NCIS Star Ed Quinn Spills: ‘The Hours Are Brutal!’

EXCLUSIVE: NCIS: Los Angeles Guest Star Ed Quinn Reflects on Grueling Set Experience

Actor Ed Quinn, who appeared in NCIS: Los Angeles Season 2 as Justin Marchetti, has opened up about the intense demands of working on the hit procedural drama.

Speaking exclusively to The Irish Star, Quinn described the experience as “punishing.” He explained, “Those big network procedurals are hard. They’re not easy, because there’s a lot of exposition. The hours are punishing. The people who work on those shows, they are working actors.”

NCIS: Los Angeles, starring Chris O’Donnell, LL Cool J, and Daniela Ruah, followed the undercover missions of the NCIS Office of Special Projects based in LA. The fast-paced, high-stakes series became known for its demanding production schedule—a reality Quinn experienced firsthand.

Recalling a moment on set, he shared how Chris O’Donnell tried to advocate for a schedule change to better align with his family time:
“He was just trying to get them to move the schedule because it was 10 months a year, 14 hours a day. He wanted it to coincide a bit more with his kids’ summer vacation,” Quinn said.
“He’d finish in April, have May off when the kids were still in school, then just a few weeks in June before heading back to work in July.”

In addition to his NCIS: LA appearance, Quinn has also had roles in other major TV dramas, including CSI: New York where he played Frankie Mala. He’s passionate about the importance of procedural series in today’s entertainment landscape.

“I feel like we’re not making enough of those shows right now, and it really concerns me,” he said. “Those shows still play all around the world. They’re juggernauts. They fund other programs and keep a lot of people employed. They’re major revenue drivers for the networks.”