NCIS’ Tony DiNozzo: The Untold Story Behind His Character Development
NCIS, available on Paramount+, has become one of the longest-running scripted TV shows, spawning four spinoffs with two more on the way. It started as a spinoff itself, introduced in JAG Season 8 episodes “Ice Queen” and “Meltdown.” These episodes introduced Mark Harmon’s Leroy Jethro Gibbs, Michael Weatherly’s Tony DiNozzo, Pauley Perrette’s Abby Sciuto, and David McCallum’s Donald “Ducky” Mallard. Between these episodes airing and NCIS premiering on CBS, Weatherly spent considerable time developing Tony’s character, compiling his ideas into a “10-page email.”
In a recent episode of the podcast “Off Duty: An NCIS Rewatch,” Weatherly discussed the early days of his NCIS character with co-stars Cote de Pablo (Ziva David) and Robert Wagner (Anthony DiNozzo Sr.). Weatherly recounted how JAG and NCIS creator Donald Bellisario reached out to him after the JAG episodes aired:
“So this is a funny story. Don Bellisario… we’re making the JAG episodes, the spinoff episodes, and that’s how Mark Harmon, David McCallum, Pauley Perrette, and I became the core four. After the episodes aired, I flew to London and was in a hotel room in Covent Garden. I got an email from Don, saying, ‘I’m trying to write this first script of the season, and I can’t hear your voice.’ Writers hear the characters’ voices, and I guess I hadn’t impressed him much. He asked if I had any thoughts on my character. Well, never ask me that. I wrote a 10-page email that was an exegesis of high order.”
Before JAG and NCIS, Michael Weatherly was best known for playing Logan Cale in Dark Angel. Playing Tony marked his biggest role yet, so when Bellisario asked for his input, he took it seriously, crafting a detailed backstory in a long email. Weatherly continued:
“I talked about how DiNozzo lost his mother when he was a child. He was raised by his father, who had been a con man, which is why DiNozzo became a cop. I wanted to give all this complexity to the character and build in conflict. The central conflict for a young man is his relationship with his father.”
Robert Wagner first appeared as Anthony DiNozzo Sr. in NCIS Season 7, episode “Flesh and Blood.” Initially, the father-son relationship was strained after years of estrangement. However, through Wagner’s guest appearances, Sr. and Jr. grew closer, with Sr. even meeting his granddaughter in the Season 13 finale, the same episode Weatherly departed NCIS. On the podcast, when Cote de Pablo asked if Tony’s relationship with his father mirrored his relationship with Gibbs, Weatherly responded:
“Gibbs was a replacement father, but once you meet Anthony DiNozzo Sr., you see the magic. You illuminate that relationship by being flippant and using humor to defend yourself. But underneath, there’s all this emotion and other stuff going on.”
Michael Weatherly reprised Tony earlier this year in the NCIS Season 21 episode “The Stories We Leave Behind,” which paid tribute to the late David McCallum. But that was just a teaser, as he and Cote de Pablo are reuniting for the Paramount+ exclusive spinoff NCIS: Tony & Ziva, currently shooting in Budapest. While it’s unlikely Robert Wagner will reprise Sr. given his age and hiatus from acting, hopefully, there’ll be a mention of his character. Maybe Weatherly could hash out the details in an email!
Meanwhile, NCIS Season 22 will premiere Monday, October 14 on CBS. That same night, the Gibbs-focused prequel NCIS: Origins will also premiere. Stay tuned for more details on NCIS: Tony & Ziva as they emerge.
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