NCIS star Michael Weatherly has experienced several subtle love storylines during his time on the show, but one subplot in particular resonated deeply with the actor. Weatherly’s character, Tony DiNozzo, has had various potential love interests throughout the series. One of his earliest and most memorable onscreen partners was Scottie Thompson’s character, Jeanne Benoit.
The pair met under unique circumstances in season 4, with DiNozzo working undercover and Benoit being the daughter of a notorious arms dealer. Despite their clashing backgrounds, DiNozzo and Benoit developed a passionate relationship that eventually ended due to their conflicting goals. Benoit returned to the series in season 5 and made her final appearance in season 13.
Thompson found it easy to slip back into her NCIS role despite the gap between seasons. “It is so good to be back,” Thompson once told ET. “It’s like I was never gone. It’s like walking back into the same family again.” Weatherly welcomed Thompson’s return as Benoit with open arms but couldn’t help noticing the parallels between DiNozzo’s love interest and his own personal life.
“[Benoit] is a doctor,” Weatherly remarked. “After season 4, 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. 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.’”
Weatherly’s real-life romance with a doctor mirrored his character’s storyline, adding a personal layer of nostalgia and familiarity to Thompson’s return as Jeanne Benoit.
