NCISairs its 450th episode tonight, and one actor has been there for (almost) every minute.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Congratulations on hitting 450 episodes!
It’s an incredible achievement.
Sean Murray.The Riker Brothers
SEAN MURRAY: Thank you, thank you.
Yeah, that’s pretty wild.
What do you think is the secret toNCIS’slongevity?
Sean Murray as Special Agent Timothy McGee, Brian Dietzen as Jimmy Palmer, Wilmer Valderrama as Special Agent Nicholas Nick Torres, and Katrina Law as NCIS Special Agent Jessica Knight on ‘NCIS.'.CBS via Getty Images
You know, a lot of these procedurals, everyone takes themselves very seriously, it seems.
And we have a little more fun.
We’re all very close friends, and I think that that shows.
Sean Murray as NCIS Special Agent Timothy McGee on ‘NCIS’.Erik Voake/CBS via Getty Images
Do you see this affection for your character when you’re out in the world?
To be honest with you, I do.
People just want to say hello.
Sean Murray.The Riker Brothers
We really do have some of the best fans.
The show has been through its share of cast changes over the past twenty years.
At this point, do you have a routine for welcoming new regulars to the set?
We make a run at be friendly with everything we do, and that goes with welcoming new cast.
And they come to us and they see that it’s friendly and that we encourage the positive dynamics.
Everyone seems to just kind of fall in.
I’ve watched everyone do it.
I’ve seenKatrina (Law) do it.
I’ve seenGary (Cole) do it.
I’ve seen Emily (Wickersham) do it.
And I do think that shows through in the performances.
Especially this current ensemble seems to have such great chemistry.
Everything really clicks with the current cast you’re working with.
I feel like it really is.
And, I mean, I love Gary to death.
Gary is fantastic, and I’m having so much fun with him.
Wilmer (Valderrama) is a brother to me.
And Katrina is a blast.
I mean, Katrina is so cool.
Is it different for you working withDavid McCallumas the last of the season 1 regulars?
Does it feel a little different because of the length of your professional relationship?
And we both know what we’re saying to each other.
“How did we get here years later?”
Mark Harmonleft the show early in season 19, andhe shares that last scene of the episode with you.
What was it like to be the person filming that?
Filming that was an unbelievable experience.
I will never forget it.
It was me, Harmon, Gary, and a splinter group of our crew.
I’m a grown man.
You had me crying, standing in the river."
After Harmon left, your character became the longest-serving member of the team.
Did that change your approach to playing McGee?
It’s been interesting because when the show started, McGee was the penultimate rookie character.
And as the show has progressed, he has progressed.
I think it’s kind of cool that I’ve played one character for 20-plus years.
I don’t think there’s a lot of actors that get the privilege of doing that.
I don’t want to be the same character every single week and never grow.
And they were very into the growth of the character.
So it’s just been a natural thing, and fun to do.
What’s something about you that might surprise your fans: a hobby, a passion in your life?
What gets you going when you’re not filming?
I’m a real music nerd.
I’m constantly on the search for new music.
I grew up listening to hip-hop and electronic music.
And then, I mean, I’m pretty boring in general.
I’m a father.
Speaking of kids, you shared the screen witha very special guest startoward the end of season 19.
What was it like working with your daughter (Cay Ryan Murray)?
It was so cool on so many levels.
I guess I didn’t realize how much I kind of compartmentalized work and home.
That paternal nature came through on the screen so clearly.
That was easy to do, obviously.
She was a total pro.
I’m like, I wish I was as cool as she is because she handled it so well.
I’m so proud.
It’s hard to…
I’ll get choked up.
Oh, that’s really lovely.
And how nice that you got to share that.
So that’s something that will always be there, and I’ll always be thankful for that.
Do any other guest stars stand out for you over the course of that 450-episode run?
There was an episode whereLily Tomlinplayed my grandmother.
(2011’s “The Penelope Papers,” season 9, episode 3.
)She came in and that was so fantastic.
I had so much fun.
I think of these little moments.
You get to see some of his quirks.
And you just start to see things click.
You start to see the relationship that I had on-screen withMichael Weatherly.
The Tony/McGee relationship was a great one.
(2009’s “Truth and Consequences,” season 7, episode 1.)
I don’t quite know how to say it.
It’s pretty wild though.
It’s a moment that is one of my favorites.
I wish I could give myself some advice, you know, don’t sweat it too much.
It’s just a TV show.
It’s never as bad as you think it is.
Finally, what’s next forNCIS?
And what’s next for Sean Murray?
My head is just in what we’re doing right now.
This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
