Chris O’Donnell Reveals the Barbra Streisand Call That Changed His Life — and What Al Pacino Taught Him on Set

Chris O’Donnell , the versatile actor known for his roles in “NCIS: Los Angeles,” “Scent of a Woman,” and “The Three Musketeers,” brought charm, humor, and heartfelt anecdotes to his recent appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” Promoting his new series, “9-1-1 Nashville,” O’Donnell discussed everything from wild show plotlines and firefighting respect to memorable encounters with Hollywood legends and family life. Here’s a look at the highlights from the interview.

O’Donnell, now starring as Captain Don Hart , a rodeo firefighter in “9-1-1 Nashville,” revealed the show is filmed on location in Nashville—a rarity in an industry often chasing tax breaks in far-flung places. The timing of the role was poignant: his own hometown in California had recently suffered devastating fires, deepening his respect for real-life firefighters.

“I have this amazing respect for the guys that were fighting the fires in the Palisades. Playing a firefighter now, after living through that, means a lot.”

While his wife and youngest child remain in California, O’Donnell is embracing the change of pace and the new city.

O’Donnell attended Boston College, where his son Finn is now a freshman. Balancing college with a burgeoning film career wasn’t easy—he often left school for movie shoots, returning to campus with stories he kept to himself.

One of those stories? Getting a call from Barbra Streisand . She cast him in “The Prince of Tides” as her son, only to later give the part to her real son, Jason Gould. Streisand personally called O’Donnell to apologize and paid him for his time—a surreal moment that blew his cover as a regular student.

“I wanted to go to school and meet people and not have them think I was the kid that was in the film. But after Barbra Streisand called, my secret was out!”

O’Donnell recounted his nerve-wracking audition for “Scent of a Woman” with Al Pacino . After the audition in a small Times Square building, he realized he’d shared the elevator with Pacino himself—without even noticing.

Pacino, who played a blind character in the film, later sent O’Donnell a note: “I heard you were amazing. I didn’t always see what you were doing, but I still have it.” O’Donnell treasures such mementos from his career.

O’Donnell’s mother once promised to buy him a car if he landed his first big role. The car never materialized, but the note remains—a family legend and a running joke between them.

“She welched on the car. I still have the note. I’d sue her, but business is business!”

The show “9-1-1 Nashville” features outlandish scenarios—some based on real 911 calls. O’Donnell described one upcoming episode where a woman is swallowed by a Murphy bed, hot chicken in hand, and must be rescued. He admits to being squeamish around blood and even fainted during the birth of his first child, making his role as a first responder all the more ironic.

“I fainted when my first child was born. Even the fake stuff on set makes me queasy!”

Jimmy Kimmel pitched his own episode idea, based on a real 911 call: a customer at KFC who received only four pieces of chicken instead of eight. O’Donnell gamely responded that “I Want My Chicken” could be a two-parter.

O’Donnell reminisced about working with Kiefer Sutherland and Charlie Sheen on “The Three Musketeers,” sharing stories about their personalities and horse-riding antics. He also expressed his fondness for LL Cool J (James Todd Smith), his longtime “NCIS: LA” co-star, explaining that Todd is the name LL prefers among friends.

Chris O’Donnell’s interview was a delightful blend of Hollywood nostalgia, family humor, and behind-the-scenes revelations. Whether recounting a brush with Barbra Streisand, sharing Pacino’s praise, or joking about chicken emergencies, O’Donnell’s warmth and humility shine through. Catch him in “9-1-1 Nashville” Thursdays on ABC and streaming on Hulu—the only show where rodeo firefighting, Murphy beds, and hot chicken might all collide.