Spin-offs don't have a great track record when it comes to Hollywood. Sure there are some that stand alone, like Frasier or the Simpsons, but most fail miserably.

NCIS: Los Angeles is one of those rare shows that managed to be just as good, if not better, than the show it spun off from. NCIS, with the handsome Mark Harmon, is one of the most watched shows on TV, so it wasn't a surprise when they made a spin-off.

Out came a new squad of intrepid, specially-trained, agents looking to save the country from all manner of bad guys. The show boasted huge stars like Chris O'Donnell and LL Cool J, but it was a tiny, 4 foot 9 actress that stole everyone's hearts.

Until she suddenly vanished.

Last year, O'Donnel's character received a mysterious phone call from his boss, played by Oscar-winner Linda Hunt. She was gone and didn't know when she'd be coming back. Since that episode that was the most asked question by NCIS: LA fans.

We might finally have an answer.

The disappearance had to be written into the show after Hunt got in a real-life car accident. The actress was turning left when she struck a car and collided into a third car. She was treated at the scene and sent to hospital with minor injuries.

Not much has been heard of her since, but she recently reappeared with a statement to TVLine.

"I first want to say how much I appreciate the outpouring of support from the NCIS: Los Angeles fans following my car accident this summer," she said. "Though I had hoped to return to playing Hetty at the start of the season, I had to take some additional time to recover. I look forward to returning later this season."

So we shouldn't be waiting too long before she's back in action. That's good news as the show was renewed by CBS and will continue at least into it's 11th season.