Regular "NCIS" cast Michael Weatherly is set to leave the show after 13 years. The actor himself announced the sad news.
Weatherly shocked his fans when he took to Twitter to announce a surprising news - he's done with his "NCIS" character DiNozzo for good. "DiNozzo is a wonderful, quixotic character & I couldn't have had more fun playing him over the past 13 seasons," his tweet reads.
He was full of gratitude for the fans who supported him throughout. He followed up his first tweet with another, sharing that he will certainly miss the "amazing crew & cast."He added that they were all like family to him. He also expressed his gratitude to his fans worldwide, claiming it was indeed "a fantastic ride."
His tweets were not jokes, unfortunately for fans. CBS itself confirmed his impending departure. In a statement to E News, the network described the actor as a "valued part of the CBS family"and someone who has "immense charm and talent."The network also praised his work and contribution to "NCIS," stating that he is a vital component of the show's success and for making "NCIS"the top drama in the world. "We thank Michael for all of his contributions to this successful franchise and look forward to continuing to develop projects with him as part of our ongoing development deal," the statement reads.
Fans have since went crazy with the news. Some took to the Facebook page of the show to rant and share their feelings. Many are more worried about DiNozzo's on-again, off-again romance with another character, Ziva. Fans have rallied, saying that writers should make sure he and Ziva get a happy ending at least.
In a related news, the actor got arrested for driving under the influence back in November 2015. TMZ reports that the actor pleaded no contest. The actor was detained by police officers in LA because his blood alcohol level was at a level higher than the legal limit of .08. Given that he pleaded no contest, he was given a sentence of three years probation on Tuesday. As part of his penalty, he must complete an alcohol program that will run for three months. He must also participate in a "Mothers Against Drunk Driving" program.
Weatherly is going to stay on up until the end of the current season, so fans can still catch him on several episodes. His contract with the network has not ended yet, so he can still be seen on TV in the near future.
Here is an earlier interview of Weatherly: