Why did Tony DiNozzo leave NCIS? Reason behind Michael Weatherly's exit, explored

When Michael Weatherly, the actor portraying Special Agent Tony DiNozzo, left NCIS in 2016, fans were quite shocked. In January 2016, CBS and Michael Weatherly confirmed that Tony DiNozzo will be leaving NCIS after thirteen seasons.

Tony DiNozzo was one of the central characters of the CBS police procedural drama NCIS since its debut in September 2003. Michael Weatherly plays Tony DiNozzo, a senior field agent on the NCIS team led by Leroy Jethro Gibbs, who was known for his wit, charm, and emotional depth. Even though initially his character was tagged a male chauvinist, he toned down his manners and even became popular for his quirkiness.

As per an interview with TV Insider, Michael Weatherly, who played Tony DiNozzo on NCIS, left the show to explore new career opportunities and to focus on his personal life. He further stated,

"It came about at the right time. I was burnt out by 'NCIS' and I was ready for a new challenge."

Tony DiNozzo last appeared in the NCIS Season 13 finale titled Family First. After learning about Ziva David (Cote de Pablo), his former colleague and girlfriend, who was alive and in danger, gave birth to their daughter Tali. Tony took no time to reach their farmhouse residence. However, when he arrived, he just found his daughter Tali and no traces of Ziva. Assuming Ziva was dead, Tony DiNozzo decided to resign from NCIS to take care of his daughter Tali.

After bidding the CBS drama farewell, Tony DiNozzo appeared in NCIS Season 21 in a cameo role for Ducky's funeral in Washington D.C. Michael Weatherly as Tony DiNozzo also made an appearance in the NCIS spin-off, NCIS: Los Angeles Season 7.

Agent Ziva David, who was presumed dead in NCIS Season 13 in the 2016 finale, returned as an undercover agent in 2019 to investigate the farmhouse attack. After solving the case with Gibbs, she returned to Paris to finally reunite with Tony and their daughter Tali.

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Michael Weatherly, aka Tony DiNozzo, on leaving NCIS

Michael Weatherly decided to leave NCIS after thirteen seasons to pursue new career opportunities. In a post on X, the actor revealed his exit from the show, stating,

"Dinozzo is a wonderful, quixotic character & I couldn't have had more fun playing him over the past 13 seasons."

Michael Weatherly explained how his character, Agent Tony DiNozzo, was getting repetitive for him, especially after the exit of Agent Ziva David. Viewers loved the bond between the two; hence, he wanted to leave NCIS. On the professional front, Michael Weatherly joined the legal drama Bull just after NCIS. Apart from that, he also had personal reasons that prompted him to exit. He told TV Insider,

"The show was a huge success but I just suddenly realized that I probably had other things that I should be doing. And then a wanderlust set in. I directed a documentary. I have a production company. And I wanted to spend time with my family."

In an interview with Variety, Michael Weatherly mentioned he was quite grateful for the role in NCIS, he told,

"I never got sick of it, I never got tired of it. I always appreciated the gift of the job."

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About NCIS: Tony & Ziva

Well, if you miss Tony & Ziva's chemistry onscreen, TiVa fans are in for a surprise. Paramount+ has announced an NCIS spin-off, NCIS: Tony & Ziva, that is all set to air in 2025. Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo will reprise their roles as Senior Field Agent Tony DiNozzo and SA Ziva David. Apart from that, the viewers will also see Isla Gie as their teen daughter Tali.

Michael Weatherly took to X to share about the filming updates of NCIS: Tony & Ziva, he wrote,

"Ahh...finally wrapping Season 1 of NCIS: Tony & Ziva..and feeling how much I love bath tubs"

The plot would be based on the lives of Ziva, Tony, and Tali in Paris, France. However, when Tony's company gets attacked, the family travels to Europe to unravel who is the mastermind behind the attack. Meanwhile, Tony and Ziva will also be seen struggling with their trust issues. As per IMDb, the plot reads,

"After Ziva's apparent death, Tony raises daughter Tali. Years later, Ziva returns and reunites with Tony. Tony's company is attacked and the family travels to Europe, trying to learn who's after them and to trust each other again."

After a decade, Michael Weatherly, aka Tony DiNozzo, will be returning to the NCIS world with a new spin-off series, NCIS: Tony & Ziva, uncovering new challenges and mysteries.

Read More: Michael Weatherly has an exciting NCIS: Tony & Ziva news, here's what we know

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