Photos and Interview: NCIS Star Michael Weatherly on Leaving His Role as Tony DiNozzo

After 13 seasons as Anthony DiNozzo Jr. on NCIS, Michael Weatherly is turning in his badge and gun. In honor of his final episode, which airs Tuesday, May 17 on CBS, Parade.com has compiled a photo gallery looking back at this very special agent through the years.

We also spoke with Weatherly on a press call, a portion of which is below, but we will be posting a more in-depth interview with Weatherly on Monday, so come back for that.

Weatherly, it turns out, is as big a fan of NCIS as some of its worldwide audience, and shared that it is possible we may see him again if there is a way for him to guest star in the future.

“I believe in the franchise of NCIS very much,” he said. “It’s why I went and did NCIS: Los Angeles last year and NCIS: New Orleans. In fact last year, I did 26 episodes of the NCIS franchise, which is insane…I would absolutely be open to anything and everything — including things that no one’s even thought of yet, so I would say the long answer is yes.”

Weatherly was firm in saying that he has had no second thoughts about his decision to quit his role, pointing out that back when he was on Loving (1992-95), he left at the end of his 3-year contract, because he didn’t want to play just one character.

“The idea of playing a character this long had never occurred to me,” he says. “But I will say on the good side of the pros and cons column, I always have to have pros, which is Tony DiNozzo got to chase bad guys, run and jump and swim and fire his gun and do all kinds of crazy action stuff over the years, including giving Mark Harmon mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.”

And because of his fondness for the series, Weatherly also kept some souvenirs from his time, including DiNozzo’s sunglasses and crime scene hat. He also kept the two beaded German Shepherd toys that a fan sent to him that have sat on DiNozzo’s desk for years — in honor of his real-life dogs Oriana and Quantum, and the John Varvatos boots that he wore in Season 3 and recently discovered in his closet at work.

“I took one other thing that I am not allowed to say what it is, but I took one secret thing from the set that I’ll keep with me,” he told Parade.com. “That’ll be a thing that makes me laugh every time I look at it. It’s a small memento but I can’t share it with you just because I don’t want to get anyone in trouble.”

NCIS airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.

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Michael Weatherly as Tony DiNozzo.

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Sean Murray and Michael Weatherly

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Pauley Perrette and Michael Weatherly

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Emily Wickersham, Mark Harmon, Sean Murray and Michael Weatherly

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Michael Weatherly

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Michael Weatherly and Rocky Carroll

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Emily Wickersham and Michael Weatherly

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Scottie Thompson and Michael Weatherly

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The cast of NCIS pictured from left to right: Rocky Carroll, Pauley Perrette, David McCallum, Brian Dietzen, Mark Harmon, Emily Wickersham, Michael Weatherly and Sean Murray.

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Pauley Perrette and Michael Weatherly

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Michael Weatherly and Robert Wagner

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Michael Weatherly

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Michael Weatherly and Pauley Perrette

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Emily Wickersham and Michael Weatherly

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Michael Weatherly and Sean Murray

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Pictured left to right: Rocky Carroll, Michael Weatherly, Cote de Pablo and Sean Murray

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Joel Gretsch and Michael Weatherly

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Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo

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Mark Harmon, Sean Murray, Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo

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Michael Weatherly and Sean Murray

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Michael Weatherly and Andrea Bogart

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Michael Weatherly, Cote de Pablo and Sean Murray

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Michael Weatherly as NCIS Special Agent Tony DiNozzo and David McCallum as Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard

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Cote de Pablo, Michael Weatherly and Joe Spano

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Michael Weatherly

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Mark Harmon and Michael Weatherly

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From l-r, David McCallum, Lauren Holly, Pauley Perrette, Sean Murray, Cote de Pablo, Brian Dietzen, Mark Harmon and Michael Weatherly celebrate their 100th episode.

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