NCIS started off as a simple spin-off of the hit series JAG and blossomed into a multi-headed beast in the police procedural genre. The original NCIS show spawned no fewer than five spin-offs – NCIS: Los Angeles, NCIS: New Orleans, NCIS: Hawai’i, NCIS: Sydney, and most recently, NCIS: Origins. With hundreds of episodes across the franchise, it is no surprise that the cast have seen a fair number of crossovers.
Some of TV’s most talented faces that first showed up in either JAG or the original NCIS have actually played very different roles in different series set within the same universe to showcase their appeal and incredible range. This list highlights 10 of the most memorable NCIS actors who have managed to pull off this impressive feat and portrayed multiple characters across the NCIS franchise. Some you may recognize instantly, while others may surprise you.
Here are 10 NCIS and JAG actors you may recognize for playing multiple different characters within the same universe.
10. Diany Rodriguez
Known for appearing in the long-running crime series, The Blacklist, alongside James Spader, Diany Rodriguez had her first foray into the world of NCIS through NCIS: New Orleans. She played DHS Agent Garcia in season 4, episode 1, “Rogue Nation,” and shared the screen with Scott Bakula’s Special Agent-in-Charge Dwayne Cassius Pride for a brief time before returning to NCIS: Origins for a bigger role.
In the prequel that explores the early days of Gibbs and his team, Rodriguez stars as Vera Strickland, a resourceful, tough and determined agent who was a key figure in the formation of the NCIS team. Present in 17 episodes, her character helps connect the dots between the franchise’s past and present and offers a better understanding of the team’s evolution.
9. Alicia Coppola
Alicia Coppola is one of those stars who have credits in JAG and shows that fall under the NCIS franchise. Reprising her role as Lieutenant Commander Faith Coleman from the original, her debut came in Season 1, Episode 18 of NCIS, titled “UnSEALed,” where a former SEAL petty officer turned prisoner escapes from Fort Leavenworth and Gibbs and the team consider if he was wrongfully convicted. Coleman appears in two more episodes of NCIS Season 2.
Coppola’s journey in the NCIS doesn’t end there. She crosses over to NCIS: Los Angeles, where she plays a different character, FBI Agent Lisa Rand, in Season 2, Episode 5, titled “Little Angels.” This episode finds the team investigating the kidnapping of the teenage daughter of a Navy commander. Coppola transitions into the role easily and sticks with it for four more episodes throughout the show, with the last being in Season 14.
8. Scott Lawrence
Scott Lawrence is a brilliant and versatile actor whose career spans decades, with memorable roles in television, movies, and video games. He is perhaps best known for his portrayal of Commander Sturgis Turner on JAG, where his intellect and presence brought depth to a lot of crucial moments. Lawrence’s talents go beyond the small screen; he has lent his voice to iconic characters, including Darth Vader in a bunch of Star Wars video games.
As for the NCIS franchise, Lawrence first appeared in Season 8, Episode 14, titled “A Man Walks Into a Bar,” where he played Navy Captain Thomas Lind. When the NCIS team is being evaluated, he’s also interviewed. The actor later returned to the franchise in NCIS: Hawai’i as Judge Malcolm Keen in Season 1, Episode 6, titled “The Game.” He’s a familiar face to fans of the franchise because his connection to the NCIS universe is rooted in his early appearance on JAG.
7. Michael Nouri
A seasoned actor whose career is marked by his iconic role as Nick Hurley in the 1983 classic Flashdance, as well as an impressive presence in Broadway productions like Victoria/Victoria as King Marchan opposite Julie Andrews, Michael Nouri has consistently delivered compelling performances. His journey in the NCIS franchise began with his recurring role as Mossad Director Eli David, first appearing in Season 6, Episode 1, “Last Man Standing.”
As Ziva David’s father, Eli is a pivotal figure whose actions and decisions impact the storyline directly. His steely resolve and deep, unwavering love for his daughter make him a complex character. Nouri later appeared in NCIS: New Orleans Season 6, Episode 9, “Convicted,” as Jason Campbell, and Hawaii Five-0 as Oscar Hirsch in Season 10, Episode 20, “He puhe’e miki.”
6. Karri Turner
She has a flair for both comedy and drama, which makes Karri Turner an exceptional actress. Best known for her role as Lieutenant Harriet Sims on JAG, she appeared in 112 episodes of the series. As Harriet, she was an indispensable part of the series until it ended in 2005. Turner is also popular for being a part of an improvisational comedy troupe called The Groundlings. In the movie scene, she portrayed supporting characters in Get Smart and An American Carol.
Turner’s connection to the NCIS franchise, obviously, isn’t limited to JAG. She played Micki Kaydar in NCIS, first appearing in Season 17, Episode 13, titled “In the Wind.” The episode finds Gibbs dealing with the consequences of trying to reunite Ziva with her family and protect his own daughter, Tali, which led to a major fallout. Turner’s character brings a unique perspective to the storyline.
