Eric Christian Olsen and Daniela Ruah were two of the most important cast members of CBS’ crime drama series NCIS: Los Angeles. They portrayed the characters Marty Deeks and Kensi Blye, respectively. Marty was introduced as a public defender-turned-LAPD detective.
Landing the part was a game changer for Olsen’s career. One of his most notable roles beforehand had been that of Lloyd Christmas in Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd. For his troubles, the actor had received the unwanted honor of a Razzie Award nomination for “Worst Screen Couple” alongside Derek Richardson.
Olsen’s subsequent involvement in NCIS: Los Angeles was more than enough redemption, however. With the show officially coming to an end after 14 seasons in May 2023, one of the biggest disappointments from a fan perspective was that they would not get to watch Olsen on the show anymore.
On the other hand, Daniela Ruah portrayed Kensi, an NCIS special agent with a strong-willed and determined personality. Her character brought a sense of balance to the team with her professionalism and fierce dedication to her job. Ruah’s portrayal of Kensi won over the hearts of many fans, but things weren’t always plain sailing.
Some fans vocalized their reservations over some of NCIS: Los Angeles’ casting choices. Viewers questioned the chemistry between some of the characters. Chemistry was rarely ever a problem between Olsen and Ruah, though, as evidenced by an emotional, off-script moment that occurred between the pair in Season 14.
Eric Christian Olsen And Daniela Ruah Are Real-Life Siblings-In-Law
In addition to their on-screen partnership, Eric Christian Olsen and Daniela Ruah share a unique and heartwarming family connection. The pair are not just co-stars on TV; they also happen to be real-life siblings-in-law.
Ruah is married to David Paul Olsen, the older brother of her colleague Eric. The pair have a son named River Isaac Ruah Olsen who was born in December 2013, and a daughter known as Sierra Esther Ruah Olsen who celebrated her seventh birthday on September 4, 2023.
Like his brother and wife, David Olsen is also directly involved in Hollywood. According to his IMDb page, the Illinois-born artist is both an actor and a stunt double. He has in fact worked as a stunt double for Eric in some of his brother’s scenes in NCIS: Los Angeles. Among his acting credits are roles in Reminiscence, G-Force and The Nun.
Eric Olsen is himself married to fellow actor Sarah Wright, best known for her recurring role in Parks & Recreation. The couple have been together since 2012, and have a son and a daughter as well. Olsen was previously involved with Psych actress Maggie Lawson.
What Happened Between Eric Christian Olsen And Daniela Ruah Behind The Scenes On NCIS: Los Angeles?
As the 14th season of NCIS: Los Angeles unfolded, Daniela Ruah found herself in a scene that resonated deeply with her. In an interview with Hello Magazine, she reflected on this heartfelt moment, explaining, “One scene that I thought was quite lovely, and has a personal touch to it, was when Kensi is telling [husband Marty] Deeks how she wants to get back to giving attention to them as a couple and not always worry about parenting or their job.”
In this scene, Deeks seemed oblivious to Kensi’s emotional plea. However, it was what happened next that truly moved Ruah. She continued, “Deeks is fading; he doesn’t really get what she’s putting down! Then he surprises her at the end with flowers and tickets to a concert, and when we were shooting that scene, Eric improvised something that broke me down into tears.”
Ruah went on to explain the significance of that moment in the context of the show’s impending conclusion, saying: “We already knew that the show would be over at that point… I imagined people metaphorically walking out of the room and switching off their light until the last person switches it off, and it’s dark, and the show is over.”
Eric Christian Olsen’s Improvised Line Triggered An Emotional Response From Daniela Ruah
The improvisation by Eric Christian Olsen that brought Daniela Ruah to tears was a line that was not scripted, but was kept in the final cut of the episode. However, what the audience didn’t get to see was Ruah’s heartfelt reaction.
“So Eric improvises the line, ‘This feels like 10 years ago,’ and they left it in the cut because it worked really well,” she recalled. “But what they didn’t leave was my actual breaking down into tears when he said those words that I didn’t know he was going to say.”
For Ruah, this emotional moment wasn’t just about the scene or the characters; it was about the profound history of friendship and partnership she had built with Olsen over the years: “It was the weight of the history of our friendship, the history of our partnership, the history of having met my husband and having my children on the show,” she said.
