Anthony DiNozzo actor Michael Weatherly nearly lost out on the part due to another show, according to an NCIS producer. The casting of Michael Weatherly as Anthony DiNozzo on NCIS may not have happened if it weren’t for a fortunate happenstance, according to producer Susan Bluestein. However, a surprising turn of events caused Don Bellisario to visit Australia when Michael was filming there, and the two of them had dinner together.
Looking back on the circumstances of Weatherly’s casting, Bluestein said: “I loved Michael Weatherly.
“But he happened to not be available because he was in Australia [playing Robert Wagner for ABC’s] The Mystery of Natalie Wood.
“Don was also going to Australia and had a place there, and they went out to dinner.”
In a new conversation with the Hollywood Reporter, the producer added: “And, of course, later on Robert Wagner would end up playing Michael Weatherly’s father in the show, which was really ironic.”
Weatherly led the show’s honors to David McCallum, who played Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard on the popular CBS drama, last month. McCallum passed away. When NCIS and The Man From U.N.C.L.E. star David McCallum passed away at the age of 90, his fans and CBS program co-stars wept openly. The late “legend” received tributes on social media from a number of well-known people, including actors Wilmer Valderrama and Michael Weatherly.
The Anthony DiNozzo star shared a message with his 460,400 followers on Twitter, where he branded McCallum a “funny fantastic authentic man.” Sharing a video of an autographed and framed photo, Weatherly said: “David McCallum made every moment count, in life and on set.
“Let’s raise a jug and celebrate a funny fantastic authentic man. I’ve only got 3 autographs. Connery, Tony Bennett and McCallum.
“I felt the same way as Steve McQueen in this picture from The Great Escape: Wow! It’s David McCallum!
“No one did it better. We were lucky to have him bring us Ducky. Let’s send all the love in the world to his beautiful family. Rest In Peace David [sic].”