In the early days of “NCIS,” Rudolf Martin’s Ari Haswari emerged as a recurring antagonist, a rogue Mossad agent who eventually led an Al-Qaeda cell in Washington D.C. His most notorious act was killing Caitlin Todd, played by Sasha Alexander, in the Season 2 finale, where an accidental goof by Michael Weatherly reportedly occurred in that scene. In the Season 3 premiere, Ari’s complex character was further revealed when it was disclosed that he was the half-brother of Ziva David, portrayed by Cote de Pablo. Ziva was forced to fatally shoot Ari in the aptly-named “Kill Ari (Part 2)” to save Leroy Jethro Gibbs, portrayed by Mark Harmon.
Despite Ari’s demise, Cote de Pablo has hinted at potential ways the upcoming “Tony & Ziva” spinoff could revive the character. In a recent episode of the “Off Duty: An NCIS Rewatch” podcast, co-hosted by de Pablo and Michael Weatherly, guest Rudolf Martin discussed how he occasionally receives requests to audition for “NCIS” spinoffs, which he turns down due to his prominent role in the flagship series.
Martin’s portrayal of Ari Haswari remains a pivotal part of “NCIS” history, leaving fans speculating on the character’s potential return and the dynamic it could bring to future storylines.
