Charles McHugh O’Donnell: Chris O’Donnell’s Son & Family

When people search for Charles McHugh O’Donnell, they usually aren’t looking for the biography of a conventional Hollywood celebrity. Instead, they are trying to connect a name they have seen online with actor Chris O’Donnell, his family, and one particularly interesting television credit.

That connection is real.

Charles McHugh O’Donnell, commonly known as Charlie O’Donnell, is the third of Chris O’Donnell and Caroline O’Donnell’s five children. He was born in 2003 and grew up in a family that remained relatively private despite his father’s long Hollywood career.

What makes Charlie especially interesting, however, is his connection to NCIS: Los Angeles. He did not simply appear in his father’s television series. He played Young Callen, the younger version of the character played by Chris O’Donnell. IMDb’s cast records also identify Charlie in another Season 1 episode, where he played Michael Donnelly.

So, who is Charles McHugh O’Donnell, how old is he, who are his siblings, and what exactly did he do on NCIS: Los Angeles?

Here is what the available public record tells us.

Who Is Charles McHugh O’Donnell?

Charles McHugh O’Donnell is the son of actor Chris O’Donnell and Caroline O’Donnell.

He is also known by the shorter name Charlie O’Donnell, which is the name associated with his acting credits. IMDb lists his birth name as Charles McHugh O’Donnell and identifies Chris and Caroline O’Donnell as his parents.

According to current biographical reporting, Charlie was born on July 11, 2003. That makes him 23 in September 2026. People has also identified him as the third of Chris O’Donnell’s five children.

Quick Fact	Details
Full name	Charles McHugh O’Donnell
Common name	Charlie O’Donnell
Birth year	2003
Birth date	July 11, 2003
Father	Chris O’Donnell
Mother	Caroline O’Donnell
Siblings	Lily, Christopher Jr., Finley and Maeve
Known acting connection	NCIS: Los Angeles
Best-known role	Young Callen

One important point is worth making here: Charlie has never developed the kind of extensive public profile associated with his father. Much of the available information about him comes from family profiles, cast records, and occasional comments made by Chris O’Donnell.

That limited public footprint is important when discussing his current life.

How Old Is Charles McHugh O’Donnell?

Charles McHugh O’Donnell was born on July 11, 2003.

As of September 2026, he is 23 years old.

His birth date has been repeatedly reported in biographical records, including recent profiles of Chris O’Donnell’s children. People identifies Charlie as one of Chris and Caroline’s five children and places his birth in 2003.

I would avoid going beyond that basic information when discussing Charlie’s present-day life. Unlike his father, he has not maintained a large public celebrity profile, and reliable sources provide relatively little information about his current professional or personal activities.

Who Are Charles McHugh O’Donnell’s Parents?

Charlie is the son of Chris O’Donnell and Caroline Fentress O’Donnell.

Chris O’Donnell married Caroline in 1997, and the couple went on to have five children. Chris has frequently spoken about the importance of family, and his children eventually became part of an unusual piece of his television career.

Chris’s career includes major film roles as well as his long-running portrayal of Special Agent G. Callen on NCIS: Los Angeles. More recently, he has continued his television career with 9-1-1: Nashville.

His family, meanwhile, largely stayed away from the celebrity spotlight.

That makes Charlie’s occasional appearances particularly interesting because they offer a glimpse into a family that otherwise maintained a relatively private profile.

Chris has also described family as a major priority. In an earlier interview, he explained that becoming a husband and father changed how he viewed his career and personal life.

Readers exploring other celebrity family stories may also be interested in Isaac Avett, the son of actress Jennifer Carpenter and musician Seth Avett.

Charles McHugh O’Donnell’s Siblings

Charlie is the middle child in Chris O’Donnell’s family.

His siblings are:

Sibling	Birth Year	What Is Publicly Known
Lily Anne O’Donnell	1999	Film and television-related interests; appeared on NCIS: LA
Christopher “Chip” Jr. O’Donnell	2000	Interested in sports and golf; appeared in the NCIS: LA finale
Charles “Charlie” O’Donnell	2003	Acting and theater interests; appeared on NCIS: LA
Finley O’Donnell	2006	Appeared as Young Callen on NCIS: LA
Maeve Frances O’Donnell	2007	Appeared on NCIS: LA and at public family events

People’s recent family profile confirms the five children as Lily, Christopher “Chip” Jr., Charles “Charlie,” Finley and Maeve.

