Everything to Know About the Real LAPD Cop Who Inspired the Rookie

ABC The newbie was a resounding success for the network and cast leader Nathan Fillion, but many viewers are surprised to learn that Fillion’s John Nolan is based on a real LAPD officer – William Norcross, who joined the force at age 44. The newbie centers on John Nolan, a construction manager who, after helping the police foil a bank robbery, enlists as the LAPD’s oldest rookie.

The premise was incredibly well-received, and following Nolan’s rise from older rookie to full-fledged cop, it has kept viewers hooked for 6 seasons since its 2019 premiere, with the The newbie Season 7 on the way in 2025. As unique as Nolan’s story may seem, however, it is actually based on real events. The premise of The newbie reflects the story of LAPD officer William Norcross, a serving member of the force who, like Nolan, began his training in his early 40s.

Who is William Norcross

Real Life John Nolan Explained

Although the specific events in the series following John’s entry into the LAPD are completely fictional, the premise of The newbie is inspired by a true story. As fans know, Nathan Fillion’s John Nolan became the oldest rookie in the history of the Los Angeles Police Department when he enlisted at age 45. Nolan’s sudden career change was motivated not only by dissatisfaction with his life after his divorce, but also because he helped the LAPD commit a bank robbery and realized it was the most alive he had felt in decades.

It was the beginning of an incredibly moving story that has spanned 6 seasons and, as unique and innovative as it may seem, it wasn’t entirely fictional. John Nolan in The newbie it’s actually based on William Norcross, an LAPD officer who, like Nathan Fillion’s character, changed careers and joined law enforcement in 2015 at age 44.

Also known as Bill, William Norcross had a highly successful career with the LAPD. Just like John Nolan, he proved that age is nothing more than a number when it comes to one’s effectiveness in keeping the streets of Los Angeles safe. However, although Norcross’s story inspired the character of John Nolan, everything that followed Nolan’s beginning of his training was entirely invented for the show.

How much of John Nolan’s story is true?

The Rookie is Loosely Based on Bill Norcross

Much like John Nolan in The newbie, The story of William “Bill” Norcross is inspiring. It’s a story that shows that it’s never too late to change careers, even one as intense as law enforcement. However, Although John Nolan is based on William Norcross, the show made many changes to the true events and how the real LAPD officer got his start.

In The newbie, John Nolan ran his own construction company in Pennsylvania, a career he began after his girlfriend became pregnant. Decades later, Nolan helped police foil a robbery and realized he wanted to join them. He moved to Los Angeles and began basic training, becoming a full-fledged member of the LAPD despite being several decades older than the average recruit.

John Nolan’s story in The newbie roughly mirrors that of William Norcross, but there are several important differences. First of all, Norcross didn’t decide to change careers after helping stop a bank robbery. He always wanted to be a police officer, but ended up working in his family’s printing business (instead of in construction, like John Nolan). The decision to change careers came when he realized, at age 40, that if he didn’t follow his dream of becoming a law enforcement officer soon, he might never have another chance. The real John Nolan may not have had the same dramatic beginnings as his fictional counterpart, but the emotional core of his stories is nearly identical.

Furthermore, William Norcross did not enter the family business after an unexpected pregnancy. Instead, he found himself at the start of his career due to the death of his mother. Speaking to the New York Times in 2019, Norcross revealed:

“I worked in a family business, and when I was in college, my mother died. She was a big part of the family business and when she passed away there was a huge hole in the business. I came home to help – and the next thing you know it was 20 years later.”

Unlike John Nolan, William Norcross was single and had no children, which probably made the decision a little less controversial for his loved ones. It’s easy to see why ABC made the changes to its story, as Nolan’s divorce and her relationship with her son, Henry, allowed many of the The newbie more emotional arcs.

There are also many similarities between William Norcross and John Nolan in The newbie also. They both moved from Pennsylvania to Los Angeles, for example, and their respective ages are just a year apart. Hearing William Norcross describe his decision in his own words also makes it very clear how much he and John Nolan have in common:

“[Becoming a police officer] it was something I always thought in the back of my mind… then all of a sudden I wake up and I’m in my early 40s and I thought if I was ever going to make a change, now would be the time to do it. I looked around; I always thought about LA – the LAPD doesn’t have an age limit as long as you can pass the requirements – and I saw that they had accelerated testing where you can compress a few months of testing into a week, and that’s how it all started.

William Norcross had a cameo in the first season of Rookies

The real John Nolan is also an executive producer

William Norcross’s story not only inspired the character of Nathan Fillion in The newbie, but the real John Nolan was also an essential creative force for the show. It was through his friendship with Jon Steinberg, with whom he attended college, that The newbie came first, and both Steinberg and Norcross serve as executive producers on the ABC show.

Not only that, but William Norcross also had a brief cameo The newbie season 1. He appears for a brief moment breaking down the door of a house with Nathan Fillion’s John Nolan behind him. His character is simply credited as “Officer Norcross,” but it’s refreshing to see that the ABC show made sure the man who inspired the story was honored.