Here's Where You've Seen Captain Joe Milius From NCIS: Hawaii Before

In the continual expansion of the "NCIS" universe, CBS created "NCIS: Hawai'i" which offered a different perspective than other series in the long-running procedural. "NCIS: Hawai'i" centers on Special Agent Jane Tennant, played by Vanessa Lachey, who is the first female to run NCIS Pearl, per CBS New York. Not only does "Hawai'i" offer up an exciting and scenic locale, but the show differs from previous "NCIS" entries by focusing more on character development. "Yeah, it's evolving the franchise to show more of a personal life and the vulnerabilities of the family and the characters," Lachey told CBS. "We try to stay true to what NCIS is but we also want to add some layers that set it apart."

Initially, Lachey had no clue she would be cast as Tennant, as she was working on a completely different series — a comedy — at CBS. That other show was not picked up, and executives brought her in as the tenacious officer. On the show, Tennant clashes with Navy Captain Joe Milius, played by Enver Gjokaj, as she investigates a death involving "a top-secret experimental aircraft," per TV Insider. Although Milius is wary of Tennant, he does respect her work ethic.

Prior to landing the role as Captain Milius, Gjokaj picked up small roles on hit series such as "Law & Order," "The Walking Dead," and "The Rookie," but fans likely recognize him from his more high-profile gigs. Keep reading to see how he ended up in the Joss Whedon-verse.

After making a name for himself in the world of theater, Enver Gjokaj branched out to Los Angeles. As luck would have it, one of the first jobs he landed in Tinsel Town was on Joss Whedon's "Dollhouse," which starred Eliza Dushku. "Joss's show was really one of the first things I auditioned for after moving out to Los Angeles from New York... Television moves fast," the actor told the Los Angeles Times in 2009. Initially, Gjokaj thought he whiffed in the audition room, but that performance caught Whedon's attention and changed the trajectory of the actor's career. "I went in and auditioned for Joss, and he seemed completely unimpressed," he recalled.

"Dollhouse" was only the beginning of Gjokaj's collaborations with Whedon. He had a small role as a young cop in 2012's "Avengers." According to Gjokaj, there was talk about reprising that role, but ultimately he was brought on to "Agent Carter" as Daniel Sousa. He played Sousa for two seasons and believed that was the end of the character — until he got a call in 2020 to join "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." for the final season. "I would've been thrilled at any moment for it to come back, but I think as an actor you don't have time," he told Entertainment Weekly in 2020.

Sousa may not be a big name in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but the character had an impact on a major plot point of "Avengers: End Game."

When Enver Gjokaj's Daniel Sousa was brought back for "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.", he was supposed to be the first character killed in the line of duty, but the agency faked his death and moved Sousa to another decade, per Marvel. That near-death experience was not Sousa's greatest impact on the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as that honor belonged to the character's love life intertwining with Captain America's.

Sousa's love interest was Peggy Carter, who had a romantic relationship with Steve Rogers. Gjokaj believed Sousa was fine with playing second fiddle to Captain America. "I think that was the beautiful tragedy of his attraction to her is that he knew that and he wanted to be with her anyway. He knew he was always going to be second place," the actor told Entertainment Weekly in 2020. As with many fans, Gjokaj was happy to see Steve Rogers settle down with Peggy at the conclusion of "Avengers: End Game." "I thought it was wonderful," he told TV Line about Peggy and Cap's love story. "I think that it actually makes the romance between Daniel and Peggy that much more bittersweet."