Michael Weatherly

After work on a number of short-lived series, actor Michael Weatherly reaped the rewards of persistence as a key player on one of television's most popular action-dramas. Opting to pursue an acting career rather than enter his wealthy family's lucrative exporting enterprise, Weatherly made his television debut in an episode of "The Cosby Show" (NBC, 1984-1992) prior to joining the cast of the ratings-challenged soap opera "Loving" (ABC, 1992-95). Later near misses included a regular cast role on the soon cancelled sitcom "Significant Others" (Fox, 1998) and a handful of appearances on the first season of the Christina Applegate vehicle "Jesse" (NBC, 1998-2000). Weatherly's real break came when he was cast as cyber-journalist Logan Cale on creator James Cameron's dystopian sci-fi adventure "Dark Angel" (Fox, 2000-02) opposite series star Jessica Alba, with whom Weatherly was engaged to be married for a time. Later attached to a spin-off series from the popular military crime-drama "JAG" (CBS, 1995-2005) alongside Mark Harmon, Weatherly was cast as Agent Tony DiNozzo on "NCIS" (CBS, 2003- ), which soon developed into a ratings juggernaut. Over the course of its lengthy run, the actor supplemented his regular duties on "NCIS" with roles on such diverse projects as "The Mystery of Natalie Wood" (ABC, 2004) and the crime drama "Charlie Valentine" (2010). A handsome leading man in the classic mold, Weatherly was well-positioned to take further advantage of the opportunities provided by his hit series. After 13 years on "NCIS," Weatherly left the series to star in his own show, "Bull" (CBS 2016- ), a comedy-drama based on the early career of TV doctor Phil McGraw.