NCIS: Los Angeles ran for 14 seasons before ending in 2023. It was the first spinoff and second-longest-running series in the NCIS franchise, just behind the Mothership, even though Daniela Ruah didn’t think the show would get picked up. So, with all that in mind, it's hard to imagine the franchise without NCIS: LA, and it’s even harder to picture different actors starring in the series. So, yeah, I can't believe the cast almost didn’t include Eric Christian Olsen as Marty Deeks.
Olsen joined NCIS: LA towards the end of Season 1, and officially came on as a series regular in Season 2. He was often the comedic relief, and he was one-half of fan-favorite couple Densi. Deeks is arguably one of the best characters on NCIS: LA, and it’s definitely because of the way Olsen played him. Which makes me even more shocked to hear that he wasn’t the first choice, as Olsen recalled on the NCIS: Partners & Probies podcast:
