2009 when he was cast as Special Agent G. Callen in the CBS series NCIS: Los Angeles, a role he has played for over a decade, also directing several episodes. His other television work includes a main role in the ABC medical drama Grey's Anatomy during its third season.

Personal life

O'Donnell married college girlfriend Caroline Fentress, a teacher, in 1997. The couple resides in Los Angeles and has five children. He is a practicing Roman Catholic and has been involved with various charitable organizations, including The Heart Truth campaign and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. An avid sports fan, O'Donnell supports his hometown teams, the Chicago Bears and Chicago Cubs, and is a skilled golfer.

Filmography

A selection of his notable acting credits includes: *Scent of a Woman (1992) as Charlie Simms *The Three Musketeers (1993) as D'Artagnan *Blue Sky (1994) as Glenn Johnson *Circle of Friends (1995) as Jack Foley *Batman Forever (1995) as Dick Grayson / Robin *The Chamber (1996) as Adam Hall *Batman & Robin (1997) as Dick Grayson / Robin *Cookie's Fortune (1999) as Jason Brown *Vertical Limit (2000) as Peter Garrett *Kinsey (2004) as Wardell Pomeroy *The Company (2007) as Jack McAuliffe *NCIS: Los Angeles (2009–2023) as G. Callen

Awards and nominations

O'Donnell has received several accolades throughout his career, primarily for his early film work. He was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture for his performance in Scent of a Woman. He also won the Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Most Promising Actor for the same role. For his television work, he shared a nomination for the Prism Award for NCIS: Los Angeles and has been nominated multiple times for the People's Choice Award for Favorite TV Crime Drama Actor.

Category:American male film actors Category:American male television actors Category:1970 births Category:Living people Category:Actors from Chicago Category:Boston College alumni