During his tenure on NCIS, Michael Weatherly, known for his portrayal of Tony DiNozzo, found himself entangled in various romantic storylines. Yet, there was one subplot that resonated deeply with the actor, drawing eerie parallels to his own life.
Weatherly’s character, Tony DiNozzo, encountered several potential love interests throughout the series. One significant onscreen partner was Scottie Thompson’s Jeanne Benoit. Their relationship began in season 4, amid DiNozzo’s undercover operation and Benoit’s familial ties to a notorious arms dealer. Despite their passionate connection, their conflicting objectives led to their eventual separation. However, Thompson’s character resurfaced in season 5 and made intermittent appearances until season 13.
Despite the extended gap between seasons, Thompson seamlessly slipped back into her NCIS character. Reflecting on her return, Thompson expressed her delight, likening it to reuniting with family. Weatherly also welcomed Benoit’s return enthusiastically. Yet, he couldn’t ignore the uncanny similarities between DiNozzo’s love interest and his real-life partner.
“Benoit is a doctor,” Weatherly revealed. “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. 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 believed that another potential love interest, EJ Barrett, portrayed by Sarah Jane Morris, might have been a better match for Tony DiNozzo than Jeanne Benoit. Barrett, introduced in season 8, shared a unique connection with DiNozzo. Their dynamic intensified when both were offered promotions to work overseas. While DiNozzo opted to remain with Gibbs’ team, Barrett seized the opportunity.
Weatherly saw Barrett’s inclusion in his NCIS division as an intriguing twist, providing DiNozzo with an opportunity to introspect his career decisions. “It’s a nice wrinkle,” Weatherly noted. “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 shared with TV Line.