Hollywood is weird. One minute you’re playing Robin next to George Clooney, and the next, you’re the dad of five kids trying to figure out how to navigate TikTok. That’s basically been the life of Chris O’Donnell. While most actors find it impossible to stay married for five years, let alone thirty, Chris and his wife Caroline Fentress have somehow managed to raise a small army in the middle of the spotlight without any of the typical "celebrity kid" drama.
Honestly, if you look at Chris O'Donnell's kids, they feel more like a suburban family from the Midwest than a Hollywood dynasty. They go to college, they play sports, and they’ve all made these tiny, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameos on their dad’s long-running show, NCIS: Los Angeles.
But things are changing in 2026. The kids are grown. Some are working corporate jobs, while others are dipping their toes into the industry. Chris is now leading the cast of 9-1-1: Nashville, and the family dynamic has shifted from diapers to graduation caps.
The O'Donnell Five: Who They Are
Chris and Caroline didn't mess around when it came to building a big family. Growing up as the youngest of seven children himself, Chris always knew he wanted a house full of chaos. They have two daughters and three sons, and the age gaps are just wide enough that they’ve been in a perpetual cycle of school drop-offs for nearly three decades.
Lily Anne O’Donnell
Lily is the oldest, born in 1999. She’s 26 now. While she did the whole acting thing once—playing "Young Amy" in the very first season of NCIS: LA—she didn't catch the bug. Instead, she followed in her parents' footsteps and headed to Boston College.
Today, Lily is carving out a real career in New York City. She works in TV distribution for Lionsgate. It’s a smart move. She gets to stay in the industry but on the business side, where the checks are steady and the paparazzi don't care what you're wearing to get coffee. Chris recently posted some sweet throwback photos for her birthday, and you can tell she’s definitely the "anchor" of the sibling group.
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Christopher "Chip" Eugene O'Donnell Jr.
Then there's Chip. He’s 25. He was actually the last of the five kids to appear on NCIS: LA. Because of the pandemic, his cameo got pushed back and pushed back until he finally played "The New Guy" in the series finale. It was a cool "full circle" moment for the fans.
Chip is a massive sports fan. Most of his childhood was spent on baseball diamonds and soccer fields. He’s very low-key, much like his mom, and tends to keep his private life off social media.
Charles "Charlie" McHugh O’Donnell
Charlie is 22 and might be the most "artistic" of the bunch. He played a young version of his dad's character, G. Callen, and he actually looked remarkably like a mini-Chris O’Donnell.
- He’s a golfer.
- He plays guitar.
- He’s done musical theater (he was in a production of Legally Blonde).
He’s currently navigating those early post-grad years, and while he hasn't committed to a full-time acting career yet, he’s got the range for it.
Finley O'Donnell
Finley is 19. Chris once called him the "easiest baby ever," mostly because by the time the fourth kid rolls around, you’ve stopped stressing about every little germ. Finley also played Young Callen on NCIS: LA during seasons 2 and 3. Seeing the different brothers play the same role at different ages is actually a pretty fun trivia fact for the show's die-hard fans.
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Maeve Frances O'Donnell
The youngest. Maeve is 18 and recently made a splash when she joined her dad on the red carpet for the Emmy Awards. She’s the one who reportedly got Chris into TikTok. She’s got a big personality and, like her siblings, she had her moment on screen in NCIS: LA back in season 7.
The "No Nanny" Rule and Shared Values
One thing that really separates Chris O'Donnell's kids from other celebrity offspring is how they were raised. For years, there were reports that Chris and Caroline didn't use a full-time nanny. They wanted to be the ones doing the work.
Chris has talked a lot about his "altar-boy values." He and Caroline both come from big, traditional Catholic families. They met because Caroline was the sister of Chris’s college roommate at Boston College. That’s about as "normal" as a Hollywood meet-cute gets.
"Our families have the same values and traditions, and I think that goes a long way because when the excitement and heat of romance wears off, those are the things you fall back on." — Chris O'Donnell
They’ve stayed grounded by keeping the kids out of the tabloids. You don't see the O'Donnell kids falling out of clubs in West Hollywood. They seem like they actually like each other, which is a rarity.
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Why the O'Donnell Family Dynamic Works
It’s easy to look at a celebrity family and assume it’s all perfect, but Chris has been honest about the struggles. During the pandemic, having all five kids back under one roof was a challenge. College-aged kids aren't exactly thrilled to be living in their childhood bedrooms again.
But that tension is what makes them relatable. They deal with the same stuff everyone else does:
- The Graduation Crunch: Managing multiple kids in high school and college at the same time is a financial and emotional marathon.
- Career Paths: Letting the kids find their own way, whether that’s in a corporate office at Lionsgate or on a theater stage.
- Privacy: Caroline Fentress keeps her Instagram private. She isn't trying to be an "influencer mom." This boundary has clearly rubbed off on the kids.
What’s Next for the O'Donnell Clan?
As of 2026, the "nest" is getting emptier. With Maeve hitting adulthood and the older three well into their careers, Chris and Caroline are entering a new phase. Chris is staying busy with 9-1-1: Nashville, which has been a huge hit since he made the jump from the NCIS franchise.
If you're looking for lessons from the O'Donnell family, it's basically this: consistency matters. They didn't chase the hottest trends or try to make their kids famous. They prioritized education and "normalcy," even when Dad was one of the biggest TV stars in the world.
If you want to keep up with the family, the best way is usually through Chris's occasional Instagram posts. He doesn't post often, but when he does, it’s usually a proud dad moment or a throwback to when the kids were little enough to carry.
Next steps for fans: * Check out the NCIS: Los Angeles archives to see if you can spot all five kids in their various cameos.
- Keep an eye on 9-1-1: Nashville on ABC—there's always a chance one of the younger O'Donnells might show up for a guest spot.