Chris O'Donnell News

Looks like McVet is officially out of the picture.

A Grey's Anatomy fan has alerted us to the fact that recurring guest star Chris O'Donnell is busy filming his new movie, The Company, in Toronto, Ont. -- and sporting a markedly different look from that of Finn Dandridge.

We're hoping that Chris' baldness is part of his character (which is likely, seeing that he plays a CIA operative) and not his regular look. Some guys can pull it off, but he does shaggy batter.

The Company is a mini-series that traces CIA activities over a 40-year period, from the beginning of the Cold War through the demise of the Soviet Union. We're sad that Chris has left the world of Grey's Anatomy, but look forward to following his career as he embarks on new endeavors.

Sure, it features complex characters, award-winning writing and some of the most interesting music you'll ever hear on a TV series. But Grey's Anatomy isn't shy about flaunting its sex appeal... mostly to its female viewers.

Oh yes. You may recall that last week's episode, "Sometimes a Fantasy," featured not one, not two, but three shirtless hunks: Derek (a.k.a. McDreamy, played by Patrick Dempsey), Finn (a.k.a. McVet, Chris O'Donnell) and newcomer Mark (a.k.a. McSteamy, Eric Dane).

While the latter was shown in a scene with Addison that actually took place in the Grey's Anatomy world, Derek and Finn appeared in a dream sequence... together. In bed. We can only imagine some of the conversations that went on during the filming of Meredith's implausible fantasy. Hopefully the Season 3 DVD will contain some out takes!

He's busy these days, balancing the roles of a family man and a charming McVet. But Chris O'Donnell will be taking on a new job with the company.

Playing agent Jack McCauliffe in TNT's upcoming mini-series The Company -- the insiders' nickname for the CIA -- O'Donnell will star in a story about the agency during the Cold War era.

Based on the 2002 novel by Robert Lettell, the series will focus on the double lives agents were forced to lead in that period. O'Donnell will play a loyal spy whose trust will be put to ultimate test in the intriguing world of international espionage.

To date, O'Donnell is the only one signed to act in the project.

The Scott brothers (director-producers Ridley and Tony) are the executive producers behind the series, and have experience bringing pictures like this to both the big and small screens. They pair signed Ken Nolan, the man responsible for adapting Black Hawk Down, to write the teleplay, along with renowned cinematographer Mikael Salomon.

The Company is slated for broadcast in 2007. Prior to joining the cast of Grey's Anatomy as Meredith's veterinarian and love interest, Finn Dandridge, O'Donnell's previous foray into TV was the short-lived Fox series Head Cases.

He was once Boy Wonder, a can't-miss Hollywood superstar. Nowadays, 35-year old Chris O'Donnell prefers a simpler, different name: Dad.

The most recent edition of Life Magazine contains an interview with the scruffy O'Donnell, who became a star in the '90s with roles in Scent of a Woman, The Three Musketeers, The Bachelor and numerous other films.

After laying relatively low for a few years, he has returned to prominence as Finn Dandridge (a.k.a. McVet) Meredith's veterinarian and love interest on Grey's Anatomy.

Chris and wife Caroline are proud parents of Lily, 7, Chip, 5, Charlie, 2, and three-month old Finley -- fittingly nicknamed "Finn" for short. The star talks about how he was shaped by a large-family upbringing in Winnetka, Ill., where he was the youngest of seven children, and the challenges and sweet rewards of having a growing family of his own. Below are some excerpts.

On going from one kid to... a lot more:
"The jump from one to two was okay, but the jump from two to three was absolutely insane. Three to four? You just gotta go into zone defense. So much of the day is spent managing things -- meals, tears, expectations, rides to school."

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Both Starpulse.com and Us Weekly are reporting that actor Chris O'Donnell has agreed to appear on Grey's Anatomy for eight episodes beginning this March.

O'Donnell will reportedly play a love interest of Izzie Stevens, which will surely lead to some friction between the blonde and fellow intern Alex Karev, her on-again, off-again beau.

The 35-year old Chicagoan rose to prominence in the early 1990s with roles in Fried Green Tomatoes, The Three Musketeers, School Ties, Scent of a Woman and a pair of Batman films. He never reached superstar status, however, taking on roles in fewer big-budget pictures since getting married in 1997. He and wife Caroline have three young children.

Most recently, O'Donnell appeared alongside Ben Kingsley in 2004's Kinsey, and starred in the FOX series "Head Cases," which lasted only two episodes.