‘NCIS’ Star Reveals Secret Behind McGee and DiNozzo’s Iconic Dynamic [Exclusive]

NCIS, (from left): Michael Weatherly, Sean Murray, 'Better Angels', (Season 11, ep. 1107, aired Nov. 5, 2013). photo: Ron P. Jaffe / ©CBS / courtesy Everett Collection

Cast chemistry can make or break a show's success. It can be abundantly clear early on if the actors don't work well together. We're not even talking about romantic chemistry. Iconic television friend groups like Joey, Ross, and Chandler from Friends, or the brotherly bond that eventually formed between Nathan Scott and Lucas Scott on One Tree Hill, would be nothing if the actors didn't work well together.

For a show to have a dynamic like that over the course of 500 episodes is nothing short of a miracle. NCIS is celebrating that milestone tonight. The series first premiered in 2003 as a spin-off to the procedural, JAG, and has since eclipsed its 10 seasons as Season 23 marches on. NCIS has also spawned several spin-offs that have come and gone, including the currently airing NCIS: Origins and NCIS: Sydney. Talking with Maggie Lovitt, to celebrate the show's massive 500th episode milestone for Collider Rewind, longtime cast member Sean Murray, who plays Special Agent Timothy McGee, revealed some of his fondest behind-the-scenes memories. One dynamic that stands the test of time for Murray is the one between McGee and Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo, as he recalled working with Michael Weatherly. Their characters were often paired together when Murray and Weatherly shared the screen, often taking on a sibling-like dynamic with playful teasing and squabbling. Tony fancied himself something of a Casanova, whereas McGee was the quirky nerd. The balance in their dynamic made for some incredibly comedic moments — including one of the show's most iconic cold opens in Season 4. Murray explains that Weatherly was not really one to stay"on script," but it all worked out in the end. He told Collider: "One of the reasons he and I worked well together was that I played his straight man a little bit. Michael was known to say anything except the written dialogue sometimes, so we would go on these adventures together, doing a little bit of ad-libbing, but we'd always come back to the written word, and then go back." The affectionate ribbing between the two of them carried on off-screen as Murray even jokingly asked during the interview,"Why did I start talking about Weatherly in this silly thing? I'm sorry. It's hard not to think about that when we go down memory lane." But that's more than okay with us, as McGee and DiNozzo's dynamic remains one of longtime fans' favorites. Related Reunions Not a Moment Too Soonions — The Collider TV Quiz! It's always fun when actors from one show find their way back to one another in a new show. Were these television reunions memorable to you? Posts By Macklen Makhloghi Sean Murray Broke His Thumb in an Early 'NCIS' Episode Long-time fans may remember the Gibbs slaps that probably made the scalp sore a time or two. Murray explains that"for years, running around, Michael and I had to get used to people asking to slap us on the heads." But Murray reveals he had a very real injury while filming the show early on. He explains that McGee was running through a car wash during a scene when it happened, telling Collider: "I had on the dress shoes, and I was running on wet, painted cement. We were doing a take, and my feet came out from under me, and I came down on my hand, and my thumb was not in the right position. To this day, I still have limited mobility in my right thumb." According to Murray, the scene was memorialized over and over again, through the title sequence."It actually was in the opening of the show for a while," he told Lovitt. Thankfully, there have been updated shots of Murray's McGee since then. And for him, it was all a part of the experience."It doesn't hurt," he explains."I finished the take, though! I jumped up and kept going." Subscribe to our newsletter for more NCIS secrets Crave more NCIS cast anecdotes and TV chemistry analysis? Subscribe to our newsletter for behind-the-scenes stories, interviews, and broader TV coverage across casts, chemistry, and production. Get Updates By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. NCIS is available to stream on Paramount+. Stay with Collider for the latest updates and more from Collider Rewind. NCIS Like Follow Followed TV-14 Crime Drama Action Release Date September 23, 2003 Network CBS Showrunner Donald P. Bellisario Directors Dennis Smith, Terrence O'Hara, Tony Wharmby, James Whitmore Jr., Thomas J. Wright, Michael Zinberg, Arvin Brown, Rocky Carroll, Diana Valentine, Leslie Libman, Tawnia McKiernan, Colin Bucksey, William Webb, Bethany Rooney, Alrick Riley, Jeff Woolnough, Alan J. Levi, Lionel Coleman, Martha Mitchell, Peter Ellis, Michael Weatherly, Edward Ornelas, Stephen Cragg, Tom Wright Writers George Schenck, Frank Cardea, Jesse Stern, John C. Kelley, Jennifer Corbett, Christopher Silber, Reed Steiner, Nicole Mirante-Matthews, Jack Bernstein, Scott J. Jarrett, Matthew R. Jarrett, Kimberly-Rose Wolter, Don McGill, Gil Grant, Frank Military, Nell Scovell, Steven Kriozere, Brian Dietzen, Kate Torgovnick May, Jeff Vlaming, Sydney Mitchel, Katie White, Richard C. Arthur, Laurence Walsh 9 Images Close Cast See All

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