Michael Donnelly is a small but important name in Charles McHugh O’Donnell’s public story. It was the character he played in a 2010 episode of NCIS: Los Angeles, the series starring his father, Chris O’Donnell. I begin there because the role is sometimes misidentified as a younger version of his father’s character. Getting one small credit right provides a better foundation than building a larger career from a mistaken label.
Charles, usually called Charlie, is the third of Chris and Caroline Fentress O’Donnell’s five children. Born on July 11, 2003, in Los Angeles, he weighed 7 pounds, 7 ounces. He turned 23 in July 2026. Beyond family features and a few childhood activities, his independent adult biography remains limited.
Chris and Caroline O’Donnell
Chris was born Christopher Eugene O’Donnell on June 26, 1970, in Winnetka, Illinois. The youngest of seven children, he later graduated from Boston College with a marketing degree before building an acting career.
His films include Scent of a Woman, Batman Forever, Batman & Robin, and Vertical Limit. From 2009 through 2023, he played G. Callen on NCIS: Los Angeles. Those years brought his working life close to several public appearances by his children.
Caroline Fentress worked as an elementary school teacher. Chris knew her brother Andrew, and that friendship connected the couple. They married in April 1997 in Washington, D.C., at St. Patrick Church.
I find the contrast between their professions useful without exaggerating it. One parent worked in a highly visible entertainment career, while the other had a teaching background. Neither fact tells us everything about the children’s upbringing or Charlie’s own ambitions.
The Middle Child in a Large Household
Charlie has two older siblings and two younger siblings. Lily Anne, born on September 3, 1999, is the eldest. Her birth occurred in New Zealand while Chris was filming Vertical Limit. Christopher Eugene Jr., called Chip, followed on October 24, 2000.
Finley was born on March 24, 2006, and Maeve Frances on December 10, 2007. Their sequence puts Charlie squarely in the middle of five children.
| Child | Birth date | Place in the family |
|---|---|---|
| Lily Anne | September 3, 1999 | Eldest |
| Christopher Eugene Jr. | October 24, 2000 | Second |
| Charles McHugh | July 11, 2003 | Third |
| Finley | March 24, 2006 | Fourth |
| Maeve Frances | December 10, 2007 | Youngest |
Chris recalled that Lily had initially hoped Charlie would be a girl but became proud of her younger brother. I see that as an ordinary sibling reaction preserved within an otherwise unusual public family setting. It does not establish a complete account of their later relationship.
The NCIS Los Angeles Appearance
Charlie appeared in the first season episode “Past Lives,” which aired on January 12, 2010. His character was Michael Donnelly, the son of guest characters Kristin and Jon Donnelly.
He did not play young Callen in that episode. The confusion appears to come from mixing his role with other child actors who appeared in flashbacks. I would preserve the actual credit rather than repeat a more dramatic connection to his father’s character.
Other members of the family also appeared in or around the series. Caroline had a restaurant cameo in a 2015 episode that Chris directed. Family participation made the set a recurring part of their public story, but a cameo is not proof of a full professional acting career.
The same principle applies to Charlie: one established television role deserves acknowledgment without being expanded into an unverified filmography.
Stage Golf and Guitar
Around 2016, Chris spoke about Charlie taking part in a stage version of Legally Blonde. He also described his son as a good golfer and guitar player.
Those comments offer more individual texture than the usual family photograph. They suggest interests in performance, music, and sport during his younger years. I would still keep them tied to the period when Chris described them, rather than assume they define Charlie’s present work.
There is no established current employer, college path, or professional sporting record here. Enjoying golf does not make someone a professional golfer, and playing guitar does not establish a recording career. The distinction keeps a private young adult from acquiring a résumé made out of childhood anecdotes.
Grandparents and the Wider Family
Charlie’s paternal grandfather was William Charles O’Donnell Sr., a radio executive who served as general manager of Chicago’s WBBM-AM. He died on December 3, 2010, at age 88. His wife was Julie Ann Rohs von Brecht O’Donnell.
Their children included Chris, Julie, Sally, Libby, Bill, John, and Angela. Sally appears under her married name Groenings, while John is Charlie’s paternal uncle. I would not mistake married surnames for separate relatives.
On Caroline’s side, Andrew Fentress is her brother and Charlie’s maternal uncle. Lee and Diane Fentress are commonly identified as Caroline’s parents, but that grandparent connection is less firmly confirmed in the available detail and should remain qualified.
FAQ
Who are Charles McHugh O’Donnell’s parents?
His parents are actor Chris O’Donnell and Caroline Fentress O’Donnell, who has worked as an elementary school teacher. They married in April 1997.
What role did Charlie play on NCIS Los Angeles?
He played Michael Donnelly in “Past Lives,” which aired on January 12, 2010. He did not play a younger Callen in that episode.
How many siblings does he have?
He has four: Lily Anne, Chip, Finley, and Maeve Frances. Charlie is the third of the five children.
Is he married?
No reliable spouse or partner information is established here. I would leave his personal relationships unreported rather than label him from assumption.
What is his net worth?
No reliable personal financial figure is established. His father’s acting income cannot be used as a measure of Charlie’s assets.
