10 NCIS Guest Stars You Totally Forgot Were on the Show – #7 Will Blow Your Mind!

NCIS has been a cornerstone of CBS’s lineup since its debut in 2003. Over the years, fans have witnessed the comings and goings of beloved characters like Michael Weatherly’s Tony DiNozzo, Cote de Pablo’s Ziva David, and Pauley Perrette’s Abby Sciuto. Alongside these mainstays, the show has also welcomed a host of guest stars throughout its 21 seasons. Here are 10 memorable guest appearances—how many do you recall?

Jamie Lee Curtis
Oscar winner and scream queen Jamie Lee Curtis had a multi-episode arc in NCIS Season 9. She played Dr. Samantha Ryan, the head of the Department of Defense’s PsyOps division, who shared a brief romantic connection with Gibbs.

Sean Astin
In the 2012 episode “The Tell,” Lord of the Rings star Sean Astin guest-starred as Tyler Elliott, one of Dr. Samantha Ryan’s operatives. Reflecting on his experience, Astin described the NCIS team as a “close-knit, family-style, hard-working, professional team.”

Michelle Obama
Then-First Lady Michelle Obama made a cameo as herself in a Season 13 episode of NCIS, where she welcomed Gibbs to the White House to discuss initiatives supporting military families. The episode was inspired by a real-life program aiding military families in finding doctors and housing.

Glen Powell
Before his roles in Twisters and Anyone But You, Glen Powell appeared in a 2012 two-part NCIS episode titled “Shell Shock.” He played Evan Westcott, a Marine whose brother is under investigation by NCIS.

Millie Bobby Brown
Before becoming a household name as Eleven in Stranger Things, Millie Bobby Brown guest-starred on NCIS in 2014. She played Rachel, a young girl who shockingly murders her mother in the episode “Parental Guidance Suggested.”

Billy Dee Williams
The Empire Strikes Back legend Billy Dee Williams had a significant role on NCIS as Leroy Jethro Moore, a Medal of Honor recipient and close friend of Gibbs’ father. He first appeared in the 2012 episode “The Namesake” and returned in 2014 for “Honor Thy Father.”

Mike Wolfe
American Pickers star Mike Wolfe made a cameo as himself in a 2018 episode of NCIS titled “One Man’s Trash.” In the episode, Gibbs watches Wolfe’s show and identifies a potential murder weapon, leading him to meet Wolfe in person.

Jon Cryer
Pretty in Pink and Two and a Half Men star Jon Cryer appeared in the Season 13 premiere of NCIS as Dr. Cyril Taft, the surgeon who saved Gibbs’ life after he was shot. Cryer appeared in three episodes, though he initially joked about wanting to be one of those characters who die dramatically in the first two minutes.

Colin Hanks
Tom Hanks’ son, Colin Hanks, guest-starred in three episodes across Seasons 10 and 11 of NCIS. He played Richard Parsons, a Department of Defense investigator scrutinizing the NCIS team’s handling of the Mossad Deputy Director’s death.

Zac Efron
Before becoming a teen heartthrob in High School Musical, Zac Efron made a brief appearance on NCIS in 2006. He played a teenager who, along with a friend, is questioned by NCIS after they are found with a phone linked to a kidnapping victim.