5. Zoe McLellan
Celebrated for her phenomenal performances across TV shows and movies (particularly 2000’s Dungeons and Dragons), Zoe McLellan first gained recognition with the small screen audience for her role as Navy Petty Officer Jennifer Coates in JAG. She started in Season 7 as a recurring character, was a huge part of the series, and became a regular in Season 10. She has also showcased her talent in works like Dirty Sexy Money and Designated Survivor.
Nine years after JAG concluded its run, McLellan returned to the franchise and began her role as NCIS Special Agent Meredith Brody in NCIS. She appeared in Season 11 of the show in the backdoor pilot episodes “Crescent City (Part 1)” and “Crescent City (Part 2)” and then took on the same role in NCIS: New Orleans. A transfer from Chicago, her character Brody brought a fresh perspective to the team and McLellan continued as the main cast member in Season 1 and 2.
4. Joe Spano
For veteran actor Joe Spano, the NCIS universe has been a second home. But before having ties with the long-running police procedural, the actor had a notable reputation as Lt. Henry Goldblume in Hill Street Blues. Following this, he lent his empathetic and nuanced talents to movies like Apollo 13 and Primal Fear. In 1988, he won an Emmy for Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series for Midnight Caller.
Spano’s first introduction in NCIS was in Season 1, Episode 1, “Yankee White,” where he portrayed the gruff and seasoned FBI Special Agent Tobias Fornell. She shared a complex relationship with Gibbs; it was that of occasional rivalry and mutual respect, which became a cornerstone of the series. Spano also guest starred in NCIS: New Orleans Season 1, Episode 7, titled “It Happened Last Night.” His character, thus, appeared in over 50 episodes in the NCIS franchise.
3. Scottie Thompson
Scottie Thompson leaves an indelible mark in not one, but two series in the NCIS universe. She first played a conflicted and emotionally layered Dr. Jeanne Benoit in NCIS with Season 4, Episode 1, titled “Shalom.” Daughter of arms dealer René Benoit and girlfriend of Tony DiNozzo, her character sparked debate among fans, but during her 16-episode arc, she brought a lot of romance and intrigue to the series.
Additionally, Thompson appeared in NCIS: Los Angeles Season 11, Episode 17, titled “Missing Time,” as Agent Sarah Raines. Beyond her guest roles in the NCIS franchise, the star has a background in dance and theater, which, combined with her Harvard education, makes her an engaging person. The best roles in her career include TV shows like The Blacklist, Skyline, and 12 Monkeys.
2. Tom Schanley
With a rich portfolio spanning all sorts of media channels, Tom Schanley has appeared in fan-favorite TV series such as Dexter, Criminal Minds, and Castle, proving how capable the actor is of embodying a wide range of characters across all genres. He has this quiet intensity that he infuses in all his roles, whether protagonists or antagonists. In the NCIS universe, Schanley has struck the record by starring in four of all five existing television series, save for NCIS: Sydney, and they include JAG, NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles, NCIS: New Orleans, NCIS: Hawai’i.
Seven years after playing Petty Officer 3rd Class Colbert in an episode of Season 4 and Season 9 of JAG respectively, he showed up in NCIS Season 9, Episode 7, titled “Sins of the Father,” where he played Navy Lieutenant Dean Massey, a character that was involved in an investigation centering around Gibbs’ father. He later appeared in NCIS: Los Angeles Season 5, Episode 6, titled “Windfall,” as Gabe Stanfill, and in NCIS: New Orleans Season 2, Episode 20, titled “Help Wanted,” as Anthony Flanders. Schanley’s most recent contribution to what can only be described as his favorite TV franchise was in NCIS: Hawai’i Season 1, Episode 4, titled “Paniolo,” where he played Crazy Sam.
1. Muse Watson
Whether he’s playing the mysterious Charles Westmoreland in Prison Break or the complex Bel Willis in I Know What You Did Last Summer, Muse Watson has the kind of command and screen presence you cannot really look away from. Watson has brought gravitas and authenticity to all his roles, and his JAG debut as Admiral Arthur Fessenden, which came in Season 4, Episode 3, “Innocence,” is no different.
Following the guest role, Watson appeared on NCIS in a total of 20 episodes between 2006 and 2017 as Mike Franks, beginning with Season 3, Episode 23, titled “Hiatus (Part 1).” Frank had a knack for delivering clipped dialogue and, as Gibbs’ mentor and former Supervisory Special Agent, his genuine care for the team made him an instant favorite. Watson returned to the series everytime the team was in need of some wisdom. Even though his character met a tragic end in Season 8, Episode 1, “Swan Song,” at the hands of the Port-to-Port Killer, he continued to show up as Gibbs’ guardian angel in later seasons.
