logo
Getty Images | YouTube/People
Getty Images | YouTube/People

Inside 'NCIS' Star Sean Murray's Home Where He Lives with His Businesswoman Wife of 15 Years

Edduin Carvajal
Dec 08, 2021
05:20 A.M.

Sean Murray from "NCIS" gave his fans a glimpse of the beautiful Encino, California house he spent a decade designing and now shares with his businesswoman wife.

Advertisement

Born in November 1977, Sean Murray's steady rise in showbiz began in the early 1990s. Still, the most successful project of his early career was "Hocus Pocus," where he portrayed Thackery Binx opposite Bette Midler and Sarah Jessica Parker.

Nowadays, Murray is one of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood because of his almost 20-year run in "NCIS." All those years of hard work paid off as he currently lives with his wife Carrie James in a house he designed.

Sean Murray portraying Timothy McGee in "NCIS" in January 2021 [left]. Portrait of Murray's children Caitlyn and River [right] | Photo: Getty Images - YouTube/People

Sean Murray portraying Timothy McGee in "NCIS" in January 2021 [left]. Portrait of Murray's children Caitlyn and River [right] | Photo: Getty Images - YouTube/People

Advertisement

SAME JOB SINCE 2003

If someone had told Murray 20 years ago that he would work in the same TV show for 18 seasons (and counting), he wouldn't have believed them.

However, he has had a successful career for three decades, and it wasn't always easy. One year before appearing in "Hocus Pocus," he worked with Mariel Hemingway in a TV show called "Civil Wars."

Murray portrayed a young tennis player, and in one of the scenes, he had to serve the ball. After eight takes, he couldn't get the ball over the net, so the director decided to throw it off-camera and make it look like Murray's serve was perfect.

Advertisement
Sean Murray on March 10, 2018 in Los Angeles, California | Photo: Getty Images

Sean Murray on March 10, 2018 in Los Angeles, California | Photo: Getty Images

Three years later, he booked a guest role in "Silk Stalkings" and was supposed to portray a basketball star even though he could play "just enough" to fake it.

Advertisement

Once they started shooting the scene, Murray ran to the corner and threw up out of exhaustion. Luckily, things got better in 2003 when he was cast as Timothy McGee in "NCIS."

Murray is grateful that the show has kept its audience hooked for so many years, but he also acknowledges that such things don't happen regularly. He once said that TV series was not meant to go that long, so portraying the same character for 18 years is both "wild" and unique.

Sean Murray on February 9, 2016 in Valencia, California | Photo: Getty Images

Sean Murray on February 9, 2016 in Valencia, California | Photo: Getty Images

Advertisement

McGee was supposed to appear in only one episode, making his long run in the show even more astonishing. After he made his planned appearance, editors were three minutes short of completing an episode, so they brought McGee back.

They decided to put him next to Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly) and see if it worked, and it did. At the end of season one, Murray became a regular cast.

Murray and James are raising their children in their Encino, California home.

Sean Murray portraying Timothy McGee in "NCIS" in September 2019 | Photo: Getty Images

Sean Murray portraying Timothy McGee in "NCIS" in September 2019 | Photo: Getty Images

Advertisement

For Murray, his character's development and evolution have been paramount. He made sure everybody knew that he didn't want McGee to be like baby Maggie Simpson – the same character week after week, season after season, with no growth.

The actor has also been candid about his great relationship with the rest of the cast. In 2015, Murray and Pauley Perrette (Abby Sciuto) pointed out they were very close friends, just like their characters back then.

Advertisement

SAME WIFE SINCE 2005

However, nobody is closer to Murray than his wife, Carrie James. According to her LinkedIn profile, she is a consultant and strategist for Women Business Owners, a Women's Empowerment Leader, and a social activist.

The actor and the former teacher tied the knot in November 2005 and welcomed their first child, a daughter named Caitlyn, in 2007. River, the couple's son, joined the family in 2010.

Following River's birth, James swapped lessons and classrooms for meetings and offices as she became a businesswoman and launched several projects.

Advertisement
Sean Murray and Carrie James's Encino, California home: their reading room | Photo: YouTube/People

Sean Murray and Carrie James's Encino, California home: their reading room | Photo: YouTube/People

In 2011, she founded Prestique Academy of Innovation and Technology, a school for people with exceptional needs. Four years later, she created Business Relationship Alliance (BRA).

Advertisement

BRA's primary goal is to provide community, collaboration, support, and empowerment to female-owned businesses so that they flourish as entrepreneurs. About her work, James said:

"I'm a natural connector. I can listen to someone tell me about what they are struggling with and I can connect them with the right people seamlessly and with pure joy."

