Career Timeline of Michael Weatherly: Major Achievements and Milestones

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: July 15, 2026

Discover the career path of Michael Weatherly, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Michael Weatherly is a prominent American actor, producer, and director, best recognized for his long-running television roles. He gained widespread fame for portraying Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo on the CBS procedural drama NCIS, a role he held from 2003 to 2016. Following his departure from NCIS, he transitioned into the lead role of Dr. Jason Bull in the courtroom drama Bull, which aired from 2016 until 2022. Early in his career, he appeared in series such as Dark Angel and Loving. Beyond his work in front of the camera, Weatherly has expanded his career into production. His charismatic screen presence and versatility in both comedic and dramatic roles have established him as a staple of primetime television, maintaining a consistent presence in the entertainment industry for several decades.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

1992: Beginning of role as Cooper Alden

In 1992, Michael Weatherly began his tenure playing the character Cooper Alden on the soap opera Loving.

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1996: Conclusion of role as Cooper Alden

After appearing on Loving and its spin-off The City, Michael Weatherly concluded his portrayal of Cooper Alden in 1996.

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1997: Release of Meet Wally Sparks

In 1997, Michael Weatherly appeared in the movie Meet Wally Sparks, starring alongside Rodney Dangerfield.

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1998: Career Expansion in Film and Television

During 1998, Michael Weatherly expanded his career by landing the role of Hap in the film The Last Days of Disco, directed by Whit Stillman, and by making a guest appearance as a conflicted warlock on the television series Charmed during its inaugural season.

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2000: Appearances in Gun Shy, Cabin by the Lake, and Trigger Happy

During the year 2000, Michael Weatherly was featured in several films including Gun Shy with Liam Neeson, the television movie Cabin by the Lake alongside Judd Nelson, and the independent project Trigger Happy starring Rosario Dawson.

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2000: Role in Dark Angel begins

In 2000, Michael Weatherly began his role as Logan Cale in the television series Dark Angel, a position he held until 2002.

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2001: Award recognition for Dark Angel

In 2001, Michael Weatherly received two prestigious awards for his performance in the television series Dark Angel: a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor on Television and a Teen Choice Award for Choice Actor.

2002: Conclusion of role in Dark Angel

Michael Weatherly completed his tenure as Logan Cale in the television show Dark Angel in 2002.

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2002: Second Saturn Award win

Michael Weatherly was honored with his second Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor on Television in 2002 for his work on the series Dark Angel.

2003: Introduction of Anthony DiNozzo

In 2003, Michael Weatherly first appeared as Senior NCIS Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo in two episodes of the CBS series JAG, which set the stage for him to continue the role in the spin-off series NCIS.

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2003: Debut as Agent Anthony DiNozzo in NCIS

Starting in 2003, Michael Weatherly began portraying the character "Very" Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo in the long-running series NCIS, a role he continued until 2016.

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2004: Starring role in The Mystery of Natalie Wood

In 2004, Michael Weatherly starred in the television film The Mystery of Natalie Wood, where he took on the role of Robert Wagner.

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May 6, 2007: Guest appearance at the 2007 Logie Awards

On May 6, 2007, Michael Weatherly served as a guest presenter at the Australian Logie Awards and also made a guest appearance on the television program Rove Live.

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March 1, 2011: Directorial Debut on NCIS

On March 1, 2011, Michael Weatherly made his television directorial debut by helming the NCIS season-eight episode titled "One Last Score."

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March 19, 2013: Directing NCIS Season 10 Episode

Michael Weatherly continued his work behind the camera on March 19, 2013, when he directed the NCIS season-10 episode titled "Seek."

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2014: Presenter at the 40th People's Choice Awards

During the year 2014, Michael Weatherly participated as a presenter at the 40th People's Choice Awards.

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2015: Participation in #Tapped Challenge

In 2015, Michael Weatherly supported the non-profit organization Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS by filming and posting a video of himself dancing as part of the #Tapped challenge to raise charitable funds.

January 2016: Departure from NCIS and Casting in Bull

In January 2016, CBS revealed that Michael Weatherly would depart from his long-running role as Anthony DiNozzo on NCIS after 13 seasons. Simultaneously, the network announced his transition to the lead role in the new series Bull, which was inspired by Dr. Phil McGraw's career in trial consultancy.

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2016: Departure from NCIS and start of Bull

In 2016, Michael Weatherly concluded his primary run on NCIS and transitioned into his lead role as Dr. Jason Bull in the television series Bull, which aired until 2022.

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2016: Presenter at the 68th Primetime Emmy Awards

In 2016, Michael Weatherly served as a presenter during the 68th Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony.

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2017: Eliza Dushku Joins the Cast of Bull

In 2017, Eliza Dushku was recruited by CBS to join the cast of the show Bull as a co-lead, where she subsequently faced workplace sexual harassment during her first week on the job.

2017: Premiere and Awards for Jamaica Man

In 2017, Michael Weatherly directed the documentary Jamaica Man, which premiered at the Telluride Film Festival and subsequently won the "Best Documentary Portrait" award at the Doc LA - Los Angeles Documentary Film Festival.

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January 2018: CBS settlement regarding Eliza Dushku

In January 2018, CBS reached a $9.5 million settlement with actress Eliza Dushku following her termination from the television series Bull. The firing occurred after Dushku reported inappropriate conduct by Michael Weatherly on set, which included sexually explicit comments and harassment recorded on video. Despite pushback from studio executives, showrunner Glenn Caron proceeded to end Dushku's involvement with the series.

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2018: Further Recognition for Jamaica Man

During 2018, the documentary Jamaica Man continued its festival circuit, winning "Best Documentary" at the NYC Independent Film Festival and being screened at the Tiburon International Film Festival and TMFF festival.

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August 2019: Implementation of Leadership Training

In August 2019, it was reported that Michael Weatherly and showrunner Glenn Caron were participating in mandatory leadership training as a result of the workplace settlement that occurred previously.

2022: Conclusion of role in Bull

In 2022, Michael Weatherly finished his run as Dr. Jason Bull in the series Bull, which he had starred in since 2016.

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2024: Announcement of NCIS: Tony & Ziva Spin-off

Following a brief cameo on NCIS earlier in the year, CBS announced in 2024 that Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo would return to their iconic roles as Tony DiNozzo and Ziva David for a new spin-off series titled NCIS: Tony & Ziva, which will be available on the Paramount+ streaming platform.

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