Why Nick Schaeffer From NCIS: New York Looks So Familiar

"NCIS: New York" premiered on October 6, 2026, but it'll feel somewhat familiar to fans who watched "NCIS: Los Angeles." The crime procedural also stars LL Cool J, who reprises his role as Agent Sam Hanna. This time, though, he's returned to his hometown roots in New York City. He's joined by Scott Caan, who plays Nick Schaeffer, an agent with a rebellious streak. But while "NCIS: New York" is still new, Caan certainly is not.

Caan has been acting since the '90s, taking on a wide range of film and television projects. One of his most recognizable film roles is Turk Malloy in "Ocean's Eleven," "Ocean's Twelve," and "Ocean's Thirteen." Despite the franchise being packed with A-listers such as Brad Pitt and George Clooney, the experience was a joy for Caan. "I was positive that, working with all these gigantic movie stars, someone was going to be a jerk, and it was the opposite," he told A.V. Club in January 2023. "Not only are they the most talented dudes, [but] they're also the nicest and coolest people to be around." He continued, "So the whole experience of doing all three of those movies, it was just fun from beginning to end."

And his television career has been just as extensive.

Scott Caan has appeared in plenty of movies, but some of his most recognizable roles have been on television. Most notably, Caan starred in the "Hawaii Five-0" reboot for 10 seasons, from 2010 to 2020, playing Danny Williams. The series also crossed over with "NCIS: Los Angeles," connecting it to the "NCIS" universe. In 2011, Caan was nominated for a Golden Globe for "Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television."

Caan also starred in "Alert," which follows Nikki Batista (Dania Ramirez), a member of the Philadelphia Police Department's Missing Persons Unit who is searching for her missing child. Caan played Jason Grant. While speaking with StayTuned, he explained what drew him to the role. "You say it's a cop show, and immediately you think that they're all the same thing," he said, adding, "But as far as [filming] the pilot, and what John pitched me for the episodes to come, it was stuff that I've never experienced or played with before as an actor."

Caan's other film and television credits include "Entourage," "Gone in 60 Seconds," "Varsity Blues," and "Enemy of the State."