If the showrunner hadn’t been to Australia to speak with Michael Weatherly, the character on NCIS might not have evolved into Agent Tony DiNozzo. To get Michael Weatherly involved in the drama, an NCIS executive boarded an aircraft and flew across the globe.
If not for its devoted cast that was there from the start, NCIS would not have developed into the global phenomenon it became 20 years ago.
Agent Leroy Gibbs (played by Mark Harmon), Donald “Ducky” Mallard (David McCallum) and Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly) starred in the first episode Yankee White and continued to build the CBS drama into what fans know it to be today.
Charming DiNozzo was a particular fan-favourite with his cheeky demeanour and movie obsession for 13 seasons before his upsetting departure.
It wasn’t always guaranteed Weatherly was going to take on the role though as he was busy working on another project.
As NCIS was slowly being brought to life on the page, the 55-year-old was Down Under, portraying actor Robert Wagner in the ABC series The Mystery of Natalie Wood.
The Hollywood actress, who was married to Wagner, died under mysterious circumstances during a weekend boat trip with her husband when she drowned.
Despite Weatherly’s presence in Australia, Don Bellisario, the creator of NCIS, chose to cast him as Tony DiNozzo.
Casting director Susan Bluestein provided additional clarification on the incident in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
“I loved Michael Weatherly,” she remarked. However, he was in Australia [playing Robert Wagner for ABC’s] The Mystery of Natalie Wood, so he was unavailable.
They went out to supper because Don was traveling to Australia as well and had a house there.
“And, of course, later on, Robert Wagner would end up playing Michael Weatherly’s father in the show, which was really ironic.”
Wagner, who is known for Hart to Hart and Takes A Thief, joined the cast of NCIS in 2010 as Anthony DiNozzo Snr.
Tony had a difficult relationship with his dad growing up as he was an alcoholic but gradually, they have been able to work on their issues.
DiNozzo Snr was last seen in 2019 when he informed the team he had received a letter from his son and Ziva David (Cote de Pablo), talking of their new life in Paris.