NCIS: Which Friends star almost played Caitlin Todd?

Caitlin Todd was one of the central characters of NCIS during its first two seasons. She went straight from the Secret Service to the titular organization, and proved an invaluable member of the time alongside people like Tony (Michael Weatherly) and Gibbs (Mark Harmon).

Sadly, tragedy struck early in season 3, when Todd was killed in the line of duty. It was a shocking outcome for such a notable character, but it would have been even more shocking had NCIS gone with one of the other actresses they were considering for the part.

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NCIS premiered as a backdoor pilot on JAG, so JAG showrunner Charles Floyd Johnson shed light on the casting process of the former during a recent interview with TV Line. He revealed that the first actress who suggested as a possible Todd was none other than Jennifer Aniston! This was a huge possibility for the show, as Friends was coming to a close and Aniston was considered one of the most famous TV stars in the world at the time.

To be fair, Johnson merely said that the idea was “floated”, and that there were never serious talks with Aniston. Still, it’s a fascinating alternative to consider. Aniston’s casting would have definitely drawn more eyes to NCIS when it premiered, but at the same time, two starring roles on two huge shows sounds like a scheduling nightmare, and the actress was already squeezing in roles in films like The Good Girl (2002) and Bruce Almighty (2003).

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It’s also worth questioning whether NCIS would have reconsidered killing Todd off, or if she would have stayed on the show longer to retain Aniston’s star power. In the end, things obviously worked out for the best.

Sasha Alexander was excellent as Todd, and even got a chance to make a cameo as a ghost in season 12. Aniston, meanwhile, had appeared in a string of hit comedies. She also came back around to the small screen, as she currently stars in Apple’s The Morning Show.

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