The Hollywood Reporter has just announced that Terrence O’Hara, who directed at least eighty-five episodes of the hit CBS police procedural series NCIS and NCIS: Los Angeles, died just last week on December 5 at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center following a five-year battle with cancer. He was 76.
O’Hara was a former actor who studied at the American Film Institute and also a director for over thirty years. Aside from NCIS, O’Hara is also best known for working on a variety of high-profile television shows, such as: The X-Files, Smallville, Sons of Anarchy, The Shield, Heroes, Grimm, JAG, Lie to Me, Nikita, The Blacklist, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Legends, Dark Angel, The Unit, Magic City, Angel, Pacific Blue, Dollhouse, Rosewood, and Touched by an Angel.
O’Hara worked on NCIS from 2003 to this year, with his fifty-sixth and final NCIS episode titled “Birds of a Feather” serving as the series’ 19th season finale which aired on May 23. O’Hara was also responsible for directing twenty-nine episodes of NCIS: Los Angeles, the last of which titled “Bonafide” aired back in March. He also directed four episodes of NCIS: New Orleans from 2014 to 2016.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, O’Hara was a graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and first got his start in the entertainment business after landing several gigs throughout the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. Some of his acting works include: Ryan’s Hope, Mrs. Columbo, CHiPs, and The Greatest American Hero.
O’Hara is survived by his wife Shanna (the couple was married for over thirty-six years); his children Stacey, Jon, and Maddie; his sister Judy; his brothers Steve and Chris; and, his grandchildren Brian and Katherine, as well as his dog Jesse, a fourteen year old Terrier mutt. For those looking to pay tribute to O’Hara, donations in his memory can be made to the World Central Kitchen and/or the American Red Cross.