Behind-the-Scenes NCIS Drama That Led To Not One But Two Actors Leaving
Viewers love good old behind-the-scenes drama when it spices up the on-screen dynamic.
But on-set scandal becomes a lot less entertaining when it leads to a beloved character (or even two) leaving the show. This is exactly what happened on NCIS in 2013.
During its 20-season run, NCIS has seen many characters come and go, but the exit that absolutely all fans regret was that of Ziva David, played by Cote De Pablo.
De Pablo joined the procedural in Season 3 as a guest star and quickly became a fan favorite, joining the main cast. Her character developed a special relationship with Tony DiNozzo, played by Michael Weatherly, who had been a main cast member since Season 1.
Fans couldn't get enough of their flirtatious banter, palpable chemistry, and a slow-burning romance. The two eventually became romantically involved, but it was cut short by De Pablo's exit from the show in Season 11.
The news of the star's departure came out of the blue and confused many fans.
At the time, De Pablo didn't explain why she was leaving other than that it was her personal decision. But three years later, the actress gave an interview where she shared that she was not happy with her character's arc and the creator's attitude towards her.
De Pablo said that Ziva, who was an Israeli Mossad agent, was to go to Israel where she would become "an unfortunate, miserable woman." She was not happy with such a development for the character she felt protective of, so she left the show. According to the plot, Ziva was killed in a mortar attack on her home in Israel.
After De Pablo's departure, her on-screen partner Michael Weatherly felt that his character didn't have much to do without the dynamic and romantic storyline with Ziva. The show became boring for him, so he decided to follow his co-star and left the show after Season 13. Tony DiNozzo left NCIS to raise a child he learned he and Ziva had.
Fortunately, their arcs didn't end there. Over the next three years, De Pablo apparently found common ground with the show's creators and returned as a guest star for several episodes of Season 17. Fans were happy to learn that her character survived the attack and was reunited with Tony and their daughter.