NCIS’ Michael Weatherly nearly missed out on Tony DiNozzo role, show’s producers reveal
An NCIS producer revealed Anthony DiNozzo actor Michael Weatherly nearly missed out on the role because of a different show.
NCIS producer Susan Bluestein recounted how the casting of Michael Weatherly as Anthony DiNozzo may not have happened had it not been for a serendipitous encounter.
However, an unexpected twist of fate led Don Bellisario to travel to Australia while Michael was filming there and the pair met for dinner.
Looking back on the circumstances of Weatherly’s casting, Bluestein said: “I loved Michael Weatherly.
“But he happened to not be available because he was in Australia [playing Robert Wagner for ABC’s] The Mystery of Natalie Wood.
“Don was also going to Australia and had a place there, and they went out to dinner.”
In a new conversation with the Hollywood Reporter, the producer added: “And, of course, later on Robert Wagner would end up playing Michael Weatherly’s father in the show, which was really ironic.”
Last month, Weatherly was one of the show’s stars to lead the tributes to David McCallum, who starred as Dr Donald ‘Ducky’ Mallard on the hit CBS show.
David McCallum, NCIS and The Man From U.N.C.L.E. star died aged 90, sparking an outpouring of grief from his fans and co-stars from the CBS show.
Actors Wilmer Valderrama and Michael Weatherly were among some of the well-known names paying tribute to the late “legend” on social media.
The Anthony DiNozzo star shared a message with his 460,400 followers on Twitter, where he branded McCallum a “funny fantastic authentic man.”
Sharing a video of an autographed and framed photo, Weatherly said: “David McCallum made every moment count, in life and on set.
“Let’s raise a jug and celebrate a funny fantastic authentic man. I’ve only got 3 autographs. Connery, Tony Bennett and McCallum.
“I felt the same way as Steve McQueen in this picture from The Great Escape: Wow! It’s David McCallum!
“No one did it better. We were lucky to have him bring us Ducky. Let’s send all the love in the world to his beautiful family. Rest In Peace David [sic].”
