Terrence O’Hara, a television director known for his work on shows like NCIS, NCIS: LA, Smallville and Angel, has died. He was 76. O’Hara’s daughter Maddie confirmed the death of her father December 5 due to cancer.
“I never thought I’d be writing those words— it’s surreal. I’ve always imagined him walking me down the aisle, watching his grandkids grow up, and getting old at the lake with my mom. But cancers a bitch, and his life was cut too short,” she shared. “He’s been quietly battling for the past 5 years, this whole time, directing, working, fighting, and smiling through it. He was famous for his infectious laugh, his noisy ass sneeze, his wild sailor mouth on set, his incredible, thoughtful, creative, and brilliant mind…I could go on.”
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O’Hara, who was born in Newark, New Jersey on Christmas Day, was a devoted father of three, loving husband of 36 years, and a brother to six siblings he adored.
O’Hara attended St. Rose of Lima in Newark, K-8, and Essex Catholic for high school where Terrence challenged the Irish Christian Brothers, questioning the Immaculate Conception, the parting of the Red Sea, and their harsh manner of teaching, a trait that served his inquisitive nature and quest for truth throughout his life and put him in detention more than his dear mother could probably bear. He was a proud member of the St. Rose of Lima Imperial Lancers Drum and Bugle Corps, participated in Intramurals all four years, and caught the acting bug watching his sister Judy perform on stage at their high school.
He attended Rutgers University for two years before heading to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London. At 23 he married his sweetheart Natalie and had a beautiful daughter, Stacey, while performing Off Broadway, Off-Off Broadway, in regional, repertory, dinner theaters and bus & truck tours from the east coast, to the Midwest, the South, Texas, and Washington D.C.’s Kennedy Center, as well as guest appearances on episodic television and soap operas. His father’s fatal car accident devastated Terrence. His marriage sadly ended in divorce.
O’Hara would move to Los Angeles in 1981 where he would meet the love of his life Shanna in Milton Katselas’ acting class. He would soon be encouraged to apply to American Film Institute as a Directing Fellow.
At that time, the fellowships were for one year, the second year was invitation only. Terrence didn’t take his good fortune for granted, he immersed himself, applied his years of experience treading the boards and made his mark. He was invited for the second year and the rest is history.
O’Hara was best known for his directorial work on NCIS and NCIS: LA, where he found a second home. His dear friend and NCIS executive producer Mark Horowitz said, “One of Terrence’s many strengths as a director came from his curiosity and understanding of human nature. He loved exploring human emotion and the things that make people tick.”
Horowitz continued, “Whether it was a new actor in their first role onscreen or the star of the show, Terrence had such an instinct for helping actors, for quickly figuring out what each one of them needed. His ability to guide and take them to the next level was amazing to watch. He was always searching and pushing to find and reveal the human moments, the things that an audience recognizes as the truth. No matter how stressful the circumstances, everyone working with him knew, Terrence is here, we’ll get through this and it’s going to be great. With empathy and openness Terrence was a great director, an artist, a truly honest man and a dear, dear friend.”
O’Hara is survived by his wife Shanna Reed O’Hara, children Stacey, Jon and Maddie; sister Judy, brothers Steve and Chris; predeceased by sisters Melissa and Maureen, and brother Al; his two grandchildren, Brian and Katherine; numerous beloved nieces and nephews; and Jesse, their 14-year old Terrier mutt.
If inclined, the family is grateful for any donations to the World Central Kitchen and the Red Cross.
The veteran director’s credits included The Blacklist, Grimm, Rosewood, Legends, Magic City, Rizzoli & Isles, Nikita, Lie to Me, Doll House and Sons of Anarchy.
Other high-profile shows that O’Hara worked on include The Shield, Smallville, Heroes, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, JAG, Angel, The X-Files, Dark Angel, Martial Law, Star Trek: Voyager, Touched by an Angel, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman and Pacific Blue.
In the late ’70s and throughout the ’80s, O’Hara also took part in acting with appearances on Ryan’s Hope (1978), Mrs. Columbo (1979), CHiPs (1981), The Greatest American Hero (1980), Voyagers (1982), Naked Vengeance (1985) and The Devastator (1986).
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