Back in 2009, when NCIS: Los Angeles first spun off from the mothership, nobody knew if it would actually survive. It felt like a gamble. We had Chris O'Donnell, a 90s movie star, and LL Cool J, a literal hip-hop legend, trying to sell us on the idea of undercover naval investigators in sunny California. Honestly, it worked better than anyone expected. But if you look back at the ncis la season 1 cast today, it’s kinda wild how different the lineup was compared to the long-running behemoth the show eventually became.
The team was smaller. The vibe was moodier. And let’s be real—some of the characters we consider "original" weren't even there yet, while others we've completely forgotten about were meant to be the stars.
The Core Duo That Anchored Everything
At the heart of the OSP (Office of Special Projects) were G. Callen and Sam Hanna. Chris O'Donnell played Callen, the man with no first name and a shadowy past. He spent most of the first season living out of a bag and trying to figure out who shot him in the "backdoor pilot" on the original NCIS. Then you had LL Cool J as Sam Hanna, an ex-Navy SEAL who was basically the emotional and physical rock of the team.
Their chemistry was the secret sauce. It wasn't just about the cases; it was about the "banter" in the Challenger. You've got Sam obsessing over his car and Callen just trying to survive the day.
The Faces You Might Have Forgotten
When people talk about the ncis la season 1 cast, they usually jump straight to Deeks or Nell. But here is the thing: neither of them were series regulars in Season 1.
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The original "rookie" was actually Dominic Vail, played by Adam Jamal Craig. Dom was a probationary agent and a technical whiz, but his story took a dark turn that shocked fans at the time. In the episode "Missing," he was kidnapped, and the team spent several episodes trying to find him. It wasn't a happy ending. Dom was killed off in the episode "Found," making him one of the few main characters in the franchise to die so early in a series run.
Then there was Nate Getz, the operational psychologist played by Peter Cambor. In Season 1, Nate was a main cast member. He was the guy who sat in the "perch" and analyzed the suspects from behind the glass. After the first season, Cambor was moved to recurring status as his character was sent on various undercover assignments in the Middle East. It changed the dynamic of the office forever.
The Supporting Players Who Stayed the Course
The rest of the desk-side of the operation was held down by two people who became absolute icons:
- Linda Hunt as Henrietta "Hetty" Lange: Believe it or not, Hetty wasn't even in the very first pilot episode (the one with Louise Lombard as Lara Macy). But once she showed up in the series premiere "Identity," she stole the show. She was the mother hen with a deadly past and a collection of tea that could probably kill a man.
- Barrett Foa as Eric Beale: Eric was the technical operator who never seemed to wear shoes. He was the bridge between the field agents and the digital world. Interestingly, Barrett Foa was initially a guest star but was promoted to a series regular midway through the first season because his character was just too useful for exposition.
- Daniela Ruah as Kensi Blye: Kensi was the only female field agent for a long time. She was a sniper, a forensic expert, and a total badass. In Season 1, she didn't have Deeks to bicker with yet (he appeared as a guest later in the season), so we saw a much more solitary, intense version of her character.
Why the Season 1 Cast Felt Different
The show was still finding its feet. Director Leon Vance (Rocky Carroll) appeared frequently in the first season to bridge the gap between DC and LA, but eventually, the show moved away from the constant oversight.
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One of the most surprising things about the ncis la season 1 cast is the absence of Marty Deeks. Eric Christian Olsen didn't show up until episode 19, "Hand-to-Hand." He was brought in as an LAPD liaison, and the producers liked him so much they basically rebuilt the show around his partnership with Kensi for Season 2.
Similarly, Nell Jones (Renée Felice Smith) was nowhere to be found. The tech room felt much bigger and emptier without her "Nellverness" to balance out Eric's quirks.
Breaking Down the Guest Stars
Season 1 leaned heavily on its connection to the original series. We had Pauley Perrette show up as Abby Sciuto in a crossover episode involving a serial killer. This helped cement the show's place in the "NCISverse" and gave the new team a bit of street cred with the existing fanbase.
We also saw the introduction of Arkady Kolcheck (Vyto Ruginis), the shady Russian contact who would plague/help Callen for the next decade. These recurring characters provided the texture that made the world feel lived-in from the jump.
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Lessons from the Early Days
Looking back, the first season was a bit of a "trial by fire." The loss of Dom Vail and the shifting role of Nate Getz showed that the writers weren't afraid to shake up the status quo. If you're going back to rewatch it, you'll notice the pacing is different. It’s a bit more procedural and a little less "family-oriented" than the later seasons became.
Basically, Season 1 was about survival—both for the characters and the show itself.
If you are planning a rewatch of the ncis la season 1 cast in action, pay close attention to the episode "Random on Purpose." It’s one of the best examples of how the early team utilized their specific skill sets before the roles became more generalized. You can find the full first season on streaming platforms like Paramount+ or through VOD services.
Double-check the episode order if you're watching on a platform that mixes them up; the "Dom Vail" arc is much more impactful when viewed in the intended sequence. Once you finish the season, compare the finale "Callen, G." to the series finale years later—the growth in O'Donnell's performance is pretty striking.
Next Steps:
To get the most out of your rewatch, look for the "backdoor pilot" episodes in NCIS Season 6 (titled "Legend Part 1 & 2") to see the original team configuration before the show officially launched. This provides crucial context for Callen's recovery and Hetty's takeover of the OSP.