Carrie James is best known publicly for her career in education and entrepreneurship and for her former marriage to actor Sean Murray, the longtime NCIS star who plays Special Agent Timothy McGee. One of the most frequently searched aspects of her personal life is her family, particularly her children. Carrie James and Sean Murray have two children together, a daughter named Caitlyn and a son named River.
Because the children have largely grown up away from the entertainment spotlight, reliable information about their private lives is considerably more limited than information about their famous father. Still, several details about the family have been reported over the years, including the children’s births, their parents’ family life, and Caitlyn’s unusual connection to NCIS.
Who Are Carrie James’ Children?
Carrie James and Sean Murray are parents to two children. Their daughter is publicly identified as Caitlyn, while their younger son is River James Murray. Caitlyn was born in 2007, and River was born in 2010. Multiple entertainment publications identify the two as the former couple’s children.
Some sources use slightly different names for Caitlyn. She has been reported as Caitlyn Melissa Murray in biographical databases, while her father has publicly introduced her professionally as Cay Ryan Murray. This difference in naming is worth noting because searches for Carrie James’ daughter can produce different results depending on which name is used.
River, meanwhile, has maintained a much lower public profile. Although his name appears in reporting about Sean Murray’s family, there is considerably less verified information available about his interests, education, career plans, or everyday life.
Caitlyn Murray Is Carrie James’ Daughter
Caitlyn is the older of Carrie James and Sean Murray’s two children. She was born in 2007, several years after her parents first met and roughly two years after their marriage. Public reporting has generally kept the focus on her connection to her parents rather than on details of her private life.
Her connection to NCIS, however, gave her a degree of public recognition of her own. Caitlyn appeared on the long-running CBS drama in a guest role, making the appearance particularly memorable because her father was already one of the show’s principal cast members.
Caitlyn Appeared on NCIS With Her Father
One of the most interesting facts about Carrie James’ children is that her daughter appeared on NCIS. In 2022, Sean Murray announced that his daughter would be entering the show’s on-screen world. She appeared under the name Cay Ryan Murray and played Teagan Fields in the episode “The Brat Pack.”
The appearance attracted attention because it created a real-life father-and-daughter connection within a television series that Sean Murray had been part of since its early years. Murray publicly expressed pride in his daughter when announcing her guest appearance, making the occasion more than simply another casting credit.
There is an important distinction, though: Caitlyn’s NCIS appearance should not automatically be interpreted as evidence that she has established a professional acting career. The publicly documented information supports describing it as a notable guest appearance rather than claiming that she has developed a substantial film or television career.
River James Murray Is the Younger Child
River James Murray is Carrie James’ younger child and Sean Murray’s son. He was born in 2010, three years after his older sister Caitlyn. Reports about the family consistently identify River as the second child of Carrie and Sean.
Unlike his sister, River has not become publicly associated with an acting role on NCIS. Reporting about the family has generally treated him as a private child rather than a young celebrity. Consequently, there is little reliable information about his current activities or future ambitions.
That limited information is important when discussing Carrie James’ children because many online biographies contain claims about celebrity children that are not supported by strong primary or mainstream sources. In River’s case, the most dependable information is simply that he is Carrie James and Sean Murray’s son and the younger brother of Caitlyn.
Carrie James and Sean Murray’s Family Life
Carrie James and Sean Murray met in 2004 and married in November 2005. Their first child, Caitlyn, arrived in 2007, followed by River in 2010. The couple subsequently spent many years raising their family together.
The family also spent approximately a decade renovating their Southern California home. Sean Murray discussed the project with PEOPLE, describing the importance of establishing a permanent home after having moved frequently during his own childhood. The renovation reportedly took about ten years and was completed in 2021.
This part of the family’s story provides some context for the children. Rather than being raised entirely in the public eye, Caitlyn and River grew up within a family environment that combined Sean Murray’s entertainment career with Carrie James’ work in education and business.
Carrie James’ Career and Its Influence on the Family
Carrie James has a professional identity separate from her connection to Sean Murray. Public profiles describe her as having worked in education, including roles as a teacher and administrator. She studied social work at San Francisco State University and later earned a master’s degree in educational leadership from Antioch University.
She later became involved in entrepreneurship and founded the Prestique Academy of Innovation and Technology, a school described as serving gifted children and students with learning disabilities. She also founded the Business Relationship Alliance, a network focused on supporting women entrepreneurs.
As a result, Carrie James’ family background is somewhat different from that of a conventional Hollywood celebrity family. Her career has been centered largely on education, leadership, and entrepreneurship, while Sean Murray’s professional life has revolved around acting and television.
Carrie James and Sean Murray’s Divorce
Carrie James and Sean Murray’s relationship eventually came to an end after approximately 18 years of marriage. They separated in March 2024, and James filed for divorce the following month, citing irreconcilable differences. The proceedings included matters concerning custody, support, property, and other financial issues.
During the initial proceedings, James requested sole physical custody and joint legal custody of their two children, while Murray requested joint physical and legal custody. The custody issues attracted attention largely because of Sean Murray’s celebrity status, but the majority of the family’s settlement matters were handled privately.
The divorce was finalized in May 2025, meaning Carrie James and Sean Murray are no longer married. Their children, however, remain the central family connection between them.
How Old Are Carrie James’ Children?
Caitlyn was born in 2007, making her a teenager in the mid-2020s and approximately 19 in 2026. River was born in 2010, making him approximately 16 in 2026. Exact ages can depend on whether a particular birthday has occurred in the calendar year.
Because both are private individuals rather than established public figures, it is preferable to avoid presenting unverified information about their current schools, residences, relationships, or other personal matters as fact.
What Is Known About Caitlyn and River Today?
The publicly documented information about Carrie James’ children remains relatively limited. Caitlyn has one significant entertainment credit through her NCIS appearance, while River has largely stayed outside the entertainment industry. There is no strong evidence in the available reporting that either child has established a major independent public career.
This privacy is particularly relevant because both children were minors during much of the period when their parents attracted media attention. Although photographs and family appearances have occasionally been published, mainstream reporting has generally provided considerably more information about Carrie James and Sean Murray than about their children themselves.
The Family’s Connection to NCIS
The connection between Carrie James’ children and NCIS is primarily through their father. Sean Murray has portrayed Timothy McGee since the series’ early years and became one of the show’s longest-serving cast members. His daughter Caitlyn’s guest appearance therefore created a rare instance in which his professional and family lives intersected directly on screen.
For fans searching for “Carrie James children,” this is arguably the most notable detail: her daughter did not simply grow up as the child of an NCIS actor; she actually appeared alongside him in the series.
Final Thoughts on Carrie James’ Children
Carrie James has two children with Sean Murray: Caitlyn, the older daughter, and River James, the younger son. Caitlyn has attracted the most public attention because of her guest appearance as Teagan Fields on NCIS under the name Cay Ryan Murray. River has remained considerably more private.
The family story has also changed significantly in recent years. Carrie James and Sean Murray separated in 2024 after 18 years of marriage, and their divorce was finalized in 2025. Despite the end of their marriage, Caitlyn and River remain the two children they share.
Ultimately, the available evidence suggests that Carrie James’ children have grown up with two very different professional influences: a father who has spent decades in television and a mother whose career has centered on education, leadership, and entrepreneurship. Beyond those well-documented facts, however, Caitlyn and River have largely maintained the privacy that many celebrity families seek for their children.
