In the NCIS episode “Handle With Care,” NCIS Special Agent Gibbs (Mark Harmon) and the team meet retired Marine Sergeant John Ross. He’s a good man accused of doing a very bad thing. While Ross admits to sending hundreds of care packages to active-duty Marines from his Legion Hall in Virginia, he says he has nothing to do with the cyanide found in one of the packages (which killed a sailor). Ross was a Prisoner of War in Iran for five years. Gibbs and the team do their best to clear Ross’ name.
Sgt. Ross is portrayed by Drew Carey. The former stand-up comedian is known for hosting the Price Is Right and Whose Line Is It Anyway? As an actor, he’s known for starring in The Drew Carey Show from 1995 to 2004. Fun facts: Carey really was in the U.S. Marine Corps. He enlisted in 1980 and served for six years. That black-and-white photo you see of Carey’s character Ross is really him as a young Marine (see below). Fun Fact: Carey’s Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (2003) is located directly in front of The Supply Sergeant (a Hollywood fixture). NCIS airs Tuesdays at 8pm on CBS, right before Bull.
Drew Carey, U.S. Marines, public domain
