Barrett Foa
A Broadway dynamo who traded the stage's bright lights for over a decade of tech wizardry on a hit TV crime procedural.
Born 1977 (age 49)·American singer, actor, and dancer·Birthday: September 18·Generation X
Biography
Barrett Foa's path was set on the stages of New York, where his triple-threat talents as a singer, dancer, and actor landed him in Broadway productions like 'Avenue Q' and 'Mamma Mia!'. His energetic, charismatic presence was a natural fit for musical comedy. In a career-shifting move, he was cast in 2009 as Eric Beale, the quirky, tech-savvy intelligence operative on 'NCIS: Los Angeles'. For twelve seasons, Foa brought a unique rhythm and wit to the procedural, his theatrical timing translating perfectly to the show's ensemble banter. His tenure made him one of the longest-serving cast members, allowing him to introduce a Broadway performer's specific energy to millions of living rooms each week.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Barrett was born in 1977, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Barrett Was Born
The biggest hits of 1977
#1 Movie
Star Wars
Best Picture
Annie Hall
#1 TV Show
Happy Days
Barrett's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1977Born
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1982Started school
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1990Became a teenager
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Could drive
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1995Could vote
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Turned 21
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2007Turned 30
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 40
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 49 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Portrayed Eric Beale for 12 seasons on the CBS series 'NCIS: Los Angeles'.
- Performed on Broadway in leading roles in 'Avenue Q' and the long-running hit 'Mamma Mia!'.
- Starred as Claude in a well-received Off-Broadway revival of 'Hair'.
Did You Know?
He is a graduate of the University of Michigan's musical theatre program.
Foa performed in the national tour of 'The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee'.
He provided the singing voice for the character of Linus in the 2013 animated film 'The Star of Christmas'.
“I love the energy of live theater; it's a conversation with the audience.”
