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, โThose big network procedurals are hard. Theyโre not easy, because thereโs a lot of exposition. The hours are punishing. The people who work on those shows, they are working actors.โ
NCIS: Los Angeles, starring Chris OโDonnell, 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 scheduleโa 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:
โHe 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 kidsโ summer vacation,โ Quinn said.
โHeโd 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.โ
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. Heโs passionate about the importance of procedural series in todayโs entertainment landscape.
โI feel like weโre not making enough of those shows right now, and it really concerns me,โ he said. โThose shows still play all around the world. Theyโre juggernauts. They fund other programs and keep a lot of people employed. Theyโre major revenue drivers for the networks.โ
