From Shakespeare to Science: Check Out the Stars of NCIS Before They Solved Murders!

Michael Weatherly

Michael Weatherly began his professional acting career with a one-episode role as Theo Huxtable’s roommate on The Cosby Show. After that, he landed a role on the soap operas Loving and The City. More recently, he starred opposite Jessica Alba in Dark Angel.

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Michael Weatherly (Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo)

Senior Special Agent Tony DiNozzo is the team’s playboy and prankster. He lords his senior status over his teammates, referring to them as “probie” even after they’ve completed their probationary periods. He is the most frequent recipient of a Gibbs’ slap to the back of the head. Although he flirts with nearly every female he encounters, there is an obvious connection and tension between Tony and Ziva.

Cote de Pablo

With a full name of María José de Pablo Fernández, Cote de Pablo was born in Santiago, Chile, but grew up in Miami. Before taking the role of Ziva David, Cote had small roles in All My Children and The Jury.

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Cote de Pablo (Ziva David)

Ziva David was originally assigned to the NCIS team as a Mossad liaison after the death of Agent Caitlin Todd at the hands of rogue Mossad member Ari Haswari, who also happens to be her half brother. Despite being fluent in many languages, including English, Ziva often misinterprets slang phrases used by her team members.

20th Century Fox

Brian Dietzen

Brian Dietzen got his start performing onstage with the Colorado Shakespeare Festival. He was a series regular on the WB show My Guide to Becoming a Rock Star, but he made his big-screen debut in the movie From Justin to Kelly (see photo) with American Idol standouts Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini.

20th Century Fox, Sonja Flemming/CBS

Brian Dietzen (Jimmy Palmer)

Jimmy Palmer is Ducky’s medical assistant in the field and at the morgue. He is often the butt of Tony’s jokes and is scared senseless by Gibbs. His horrible sense of direction almost always makes him and Ducky arrive late to crime scenes.

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Mark Harmon

Mark Harmon grew up in Burbank, California, and graduated from Harvard High School in 1970 before going on to UCLA, where he quarterbacked the football team. After college he got into acting; his first starring role was in the prime-time soap Flamingo Road. In 1986, Harmon became the second recipient of People’s Sexiest Man Alive award, due in large part to his role on St. Elsewhere. His NCIS character was introduced, along with several others, in a two-episode arc of the popular series JAG.

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Mark Harmon (Special Agent Jethro Gibbs)

Special Agent Gibbs is a former Marine scout sniper with a penchant for revenge. He is driven, serious, and often sarcastic, and has a low tolerance for complex technical theories and opposing authoritative figures.

Pauley Perrette

Before landing the role of Abby Sciuto, Pauley mainly did commercials, voice parts, and short films. Interestingly, she did her undergrad in psychology and criminal science and even began a master’s degree in criminal science before switching over to acting.

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Pauley Perrette (Abby Sciuto)

Abby Sciuto is the goth-dressing, caffeine-addicted forensic scientist for the team. Easily the most outgoing and affectionate member of the group, she is the only person Gibbs openly shows affection for.

David McCallum

David McCallum got his acting start in the U.K. and is probably best known for his role as Illya Kuryakin, a Russian spy, in the television series The Man from U.N.C.L.E. The character became something of a pop culture phenomenon and earned him a Beatles-like following from fans.

Ron P. Jaffe/ CBS

David McCallum (Dr. Donald Mallard)

Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard is the chief medical examiner and resident history buff for NCIS. He is one of a select few allowed to refer to Gibbs by his middle name, Jethro. Ducky acts as both a mentor and father figure to his young assistant Jimmy Palmer. The good doctor is also fond of talking to his “patients” as he performs their autopsies.

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Lauren Holly

Lauren Holly grew up in Geneva, New York, where she graduated from Geneva High School in 1981. She went on to Sarah Lawrence College, earning a degree in English. Holly got her start on the ABC soap opera All My Children. One of her first movie roles was the love interest to Jim Carrey in the movie Dumb & Dumber. She and Carrey were also married for a short time in 1996. She starred in Picket Fences as well as Chicago Hope (where she worked with Mark Harmon). Most recently Lauren lends her voice to the children’s cartoon Chuck & Friends.

Lauren Holly (NCIS Director Jenny Shepard)

Jennifer “Jenny” Shepard took over as director in season 3 and held the reins until season 5, when she suffered fatal wounds at the hands of four hit men sent to kill her. She was a former coworker and love interest of Gibbs'.