The family’s connection to NCIS: Los Angeles is particularly unusual.

Four of Chris O’Donnell’s children appeared on the show before the series ended. Charlie was one of them, and his appearance came much earlier than some fans may realize.

Charles McHugh O’Donnell and NCIS: Los Angeles

This is the part of Charlie’s biography that I find most interesting.

His acting record is small, but the connection is memorable.

IMDb’s cast information identifies Charlie O’Donnell as Young Callen in the Season 1 finale, “Callen, G.” The same database also identifies him as Michael Donnelly in another Season 1 episode.

That means Charlie did not simply appear in the background of his father’s series.

He actually played a younger version of the character his father portrayed.

Chris O’Donnell played Special Agent G. Callen throughout NCIS: Los Angeles. Charlie’s appearance as Young Callen therefore created a genuine father-and-son connection inside the show’s storyline.

Charlie O’Donnell Played Young Callen

In “Callen, G,” Charlie portrayed the younger version of G. Callen.

His sister Lily O’Donnell also appeared in the episode, playing Young Amy. IMDb’s cast listing confirms both siblings’ involvement.

The casting became one of those small family details that fans could easily miss while watching the series.

Chris O’Donnell was the adult Callen. His real-life son played the younger Callen.

That is a much more specific connection than simply saying Charlie was “on his dad’s show.”

He Also Played Michael Donnelly

There is another detail that sometimes gets lost in simplified biographies.

Charlie was also credited as Michael Donnelly in the Season 1 episode “Past Lives.” IMDb’s full series cast record lists Charlie O’Donnell as both Young Callen and Michael Donnelly.

Recent reporting has highlighted this distinction because some online biographies describe Charlie only as Young Callen.

The broader record shows two Season 1 appearances.

That makes his NCIS: Los Angeles involvement slightly more substantial than a single childhood cameo.

Was Charles McHugh O’Donnell Interested in Acting?

Yes.

People’s reporting on Chris O’Donnell’s children says Charlie explored acting and theater. An earlier account also quoted Chris discussing Charlie’s interest in performing on stage.

Chris reportedly mentioned in 2016 that Charlie was performing in a stage production of Legally Blonde. He also described his son as a golfer and guitar player.

That combination gives a useful picture of Charlie during his teenage years: acting was one interest among several rather than evidence of an established Hollywood career.

I would therefore describe him as someone who explored acting and theater, rather than calling him a professional actor with a large filmography.

That distinction matters.

His documented screen work is limited, but the roles he did receive are unusually memorable because one of them involved playing his father’s most famous television character at a younger age.

What Does Charles McHugh O’Donnell Do Now?

This is where reliable information becomes much thinner.

Charlie is now an adult, but there is no substantial, consistently documented public career profile showing what he currently does professionally.

Recent coverage of Chris O’Donnell’s family continues to identify Charlie as one of his five children and mentions his earlier interest in acting and theater. However, it does not establish a major current acting career for him.

That means claims about his current job, exact residence, relationships, income, or future plans should be treated cautiously unless they come from a reliable source or from Charlie himself.

For a private person, the absence of information is not necessarily a mystery that needs filling.

Sometimes it simply means the person has chosen not to build a public profile.

Why Do People Search for Charles McHugh O’Donnell?

The search interest around Charlie makes sense when you look at his family connections.

People searching his full name may have encountered it while researching:

• Chris O’Donnell’s children
• Christopher O’Donnell Jr.
• Lily O’Donnell
• Maeve Frances O’Donnell
• Chris O’Donnell’s family
• NCIS: Los Angeles
• Young Callen
• Charlie O’Donnell’s acting credits

The NCIS: Los Angeles connection is particularly useful because it answers a question that a simple family biography does not.

Did Chris O’Donnell’s real son play Young Callen?

Yes.

IMDb’s cast records identify Charlie O’Donnell as Young Callen, while current coverage of Chris O’Donnell’s children also confirms that Charlie appeared on the series.

The O’Donnell Family’s Unusual NCIS: LA Tradition

Charlie was not the only O’Donnell child to appear on the show.

