Michael Weatherly Reveals the Co-Star Who Shaped His Iconic Tony DiNozzo Character!

In a recent episode of his podcast *NCIS: Off Duty*, Michael Weatherly, who portrayed Tony DiNozzo for 13 seasons, opened up about the influence of his *Dark Angel* co-star Jensen Ackles on his iconic character. Weatherly admitted he admired Ackles’ relaxed vibe, saying, “He was so loose and free… I thought, ‘Maybe I’ll imitate him a little bit.’”

The actor shared how he drew inspiration from various film icons, including Cary Grant and Tom Hanks, as he developed Tony’s persona, often amusing himself and possibly irritating his co-stars in the process. He described his early experimentation, including covering his dressing room mirrors to avoid distractions and diving into the character’s essence during the first two seasons.

Excitingly, it was announced earlier this year that Weatherly will reunite with Ziva actress Cote de Pablo for a new 10-episode series set in Europe. *NCIS: Tony & Ziva* will follow the trio as they go on the run after Tony’s security firm is attacked. Production will begin in Budapest later this year.

Weatherly and de Pablo, who are also executive producing, expressed their excitement, saying, “We’ve been talking about this story for many years… The world of Tony and Ziva promises to be an action-packed rollercoaster fueled by love, danger, tears, and laughter.”

Catch *NCIS* on CBS in the US, with Seasons 1-20 streaming on Disney+ in the UK!