Sean Murray and Carrie James's Encino, California home: portrait of their children, Caitlyn and River | Photo: YouTube/People

Sean Murray and Carrie James's Encino, California home: portrait of their children, Caitlyn and River | Photo: YouTube/People

Advertisement

SAME HOUSE SINCE 2009

At the moment, Murray and James are raising their children in their Encino, California home. The couple bought the property in 2009 when they learned James was expecting their second child.

The 4,200-square-foot six-bedroom house they purchased over a decade ago was nothing like the one Murray showed to People in March 2021. It used to have an early-1990's vibe and a few problems that needed to be fixed immediately.

Before turning eight, Murray had already lived in Singapore, Australia, and London.

Sean Murray and Carrie James's Encino, California home: their reading room | Photo: YouTube/People

Sean Murray and Carrie James's Encino, California home: their reading room | Photo: YouTube/People

Advertisement

It started with drainage issues, but they kept finding and fixing other minor details. They had redesigned everything before they knew it and added a few things, like a pool and a jacuzzi.

Murray disliked the glass-block entry wall most, so he replaced it with a custom wood-slat wall to let the light come through, and he's very proud of it.

Sean Murray and Carrie James's Encino, California home: their kitchen | Photo: YouTube/People

Sean Murray and Carrie James's Encino, California home: their kitchen | Photo: YouTube/People

Advertisement

It is essential to point out that Murray made some of the most significant design decisions. He admitted his wife would tell the designer to talk to him about the details because he "totally fell in love" with it.

Although James and Murray have been redesigning the property for just over a decade, they still needed to remodel the main bathroom when they showed their house to People.

Sean Murray and Carrie James's Encino, California home: Murray's office | Photo: YouTube/People

Sean Murray and Carrie James's Encino, California home: Murray's office | Photo: YouTube/People

Advertisement

Putting roots down was always crucial for Murray, especially because he lived in different countries as a kid because of his dad's job (he was a Navy officer).

Before turning eight, Murray had already lived in Singapore, Australia, and London. Also, his family couldn't remodel or personalize the temporary homes his dad got.

Advertisement

Murray was the only one who could mildly decorate his bedroom (he chose a 3D velvet Guns N' Roses poster), so he went all-in when he got the chance as an adult.

Since he and his family moved every two or three years, the actor confessed that he could never feel like settling down somewhere. Now, his family home is his "place." He was determined to make it his, and he pulled it off.

Advertisement
info
Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories!
By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy
Advertisement
Related posts

Michael McKean & Wife Annette Share a Blended Family — Their Son's Body Was Found Lifeless at a Young Age

April 03, 2022

Meet 'Blacklist' Star James Spader's 3 Sons from 2 Women Who Have Been Hidden from Publicity

April 06, 2022

Doug Davidson Wed ‘Y&R’ Co-star 38 Years Ago & They Have 2 Kids - Meet the Actor’s Family

February 25, 2022

Mila Kunis & Ashton Kutcher Designed Farmhouse with 'Future of Their Family' in Mind ⁠— Inside Their Home

April 19, 2022

Todd Chrisley’s ‘Perfect’ Daughter Once Accused Him of Attempted Extortion Yet He Promised to Always Love Her

February 16, 2022

Ron Howard Was Most Concerned about His Kids' Values — Inside His Decision to Protect Them

April 26, 2022

Marlo Thomas’ Spouse Was a Virgin before Marriage to Mom of His 5 Kids & a Lousy Lover Afterward

February 03, 2022

Inside Schwarzenegger & Ex-wife’s Longtime Home Where They Lived Amid His Affair With Housekeeper

May 10, 2022

Susan Saint James Put Her Career on Hold to Be a Mom - She Was Struck with Death of Younger Son

March 05, 2022

Inside Gordon Ramsay's Luxurious Family Home That His Neighbors Called a 'Monstrosity'

March 21, 2022

Homeless Man Who Left His Sister 38 Years Ago Returns to Her with an Old Box from Their Father – Story of the Day

April 07, 2022

Inside Tom Bergeron's Marriage with Wife of 39 Years Who Helped Him with His Anger Management

April 14, 2022

Inside Dick Van Dyke & Decades Younger Wife’s Home Where He Shows off Routine He Says Will Get Him to 100

April 22, 2022

Michael Weatherly's 'Difficult' Divorce from 1st Wife Made Him a Better Man despite Its Impact on His Son

April 16, 2022