In fact, NCIS: Los Angeles eventually became something of a family project.

TVLine reported in 2023 that Chris O’Donnell’s children had appeared throughout the show’s run. Lily played Young Amy, Charlie appeared twice during Season 1, Finley played Young Callen in later seasons, and Maeve appeared in Season 7. Christopher “Chip” Jr. eventually appeared in the series finale.

Showrunner R. Scott Gemmill described Chip’s final appearance as a fitting tribute to Chris O’Donnell.

This family history gives Charlie’s role more context.

His Young Callen appearance was not an isolated publicity stunt. Instead, it became part of a recurring tradition in which Chris’s children occasionally stepped into small roles alongside him.

Charles McHugh O’Donnell vs. Christopher O’Donnell Jr.

One reason the O’Donnell family can be confusing for searchers is the number of similar names.

Chris O’Donnell’s oldest son is Christopher Eugene O’Donnell Jr., commonly known as Chip.

Charles McHugh O’Donnell is a different person and is commonly known as Charlie.

Name	Common Name	Birth Year	Family Position
Christopher Eugene O’Donnell Jr.	Chip	2000	Oldest son
Charles McHugh O’Donnell	Charlie	2003	Second son / third child

People’s family profile confirms that Chris and Caroline have both Christopher Jr. and Charles among their five children.

This distinction is especially important when researching NCIS: Los Angeles, because both brothers eventually appeared on the series, although at different points.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Charles McHugh O’Donnell?

Charles McHugh O’Donnell, also known as Charlie O’Donnell, is the son of actor Chris O’Donnell and Caroline O’Donnell. He is one of their five children.

How old is Charles McHugh O’Donnell?

Charles was born on July 11, 2003. He is 23 years old as of September 2026.

Is Charles McHugh O’Donnell Chris O’Donnell’s son?

Yes. Charles is Chris O’Donnell’s third child and one of his three sons.

Did Charles McHugh O’Donnell appear on NCIS: Los Angeles?

Yes. Charlie O’Donnell appeared in NCIS: Los Angeles during Season 1 and is credited as Michael Donnelly and Young Callen.

Did Charlie O’Donnell play Young Callen?

Yes. He played Young Callen, the younger version of G. Callen, the character played by his father Chris O’Donnell.

Who are Charles McHugh O’Donnell’s siblings?

His siblings are Lily O’Donnell, Christopher “Chip” O’Donnell Jr., Finley O’Donnell and Maeve Frances O’Donnell.

Is Charles McHugh O’Donnell still acting?

There is public evidence that he explored acting and theater while younger. However, reliable current sources do not establish a major ongoing acting career for him.

Is Charles McHugh O’Donnell married?

There is not enough reliable public information to establish a current marriage or relationship status.

Final Thoughts

Charles McHugh O’Donnell is a good example of how a relatively private celebrity family member can attract search interest through one very specific connection.

He is Chris O’Donnell’s son, one of five siblings, and someone who explored acting and theater while growing up. However, his most recognizable public credit remains NCIS: Los Angeles, where he appeared during the show’s first season.

The Young Callen role is the detail that makes his biography stand out.

Chris O’Donnell played Callen as an adult, while his real-life son Charlie portrayed the character at a younger age. Charlie also appeared as Michael Donnelly, giving him two documented Season 1 credits rather than just one.

Beyond those appearances, the public record becomes much quieter.

That is worth respecting. Charlie has not built the same public career as his father, and there is no need to turn limited information into speculation. What can be confirmed is already interesting: Charles McHugh O’Donnell grew up in a famous acting family, explored performance himself, and became part of one of television’s more unusual father-and-children casting stories.

Sources / Research Basis

• PEOPLE — Chris O’Donnell’s five children and family background
• IMDb — Charlie O’Donnell biography and family information
• IMDb — NCIS: Los Angeles cast records
• TVLine — O’Donnell family appearances on NCIS: Los Angeles
• CBS — Chris O’Donnell interviews and family background
• New York Live — Chris O’Donnell’s comments about Charlie’s theater, golf and guitar interests

Disclaimer: This article uses publicly available biographical and entertainment-industry information. Charles McHugh O’Donnell has maintained a comparatively private public profile, so details about his current personal life and activities should not be assumed without reliable confirmation.