Over its run, NCIS has seen many fan-favorite characters come and go. The biggest departure was doubtlessly when Mark Harmon’s Leroy Jethro Gibbs character exited NCIS in Season 19. However, a few other departures have made just as strong an impact, including when Michael Weatherly’s Anthony DiNozzo made a heartbreaking departure in NCIS Season 13’s finale, “Family First.”
Michael Weatherly’s Tony DiNozzo Left NCIS In Season 13
Tony’s departure in NCIS Season 13 was heart-wrenching for fans for many reasons. DiNozzo exited the series after he believed that his longtime partner, Ziva David (Cote de Pablo), died in a tragic fire. In “Family First,” Tony learns about Ziva’s death, but also that they share a daughter named Tali, and the episode delivers an emotionally impactful departure story.
As he processes Ziva’s alleged death and feels the weight of his responsibility as a father, the once goofy Tony DiNozzo is serious and emotional, making the choice to leave his life as a law enforcement official behind to keep himself safe, preserving the only parent he believed his daughter had left. With his newfound responsibility, Tony’s story holds weight.
Why Dale Sawyer Is Tony DiNozzo’s Spiritual Successor
In NCIS Season 14, Nicholas “Nick” Torres (Wilmer Valderrama) replaces Tony’s spot on the Major Case Response Team (MCRT), taking DiNozzo’s desk in the bullpen alongside Timothy McGee (Sean Murray) and Eleanor “Ellie” Bishop (Emily Wickersham). Valderrama’s character has been with the series ever since and is one of the major players in NCIS Season 23.
That said, Nick Torres isn’t Tony’s true successor. Four years later, in NCIS Season 18, the show introduced a character that captured the essence of Weatherly’s NCIS character, a Special Agent who works the night shift named Dale Sawyer (Zane Holtz). He is a recurring character rather than a series regular, but Sawyer is more significant than he initially appears.
Sawyer saw an essential development in NCIS Season 23, Episode 3, when Alden Parker’s (Gary Cole) team joined forces with Sawyer’s “B-team” to help solve a blackmail case. As he gets closer to Jess (Katrina Law), Sawyer proves to be just as much of a goofball as Tony, and yet he is a fantastic agent, as was his spiritual predecessor.
How NCIS Season 23 Can Use Dale Sawyer Even More
As he works with the main characters, it becomes clear that NCIS Season 23 could use more of Dale Sawyer. His presence adds a unique dynamic to Parker’s team, especially when it comes to Jess and Nick’s developing connection. NCIS has been teasing a romance between Knight and Torres for a while, and Sawyer helps push the development forward.and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
As Sawyer and Jess teamed up on the case in NCIS Season 23, it caused Nick to get jealous of their connection, especially watching them wrestle on the ground. The development caused Torres and Knight to square up about their feelings, and perhaps Sawyer’s return in NCIS Season 23 could prompt more developments, as could Ellie Bishop’s appearance.
It would be great to see more of Sawyer, since his charisma and nighttime hours hearken back to Weatherly’s classic NCIS episodes. While Weatherly has also returned to the franchise as his beloved character in the NCIS: Tony & Ziva spinoff, Paramount+ has canceled the series after Season 1. Still, fans can catch a Tony-like character in the flagship.
