After working on several short-lived television series, actor Michael Weatherly finally reaped the rewards of his persistence by becoming a central figure on one of the most-watched action-dramas on television. Rather than following the expected path into his affluent family’s profitable exporting business, Weatherly chose to chase his dream in acting. He made his television debut in an episode of The Cosby Show (NBC, 1984–1992), which aired before he joined the cast of the ratings-struggling soap opera Loving (ABC, 1992–95).
In the years that followed, Michael Weatherly experienced a few close calls in his career. He landed a regular role on the short-lived sitcom Significant Others (Fox, 1998), which was soon cancelled, and made a handful of appearances during the first season of Jesse (NBC, 1998–2000), a show starring Christina Applegate.
Weatherly’s true breakthrough came when he was cast as Logan Cale, a cyber-journalist, in the dystopian sci-fi series Dark Angel (Fox, 2000–02), created by James Cameron. Starring opposite Jessica Alba, who was also his then-fiancée, Michael Weatherly helped elevate the show into a cult favorite.
Later, Weatherly joined forces with Mark Harmon in a spin-off of the popular military crime series JAG (CBS, 1995–2005). This opportunity led to his iconic portrayal of Agent Tony DiNozzo on NCIS (CBS, 2003– ), a show that quickly became a ratings powerhouse. Throughout his long run on NCIS, Weatherly continued to take on a variety of roles in projects like The Mystery of Natalie Wood (ABC, 2004) and the crime drama Charlie Valentine (2010).
With his classic good looks and leading-man charm, Michael Weatherly was well-equipped to make the most of the success brought by his hit show. After spending 13 years as a key cast member on NCIS, Weatherly decided to move on and star in his own series, Bull (CBS, 2016– ), a comedy-drama inspired by the early career of television personality and doctor Phil McGraw.
Michael Weatherly’s most acclaimed film to date is The Last Days of Disco (1998), which has received the highest ratings among his works. On the other hand, his film Venus & Mars (2001) is regarded as his lowest rated movie. While Michael Weatherly has been part of various projects throughout his career, these two films stand out as the extremes in terms of critical reception. It’s interesting to note that, over the years, Michael Weatherly has continued to evolve as an actor, taking on different roles that showcase his range. However, when looking at the ratings, Michael Weatherly’s performance in The Last Days of Disco remains his most appreciated to this day.