Exploring Romance in the ‘NCIS’ Universe: Love Stories on ‘NCIS: Hawai’i’ and Beyond

The NCIS Universe is always growing, and fans are captivated by the relationships of the original cast and spinoff actors, both on and off screen.

NCIS first premiered in 2003, serving as a backdoor pilot for JAG, a show that aired from 1995 to 2005. Mark Harmon portrayed Leroy Jethro Gibbs in the original series, which reached its 21st season in February 2024.

Thanks to the new spinoffs like NCIS: New Orleans, NCIS: Los Angeles, NCIS: Hawai’i, and NCIS: Sydney, the NCIS franchise hit a milestone of 1,000 episodes in April 2024.

Viewers love to see their favorite characters, like Jessica Knight and Jimmy Palmer, find love on screen. But the real-life relationships of the actors have also captured the attention of fans throughout the years.

Scroll down to see which NCIS stars from the mothership series and its many spinoffs are married, who is single and everything in between:

NCIS Universe Dating History Inside the Stars Love Lives

Credit: CBS (3)

‘NCIS’ Universe Dating History: Inside the Stars’ Love Lives on 'NCIS: Hawai’i' and More Shows

The NCIS Universe is always growing, and fans are captivated by the relationships of both the original cast and the spinoff actors, whether on-screen or off-screen.

NCIS first premiered in 2003 as a backdoor pilot for the show JAG, which aired from 1995 to 2005. The show, starring Mark Harmon as Leroy Jethro Gibbs, is currently in its 21st season as of February 2024.

Thanks to the addition of spinoffs like NCIS: New Orleans, NCIS: Los Angeles, NCIS: Hawai’i, and NCIS: Sydney, the NCIS franchise hit a milestone of 1,000 total episodes in April 2024.

Viewers always cheer for their beloved characters to find love, like Jessica Knight and Jimmy Palmer. But fans also can't get enough of the real-life relationships of the actors behind the characters.

Check out below to discover which NCIS stars from the main series and its various spinoffs are married, who is single, and all the juicy details in between.

NCIS Universe Dating History Inside the Stars Love Lives

Credit: Kevin Lynch/CBS

Mark Harmon

Mark Harmon portrayed the character Gibbs on the popular TV show NCIS from 2003 to 2021. He has been happily married to actress Pam Dawber since 1987. The couple has two children together, Sean and Ty. Interestingly, Sean even had a role playing a Young Gibbs on the show. Currently, Harmon is collaborating with his son Sean to develop a prequel series called NCIS: Origins.

NCIS Universe Dating History Inside the Stars Love Lives

Credit: Art Streiber/CBS

Sean Murray

Sean Murray has been a part of the mothership series since it first premiered in 2003, portraying the character of Special Agent Timothy McGee. In real life, Murray is a father to daughter Caitlyn and son River, whom he shares with his wife Carrie James. Interestingly, Caitlyn also made her debut on NCIS as hacker Teagan Fields during an episode in 2022.

NCIS Universe Dating History Inside the Stars Love Lives

Credit: Art Streiber/CBS

Wilmer Valderrama

Wilmer Valderrama became a part of the NCIS cast as Special Agent Nick Torres in 2016. He has been romantically linked to celebrities such as Mandy Moore, Lindsay Lohan, and Demi Lovato in the past. In January 2020, he got engaged to Amanda Pacheco. The couple welcomed their first child, a daughter named Nakano, in February 2021.

NCIS Universe Dating History Inside the Stars Love Lives

Credit: Art Streiber/CBS

Katrina Law

Law began playing Jessica Knight in 2021. The actress wed filmmaker and photographer Keith Andreen in 2013. The duo share one child.

NCIS Universe Dating History Inside the Stars Love Lives

Credit: Art Streiber/CBS

Brian Dietzen

Brian Dietzen originally played the role of Dr. Jimmy Palmer, mentored by Ducky (played by the late David McCallum), on the popular TV show NCIS. Later on, he became the chief medical examiner on the show. Brian is married to Kelly since 2004, and they have two children together.

NCIS Universe Dating History Inside the Stars Love Lives

Credit: Art Streiber/CBS

Gary Cole

Gary Cole took on the role of Alden Parker, the new head of the NCIS team in 2021, stepping into Gibbs' shoes. He married Teddi Siddall in 1992 and they had a daughter together. The couple separated in 2017, and sadly, Siddall passed away a year later. In the summer of 2021, Cole tied the knot with Michelle Knapp.

NCIS Universe Dating History Inside the Stars Love Lives

Credit: Art Streiber/CBS

Rocky Carroll

Rocky Carroll has been serving as Director Leon Vance in the NCIS office since 2008. He has also appeared in various spinoffs. In 1996, Carroll married Gabrielle Bullock, and they have a daughter named Elissa.

NCIS Universe Dating History Inside the Stars Love Lives

Credit: Sonja Flemming/CBS

Michael Weatherly

Michael Weatherly played the character Anthony DiNozzo on NCIS from 2003 to 2016. He also returned to reprise the role in a 2024 episode. In an upcoming spinoff, he will be acting alongside Cote de Pablo, who portrayed Ziva David on the original series. The spinoff will focus on the characters of DiNozzo and David.

The NCIS vet was married to Amelia Heinle from 1995 to 1997. The exes share one son, August. Weatherly married Bojana Jankovic in 2009 with whom he shares two children.

