NCIS star Michael Weatherly has had several subtle love storylines throughout his time on the show, but one subplot resonated particularly strongly with his real life.
### The Real-Life Parallel Between Michael Weatherly’s ‘NCIS’ Love Interest and His Wife
Weatherly’s character, Tony DiNozzo, had a few notable love interests, with one of the most memorable being Scottie Thompson’s Jeanne Benoit. The pair’s relationship began in season 4 under unique circumstances, with DiNozzo undercover and Benoit being the daughter of a notorious arms dealer. Their passionate relationship eventually ended due to their conflicting goals. Thompson reprised her role in season 5 and made her final appearance in season 13.
Despite the long gap between seasons, Thompson found it easy to slip back into her character. “It is so good to be back,” Thompson told ET. “It’s like I was never gone. It’s like walking back into the same family again.” Weatherly also welcomed her return and noticed striking similarities between DiNozzo’s love interest and his own life.
“[Benoit] is a doctor,” Weatherly said. “After season four, where Tony DiNozzo fell in love with a doctor, I went on hiatus and fell in love with a doctor. In real life, I am now married to that doctor. We have two children and we’re very happy. So this is a strange rewind for me too, because I went home last night and said to my wife, ‘Hey! Remember when I told you about that story arc eight years ago? It’s back.’”
### Another Love Interest Weatherly Believed Was a Better Fit for DiNozzo
Weatherly also had high hopes for another potential love interest, EJ Barrett, played by Sarah Jane Morris, who was introduced in season 8. Barrett had an intriguing connection with DiNozzo, as both were offered promotions to work overseas. DiNozzo chose to stay with Gibbs’ team, while Barrett accepted the job.
Weatherly saw Barrett’s introduction as an opportunity for DiNozzo to reflect on his career choices. “It’s a nice wrinkle. And what it means for DiNozzo is he’s going to answer a couple of penetrating, deep questions, like, ‘Did I make the right decision?’ Beyond that, he’s intrigued by the person that did take the job,” he told TV Line.
These storylines not only provided depth to DiNozzo’s character but also mirrored Weatherly’s own life experiences, making them particularly special for the actor.