After 13 years of captivating fans with his portrayal of Marty Deeks on NCIS: Los Angeles, Eric Christian Olsen has made a bold decision to step away from acting, at least for the time being, and pursue a new chapter in his career as an executive producer. His transition into the world of production is highlighted by his involvement with the upcoming CBS legal drama Matlock, a reimagining of the classic series that will feature renowned actress Kathy Bates in the lead role. For Olsen, this shift is not just a career move but a natural progression that allows him to explore his passion for storytelling and help bring fresh, exciting ideas to life. Reflecting on his years working with CBS, Olsen spoke about the unique opportunity he now has to help shape stories from the ground up. “I’ve had so many experiences working for CBS for 13 years,” Olsen said during a Television Critics Association press panel. “It was an incredible opportunity and platform to find stories that I was really passionate about and then help build them from the ground up. The ability to pivot and contribute to these projects has been a wonderful challenge, one I’m deeply grateful for.” Despite his clear enthusiasm for his new role, Olsen is candid about the moments when he misses acting. He confessed to Parade that there are times when he watches his castmates, particularly Kathy Bates, deliver powerful performances and wishes he could be the one in front of the camera. “I’ve seen those moments with Kathy Bates where she’s just knocking it out of the park, and I’ve got tears in my eyes,” he shared. “The difference is I’m not across from her, I’m behind a monitor. There are those moments that really are tempting to be drawn back into it. But we have so much stuff in development, and our bandwidth is so full that, yeah, I miss it, but I also love what I’m doing.”
While Olsen is deeply invested in his producing role, he does occasionally step in to act during Matlock table reads when a character is missing. These moments allow him to keep his acting skills sharp, even though he’s no longer focused on being in the spotlight. “Every time there’s a horrible lawyer, a mean lawyer, they’re like, ‘Eric, will you read this?’” Olsen laughed, explaining how his involvement in these scenes gives him a chance to explore the villainous roles he hasn’t yet had the chance to portray on screen. His passion for storytelling is evident as he also confessed to putting himself in the shoes of the actors who perform the standout dramatic and comedic moments written by Matlock’s showrunner, Jennie Snyder Urman. “In some of these really good dramatic or funny scenes, I secretly put myself in there just because they’re so beautiful. To do Jennie’s words, there’s speeches that she writes that, as an actor, it’s really hard not to say those words.”
Beyond his creative endeavors, Olsen credits his mother for instilling in him many of the skills that have made him a strong producer. “I do think the ability to identify a potential problem, I learned that skillset from watching my mom,” he reflected. “She has this incredible ability to look 10 steps ahead and figure out what the obstacle is going to be. She would then enter into the situation with communication, kindness, and empathy, and help problem-solve.” He believes this approach has helped him navigate his transition to producing, a role that requires a broad skill set and an understanding of the process from start to finish. It’s a shift that has allowed him to work closely with talented professionals like Jennie Snyder Urman, whose scripts for Matlock have particularly inspired him.
Despite his focus on producing, Olsen maintains strong ties with his former NCIS: Los Angeles colleagues, regularly staying in touch with co-stars like LL COOL J and Renée Felice Smith. His brother, David Paul Olsen, who is married to NCIS: Los Angeles star Daniela Ruah, remains a close connection as well. Even after the show’s end, Olsen shared how he still keeps up with his co-stars, enjoying moments like hearing LL COOL J’s latest music release. “Todd just put out a single the other night. I was driving home, and I clicked it on, and I just was overwhelmed,” Olsen said. “No show goes 13 years. At that point, you’re seeing these people more often than you’re seeing your family. And so, I actively miss Todd, and I was texting with Renée this morning. I see Dani all the time because she’s married to my brother.”
Looking forward, Olsen isn’t ruling out the possibility of working with his sister-in-law, Daniela Ruah, who has directed several episodes of NCIS and its spinoffs. While the first season of Matlock is a busy time for everyone, Olsen envisions future opportunities for Ruah to direct an episode, expressing excitement about the prospect of her involvement down the line. “The first season’s always really difficult, and she was doing NCIS and NCIS: Hawaii,” Olsen explained. “So, with success, I think there’ll be lots of opportunities to have Dani come in and direct.”
Ultimately, while Eric Christian Olsen may miss the world of acting from time to time, he is fully committed to his role as a producer and is embracing this new chapter in his career with enthusiasm. His shift to producing offers a new way for him to contribute to the television industry, and with so many exciting projects in development, the future looks bright for this multifaceted creative.