NCIS Universe Dating History Inside the Stars Love Lives

Credit: Patey/CBS

Vanessa Lachey

NCIS: Hawai’i debuted in 2021 with Vanessa Lachey leading the way as Special Agent in Charge Jane Tennant. Vanessa and her husband, Nick Lachey, relocated to Hawaii with their three children - Camden, Brooklyn, and Phoenix - for filming. The couple has been happily married since 2011.

NCIS Universe Dating History Inside the Stars Love Lives

Credit: CBS

Jason Antoon

Antoon was introduced to fans in 2021 as Hawai’i’s tech whiz, Ernie Malik. His real-life wife, Seana Kofoed, plays the role of Carla Chase, the show’s medical examiner. The couple, who got married in 2010, have two kids together, a son, and a daughter.

NCIS Universe Dating History Inside the Stars Love Lives

Credit: Christopher Patey/CBS

Alex Tarrant

Tarrant has been playing agent Kai Holman on Hawai’i since day one. The actor is married to Luci Hare and together they share son Beaumont.

NCIS Universe Dating History Inside the Stars Love Lives

Credit: Christopher Patey/CBS

Tori Anderson

Anderson plays FBI agent Kate Whistler on Hawai’i, who is dating NCIS agent Lucy Tara (Yasmine Al-Bustami). Off screen, Anderson has been married to Mitch Myers since 2018.

NCIS Universe Dating History Inside the Stars Love Lives

Credit: Karen Neal/CBS

LL Cool J

LL Cool J played Special Agent Sam Hanna on NCIS: Los Angeles for 14 seasons until the show concluded in 2023. He later appeared as a recurring guest star on Hawaii in season 3 in 2024. Prior to marrying his wife, Simone I. Smith, the rapper dated her for eight years before they got married in 1995. Together, they have four children: Najee (son), Italia, Samaria, and Nina (daughters).

NCIS Universe Dating History Inside the Stars Love Lives

Credit: Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images

Chris O’Donnell

O’Donnell starred as G. Gallen, LL Cool J’s partner on NCIS: LA for 14 years, from 2009 to 2023. He has been happily married to Caroline Fentress since 1997. The couple has five children together: Christopher Jr., Maeve, Finley, Lily, and Charles.

NCIS Universe Dating History Inside the Stars Love Lives

Credit: Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images

Eric Christian Olsen

The actor portrayed Marty Deeks on NCIS: LA from 2010 to 2023. Olsen shares Wyatt, Esme and Winter with his wife, actress Sarah Wright, whom he wed in 2012.

NCIS Universe Dating History Inside the Stars Love Lives

Credit: Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images

Daniela Ruah

Ruah portrayed Kensi Blye on NCIS: LA for 15 years. She also appeared in a cameo on NCIS's special 1,000th episode in April 2024. In 2014, she married David Paul Olsen, who is Eric's brother and her co-star. Together, they have a son named River and a daughter named Sierra.

NCIS Universe Dating History Inside the Stars Love Lives

Credit: Theo Wargo/Getty Images

Scott Bakula

Bakula starred as Dwayne Pride, leading the Louisiana office on NCIS: New Orleans for seven seasons until it concluded in 2021. He was previously married to Krista Neumann from 1981 to 1995 and they have two children together. In 2009, he tied the knot with Chelsea Field and the pair now have two children of their own.

NCIS Universe Dating History Inside the Stars Love Lives

Credit: Gary Gershoff/WireImage

CCH Pounder

Pounder, also known as Carol Christine Hilaria, played the role of medical examiner Loretta Wade on New Orleans from 2014 to 2021. She was married to Boubacar Kone from 1991 until he passed away in August 2016. They have several adult children.

NCIS Universe Dating History Inside the Stars Love Lives

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Lucas Black

Black's character, Christopher LaSalle, from New Orleans, was sadly written off the show during season 6 in 2019. On a brighter note, the actor tied the knot with Maggie O'Brien back in 2010. Together, they have two sons and a daughter.

NCIS Universe Dating History Inside the Stars Love Lives

Credit: John Tsiavis/Paramount+

Olivia Swann

In 2023, NCIS: Sydney introduced its first international spinoff, starring British actress Swann as American Special Agent Michelle Mackey. Despite her public presence, Swann prefers to keep her love life private and there are no signs of her being in a relationship on social media.

NCIS Universe Dating History Inside the Stars Love Lives

Credit: John Tsiavis/Paramount+

Todd Lasance

Lasance portrays Jim “JD” Dempsey, Agent Mackey’s Australian counterpart, on Sydney. In 2016, he became a father when his then-girlfriend Jordan Wilcox gave birth to their daughter, Charlie. The couple got married in 2020 and three years later, they welcomed their son, Beau, expanding their family.

Editor's P/S:

The NCIS universe is a vast and ever-expanding one, with a cast of characters that has captivated audiences for years. From the original series to the numerous spin-offs, fans have been invested in the lives of these characters both on and off the screen. The article delves into the personal lives of the actors who portray these beloved characters, providing insights into their marriages, relationships, and families. It is fascinating to see how the actors' real-life experiences and connections sometimes mirror the storylines of the characters they play, adding an extra layer of authenticity to the series.

The article also highlights the diversity of the NCIS cast, with actors and characters from various backgrounds and cultures. This inclusivity is not only refreshing but also reflects the changing demographics of the world we live in. It is heartening to see that television shows are increasingly showcasing the richness and diversity of human experiences, allowing audiences to connect with characters who share their own backgrounds or who challenge their perceptions. The NCIS universe is a prime example of this, and it is one of the reasons why it continues to captivate audiences around the globe.