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‘NCIS: Los Angeles’: How Chris O’Donnell Has Influenced G. Callen Over the Years

“NCIS: Los Angeles” star Chris O’Donnell works hard to stay connected with his character, G. Callen, on the CBS crime drama.

Maybe Outsiders want to know a little more detail on O’Donnell influencing G. Callen. Well, we’ve got the scoop on that for you.

O’Donnell responds when asked by Studio 10 of Australia if he had any influence over how his character is presented.

He says, “Only in my interpretation of what the writer’s given me. Shane Brennan, a fellow Australian of yours, was really the creator of the show and it developed over time.

‘NCIS: Los Angeles’ Star Said Struggle In Show’s Early Years Was To Find His Family

“I mean the initial struggle for many of the years was just his search to find out family,” the “NCIS: Los Angeles” star said. “And find out why he was in foster homes all his life.

“So I think that was part of why he was such a closed-off person and that really didn’t let anybody else into his world aside from Hetty and, eventually, Sam,” O’Donnell said. Linda Hunt plays Hetty and LL Cool J plays Sam.

The interview with Studio 10 took place in February 2021.

“As the show has gone on, and we’re in Season 12,” O’Donnell says. “He’s gotten answers to most of those questions.” Callen is now at a place where he can take those next steps, O’Donnell said.

O’Donnell, LL Cool J, Hunt, and the rest of the “NCIS: Los Angeles” team get back on CBS with new episodes this fall. Tune in on Sunday, Oct. 10, at 10 p.m. Eastern, 9 p.m. Central, for its Season 13 premiere.

O’Donnell Looked Back At How Hetty Helped Groom G. Callen For Role

There are many layers to the relationship between “NCIS: Los Angeles” characters Hetty and G. Callen.

It is one of the things that longtime show fans remain intrigued by all these years later.

When O’Connell chatted with CBS, the network asked if he could flesh out what he learned about his Russian roots and Hetty’s involvement around it all. Especially when it came to Callen’s involvement with the “NCIS” type of work.

“Well, it’s questioning his history,” O’Connell said. He adds that Callen has spent years trying to figure out who his parents were and why he was put up for adoption. “He found his father and he answered a lot of questions and it’s been moving on.”

O’Donnell admits comments have been made within the show about the fact that Hetty has been grooming him for his job throughout Callen’s life.

O’Donnell says, “Suddenly, [Callen is] being asked more than once. And, he’s thinking, she helped me, but I don’t know what you’re talking about.”