‘It Was A Really Beautiful Moment’: Cote De Pablo Shared How NCIS Actor Joe Spano Supported Her Before She Left The Show, And It’s Pretty Emotional

‘It Was A Really Beautiful Moment’: Cote De Pablo Shared How NCIS Actor Joe Spano Supported Her Before She Left The Show, And It’s Pretty Emotional

As a dedicated fan who has followed the journey of NCIS since its inception, I find it truly heartwarming to witness such genuine moments of camaraderie and support among the cast and crew. The story of Joe Spano‘s act of kindness towards Cote de Pablo during her departure from the show serves as a poignant reminder of the power of empathy and understanding in challenging times. It’s a testament to their professional bond, but more importantly, it underscores the profound human connection that transcends the boundaries of the screen.


Over the span of nearly two decades, many actors have graced the screen on NCIS. Among them, Joe Spano stands out with the most appearances, totaling 58 episodes. He first appeared as Tobias Fornell in the pilot episode, “Yankee White,” and made a recent comeback in the series’ 1000th episode, which paid tribute to its 2003 debut. Notably, Spano has worked closely with lead actors like Cote de Pablo. Interestingly, before de Pablo left NCIS as a regular cast member, she shared a heartfelt story about how Spano offered her emotional support during that time.

Actress Cote de Pablo departed from NCIS after just two episodes in Season 11. However, she returned as Ziva David for a surprising guest appearance in the Season 16 finale and continued to appear recurrently in Season 17. Before her farewell as a regular cast member, de Pablo shared a poignant moment with Joe Spano, which she discussed during an interview on Off Duty: An NCIS Rewatch, when Spano joined de Pablo and co-host Michael Weatherly for a chat. The former Hill Street Blues star mentioned this interaction.

As a gamer, I owe you a heartfelt gratitude for something truly special. When I chose to step away, whatever my motivations were, they were mine alone. Yet, you didn’t pry into them. You stood out as the only one who approached me, wrapping your arms around me in a warm embrace and offering your congratulations. That moment has stayed with me ever since, for it was not just kind, but deeply moving – especially considering the challenges I faced to reach that decision. So, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your thoughtfulness and understanding will never be forgotten.

It’s clear that Ziva actress Cote de Pablo has not yet fully revealed the reasons behind her departure from NCIS in 2013. Three years later, she mentioned “political issues” and unsatisfactory scripts as factors, but later claimed those comments were misconstrued at some point. Despite this, when De Pablo decided to leave and informed the NCIS cast and crew, Joe Spano, who played Fornell in “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot” and “Past, Present, and Future”, chose to embrace her and offer his congratulations rather than asking about her reasons for leaving. This gesture moved De Pablo to tears.

Your kindness during that time was truly extraordinary. You not only helped another actor by offering support, but you also gave me a heartfelt embrace when I needed it most. At a time when things were particularly difficult for me, you stood by me without any doubts or hesitations. Your actions were genuine and selfless, and the hug you gave me was something I’ll never forget. In that instant, you offered a priceless gift as a fellow human being, and I believe that even if it was brief, its impact will linger. The fact that we read the script together before shooting, without knowing it was my final episode, made your gesture all the more meaningful.

Cote de Pablo explained that she believed Joe Spano might not have fully understood the impact of what he provided her, and felt it was significant to discuss this in the podcast as it was their first encounter since filming those episodes. Spano responded by saying he felt he had a hunch that’s what she required, and indeed, it turned out to be accurate. If you’d like to rewatch Season 11’s initial two episodes, along with the entire NCIS series, you can do so by subscribing to Paramount+.

Regarding Paramount+, Cote de Pablo is presently filming the forthcoming spinoff titled “NCIS: Tony & Ziva” alongside Michael Weatherly in Budapest. Unlike previous NCIS series, this show will not air on CBS but will instead be available exclusively on Paramount+. As of now, the release date for “Tony & Ziva” is undisclosed, however, both NCIS Season 22 and a new prequel titled “NCIS: Origins” are scheduled to debut on TV screens in 2024, specifically on Monday, October 14.

Read More

Sorry. No data so far.

2024-08-22 04:37