NCIS producer Susan Bluestein recounted how the casting of Michael Weatherly as Anthony DiNozzo may not have happened had it not been for a serendipitous encounter.
However, an unexpected twist of fate led Don Bellisario to travel to Australia while Michael was filming there and the pair met for dinner.
Looking back on the circumstances of Weatherly’s casting, Bluestein said: “I loved Michael Weatherly.
“But he happened to not be available because he was in Australia [playing Robert Wagner for ABC’s] The Mystery of Natalie Wood.
“Don was also going to Australia and had a place there, and they went out to dinner.”
Read more: NCIS Hawaii’s Noah Mills unrecognisable in 17-year-old catwalk snap
In a new conversation with the Hollywood Reporter, the producer added: “And, of course, later on Robert Wagner would end up playing Michael Weatherly’s father in the show, which was really ironic.”
Last month, Weatherly was one of the show’s stars to lead …