Linda Hunt’s portrayal of Henrietta “Hetty” Lange, the enigmatic and sharp-witted Operations Manager of the NCIS: Los Angeles team, was a hallmark of the show from its inception. Hetty was known for her intellectual brilliance, intriguing backstory, and complex leadership style, which made her a fan favorite throughout the 14-season run of the series. As the head of the Office of Special Projects (OSP), Hetty led her team with a combination of tough love and strategic genius, often working from the shadows to ensure the safety of the nation. However, over time, the character’s presence on screen became more sporadic, especially after Linda Hunt’s car accident in 2018. While Hunt was fortunate to avoid serious injuries, she had to take extended time off to recover, which resulted in Hetty’s absence for the entirety of Season 10 and much of Season 11.
During this period, Hetty’s role was written to accommodate Hunt’s recovery, with the character occasionally being referenced or seen in brief appearances, like a cryptic phone call or a quick message, but rarely involved in major plotlines. Hetty’s physical absence was even more pronounced during the COVID-19 pandemic, as the series had to follow strict health and safety protocols. As an older actress, Hunt was given special consideration, and the writers opted to minimize Hetty’s in-person appearances for the safety of the actress. Once Hunt received her COVID-19 vaccinations and felt comfortable returning to set, Hetty made a few more appearances, but still, the character was more of a background presence rather than the driving force she had once been. In fact, in Season 12, Hetty was written out of several episodes, with the storyline explaining that she was stationed in Syria on a covert mission, but her ultimate fate seemed uncertain, especially after the dramatic Season 12 finale, where Admiral Kilbride (Gerald McRaney) ordered the clearing of Hetty’s office, signaling the end of an era.
Though there was hope among fans that Hetty would return in full force for Season 13, that did not come to pass. Instead, Hetty’s brief appearance in the Season 13 premiere, “Subject 17,” in October 2021, marked what would be her final on-screen appearance before the series ended in May 2023. In her place, the writers kept her character alive in other ways. Hetty’s voice made a memorable return in the January 2023 three-show crossover between NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles, and NCIS: Hawai’i, where she left an encrypted message for Agents Callen and Hanna. The message, which provided critical advice and even a hint of her involvement in a larger mystery, allowed fans to hear from Hetty once more, despite her absence from the screen. This moment reassured viewers that Hetty was still very much part of the NCIS world, though she remained elusive in terms of physical presence.
As the NCIS: Los Angeles finale approached, fans were left wondering about Hetty’s fate, especially with the show coming to a close after 14 seasons. Would Hetty have a grand send-off? Would she finally reunite with her team in person? The answer came in a more subdued but deeply meaningful way. In the final episode, after the wedding of Callen and Anna, a courier arrived with an envelope sealed with Hetty’s initials, signaling that she was still very much a part of the team’s lives. Inside the envelope was a heartfelt letter from Hetty, congratulating Callen and Anna on their marriage and expressing her deep affection for them and the entire team. Hetty revealed that she had arranged for the couple to honeymoon at her home in Mykonos, a generous gesture that showed her ongoing care for her colleagues despite her absence. Additionally, the letter included plane tickets for Callen and Sam to visit Hetty in Morocco, where she had a “small side project” for them, hinting that the character was still deeply involved in covert operations, even if she couldn’t be there in person.
The show’s creators had hoped to feature Hetty in a more prominent role in the finale, potentially with a dramatic rescue mission to find her, but due to Linda Hunt’s unavailability and scheduling conflicts, the storyline was altered. Scott Gemmill, the showrunner, explained in interviews that if Hunt had been available, they likely would have written a rescue mission into the finale, allowing the team to search for Hetty, possibly facing danger and intrigue along the way. However, given the circumstances, Hetty’s farewell came in the form of a letter and a final gesture of kindness and support for her team. This ending allowed Hetty to leave a lasting legacy in the hearts of fans and ensured that she would always remain an integral part of the NCIS: Los Angeles world. Despite her physical absence in the final season, Hetty’s spirit lived on through the deep bonds she had formed with her colleagues, particularly Callen, Sam, and the other members of the OSP team, who considered her family.
Through this bittersweet farewell, NCIS: Los Angeles acknowledged both the impact of Hetty on the team and Linda Hunt’s contributions to the series. While her absence in the finale left fans wanting more, the heartfelt tribute was a fitting way to honor one of the show’s most iconic characters, who had been a fixture of the series since its very first episode. Hetty may have been physically absent in the end, but her presence was felt in every word she wrote, in every mission she inspired, and in the lasting relationships she built with her team.
