Was Eric in the NCIS: Los Angeles finale? (Where is Eric now?)
The NCIS: Los Angeles finale was a huge event with some major surprises for everyone. Was one of them the return of the popular character Eric? Find out!
Caution: This article contains SPOILERS for the series finale of NCIS: Los Angeles
The series finale opened with the team wrapping up a case involving dirty cops and a smuggling operation. Then, Callen and Anna decided that rather than a huge and expensive wedding, they’d simply get married at a local courthouse with the team in attendance.
Meanwhile, Kensi and Deeks were rocked by the news that Kensi was pregnant, while Rountree accepted a settlement in his suit against the LAPD. Callen received a letter from Hetty (Linda Hunt couldn’t make a physical appearance on the show), who wished she could be there, but hinted she was in some trouble.
Jetting to Morocco, Callen and Sam ran into former NCIS tech Nell Jones (Renee Felice Smith), who was looking for Hetty herself. She was joined by former NCIS regular Nate (Peter Cambor), CIA frenemy Sabatino (Erik Palladino), and a new recruit played by Chris O’Donnell’s real-life son Chip.
When Callen and Sam asked about Nell’s flame Eric, she explained he was “doing a TED talk in Singapore.” So why was Eric not there on the show?
Where was Eric on the NCIS: Los Angeles series finale?
Played by Barrett Foa, Eric Beale was the team’s tech expert, handling the computer operations with Nell. He was known for his good humor, quirky ways of calling the team for briefings, and his banter with Nell.
Eric left in Season 12, wanting to expand his horizons. It turned out that working on a special device had turned Eric into a billionaire. He and Nell left together to try and use their money to change the world.
While Beale would have been a great addition for the finale, showrunner R. Scott Gemmill explained to TVLine that it was simply a matter of schedule conflicts.
"“That was about availability, and what we could do and what we couldn’t do. If I’d had the time and the money, I would have probably had everybody who had ever been on the show. We couldn’t do everything we wanted to, unfortunately.”"
Foa himself expressed to TVLine how he felt bad he had to miss the big finale.
"“Getting to play Eric Beale one last time would have been a dream, so I was bummed when it didn’t work out. I’m grateful he got a shout-out and that he’s out there making the world a better place. How cool that CBS gave the show a chance to give our fans a proper series finale.”"
At least fans know Eric is still in a good place with Nell, and if NCIS: LA ever does a reunion film, perhaps the character makes a return after all.
Next. The Equalizer Season 4 will not premiere in May. dark