Eric Christian Olsen (born May 31, 1977) is an American actor. He is known for his portrayals of Investigator Marty Deeks on the CBS television series NCIS: Los Angeles, Austin in the film Not Another Teen Movie, Lloyd Christmas in Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd and as producer/executive producer on the 2024 reboot of Matlock.
Early life Olsen was born in Eugene, Oregon, the son of Jeanne (née Donstad), a non-denominational chaplain, and Paul V. Olsen, a professor of English, and head track and cross country coach of Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois.Augustana.edu He has an older brother, David, who acts as his stunt double; David is married to actress and Olsen's NCIS: Los Angeles costar Daniela Ruah. Olsen is of Norwegian descent. Olsen spent most of his childhood in Bettendorf, Iowa, and attended Bettendorf Middle and High School, where he pursued interests such as sports, Japanese, and Chinese. In addition to many local theatre performances, Olsen trained in improv with ComedySportz Quad Cities and later joined the cast.
Career Olsen's first starring role was the title role in the 1999 TV movie Arthur's Quest. Soon after, he gave an Emmy submitted portrayal of a dying burn victim on NBC's ER. His next role was a small one in HBO's Black Cat Run. He soon landed a starring role in the Fox TV series Get Real, playing Cameron Green. The series lasted for a year before he made his transition onto the big screen when he played Ben Affleck's gunner in Pearl Harbor, that was quickly followed by a leading role as Austin "The Cocky Blond Guy" in the teen send up feature film Not Another Teen Movie.
Olsen next played Jake in the teen comedy The Hot Chick. In 2003, he won the role of Lloyd Christmas in Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd, the prequel to the hit movie Dumb and Dumber. Olsen followed that up by playing opposite Chris Evans for a second time in Cellular. He starred in the yet to be released Mojave and then joined the final season of Fox's Tru Calling. He claimed three roles in 2006 and 2007 with the release of Beerfest, License to Wed and Zach Braff's The Last Kiss. Olsen co-starred as Sully in the Fox sitcom The Loop.
In 2009, he appeared in several episodes of the first season of the Community sitcom, as Vaughn, a usually shirtless, neo-hippie student, musician, and athlete. Olsen appeared on Will Ferrell and Adam McKay's streaming video website Funny or Die, with a small series of segments featuring a character called Perry Hilton, a parody of Paris Hilton. He starred in the 2011 science-fiction horror film The Thing.
Olsen portrayed Detective Marty Deeks on the CBS show NCIS: Los Angeles. His character appeared in two episodes of season one before joining the cast as a series regular in the second season. Olsen's sister-in-law, Daniela Ruah, was one of his co-stars.
Olsen is a producer of a short film Bald from 2014 and executive producer of a documentary Andy Irons: Kissed by God from 2018. He has his own production company Cloud Nine Productions. In 2019 he started his first show as an executive producer picked up in production for Hulu called Woke.
Olsen made his writing debut with the season 11 episode 10 (the 250th overall episode) of NCIS: Los Angeles titled "Mother", which aired December 1, 2019.
Personal life Olsen became engaged to actress Sarah Wright in October 2011. They were married near Jackson Hole, Wyoming, on June 23, 2012. They have a son and three daughters.
Olsen and Wright were featured in a 2015 episode of the HGTV series House Hunters buying a vacation home near Jackson Hole. Olsen works with the charity Hats Off for Cancer as an Honorary Board Member and Spokesperson, featured on their Public Service Announcement video. He and his wife Sarah are members of Board of Directors of Environmental Media Awards.
Filmography Film YearTitleRole Notes1999Arthur's QuestArthur2001Mean People SuckNickShort filmPearl HarborGunnerNot Another Teen MovieAustin2002Local BoysRandy DobsonThe Hot ChickJake2003Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met LloydLloyd Christmas2004CellularChad ThompsonDeath ValleyJosh2006BeerfestGuntherThe Last KissKenny2007License to WedCarlisle MyersThe ComebacksForeign Exchange Student2008Sunshine CleaningRandy CleverEagle EyeCraig Bolston2009Fired UpNick BradyThe Six Wives of Henry LefayLloyd Wiggins2010The Back-Up PlanClive Bennett2011The ThingAdam Finch2012Celeste and Jesse ForeverSteve Tucker2014Warning LabelsThadShort film2015Band of RobbersSid Sawyer2016 The Relationtrip Chippy (voice)2017 Sun Dogs ThadBattle of the SexesLornie Kuhle2019The Place of No Words
Television YearTitleRole Notes1997Beyond Belief: Fact or FictionAdamEpisode: "The Viewing, The Subway, Kid in the Closet, Justice is Served & The Tractor"1998Black Cat RunGas Station AttendantTV Movie – Credited as Eric Olsen1999Arthur's QuestArtie / King ArthurTV movieTurksKevin WilliamsEpisode: "Friends & Strangers"ERTravis MitchellEpisode: "Responsible Parties"1999–2000Get RealCameron GreenMain cast – 22 episodes2000Lessons LearnedJackTV movie2001Ruling ClassBill OlszewskiTV movieSmallvilleYoung Harry VolkEpisode: "Hourglass"200224John MasonEpisode: "Day 2: 2:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m."2005Tru CallingJensen Ritchie5 episodes (season 2)2006–2007The LoopSully SullivanMain cast17 episodes2007Not Another High School ShowMason AtkinsTV movieThe HillMatt O'BrienTV movieWrite & WrongJason 'Krueger' LangdonTV movie2008–2009Brothers & SistersKyle DeWitt6 episodes2009–2010CommunityVaughn Miller4 episodes2010Neighbors from HellWayne (voice)3 episodes Lego Hero Factory: Rise of the Rookies William Furno (Voice) Television Film2010–2012Kick Buttowski: Suburban DaredevilWadeRecurring character Hero Factory William Furno 7 episodes2010–2023NCIS: Los Angeles Marty DeeksRecurring cast; (season 1)Main cast; (season 2–14)Writer; (season 11 episode 10 "Mother") 2011 Lego Hero Factory: Savage Planet William Furno (voice) Television Film2015House HuntersHimselfGeeks Who DrinkHimselfEpisode: "Eric Christian Olsen vs. Scott Porter"2016Star vs. the Forces of EvilRock / Whale / Additional Voices2 episodes2017Ryan Hansen Solves Crimes on TelevisionHimselfSeason 1, 2 episodes2018Robot ChickenChief Martin Brody / Basil of Baker Street / Logan 5Episode: "Things Look Bad for the Streepster"2020Pete the CatBig CathunaEpisode: "Super Surfboard Smash"2024–presentMatlockProducer/Executive Producer
Music videos Year Title Artist 2001 "Tainted Love" Marilyn Manson 2008 "Yes We Can" will.i.am and various 2014 "Imagine" Various
Awards and nominations Young Artist Awards 2000: Nominated, "Best Performance in a TV Series – Young Ensemble" with Jesse Eisenberg, Kyle Gibson, Anne Hathaway in Get Real.
Teen Choice Awards 2003: Nominated, "Choice Movie Chemistry" with Derek Richardson in Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd.
Razzie Awards 2003: Nominated, "Worst Screen Couple" with Derek Richardson in Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd.
Prism Awards by Entertainment Industries Council 2014: Nominated, "Male Performance in a Drama Series Multi-Episode Storyline" in NCIS: Los Angeles.
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