At an age when many consider retirement, veteran television actor Jerry O'Donnell is embarking on a dramatic new chapter. The 65-year-old, best known for playing law enforcement roles in hit series like NYPD Blue and Bosch, is now in training to become a genuine police officer with the Asheville Police Department in North Carolina.
From Screen Cop to Real-Life Cadet
After a four-decade acting career featuring nearly 50 film and television appearances, O'Donnell is trading scripted scenes for real-world service. He is currently undergoing Basic Law Enforcement Training alongside other cadets, with the entire process expected to take about a year. The physical regimen is demanding, involving intense drills like running up and down parking garages interspersed with sets of air squats, push-ups, and burpees.
"I feel blessed and grateful to still have some ability, so you know, that's like a sense of purpose — to be of service," O'Donnell told the Asheville Watchdog. His journey towards a badge began after Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina last year, inspiring him to seek a community-focused role. While his wife supported the career shift, she insisted that launching it in Los Angeles was too dangerous, prompting their move.
A Lifetime of Preparation
This is not O'Donnell's first encounter with rigorous discipline. Before his acting debut in 1991's The Flash, he served for four years in the US Army’s elite 82nd Airborne Division. His on-screen persona as an officer was cultivated across numerous shows, including The Young and the Restless, NCIS, and Dexter. He also appeared in the acclaimed drama Mad Men as Gerry Respola, brother-in-law to Elisabeth Moss's character, from 2008 to 2014.
The cadets are scheduled to take their state examination in January. If successful, O'Donnell will graduate on 30 January and be officially sworn in as an officer in March. Rick Rice, a spokesperson for the Asheville Police Department, noted that while records are incomplete, O'Donnell is likely the oldest cadet in the force's 150-year history. "From the research I’ve done, I haven’t found anyone older than him," Rice told The Independent.
Seeking Purpose Beyond Retirement
O'Donnell's motivation transcends a typical career change. He expressed a profound desire to live a life fully utilised. "I always think when you slide into home at the end of your life, you want to be all used up... You know — dirty, scarred up, a little bloody, and spent," he explained to the Asheville Watchdog. This philosophy drives him to embrace the challenges of police training, despite being decades older than his fellow trainees.
His story defies conventional expectations about age and second careers, highlighting a powerful search for meaningful contribution. Rather than settling into a quiet retirement, O'Donnell is channelling his energy and experience into serving and protecting a new community, proving it's never too late to answer a calling.
