NCIS star Michael Weatherly experienced several subtle love storylines during his time on the show, but one subplot resonated deeply with him. Weatherly’s character, Tony DiNozzo, had various potential love interests throughout the series. One of his earliest and most memorable onscreen partners was Jeanne Benoit, played by Scottie Thompson.
DiNozzo and Benoit met under unique circumstances in season 4, with DiNozzo working undercover and Benoit being the daughter of a notorious arms dealer. Despite their conflicting backgrounds, they developed a passionate relationship that eventually ended due to their opposing goals. Benoit returned in season 5 and made her final appearance in season 13.
Thompson found it easy to slip back into her NCIS role despite the gap between seasons. “It is so good to be back,” she told ET. “It’s like I was never gone. It’s like walking back into the same family again.” Weatherly welcomed Thompson’s return with open arms, noting the parallels between DiNozzo’s love interest and his own personal life.
“[Benoit] is a doctor,” Weatherly remarked. “After season 4, where Tony DiNozzo fell in love with a doctor, I went on hiatus and fell in love with a doctor. In real life, I am now married to that doctor. We have two children, and we’re very happy. This is a strange rewind for me too, because I went home last night and said to my wife, ‘Hey! Remember when I told you about that story arc eight years ago? It’s back.’”
Weatherly’s real-life romance with a doctor mirrored his character’s storyline, adding a personal layer of nostalgia and familiarity to Thompson’s return as Jeanne Benoit.
