Michael Weatherly, Costars React to DiNozzo's 'NCIS' Exit

Gone but never forgotten! NCIS star Michael Weatherly jumped on Twitter as the show’s season 13 finale aired on Tuesday, May 17, to send love to his legions of fans and pay tribute to his former costars.

The 47-year-old hunk exited the long-running CBS drama after 13 years in the role as “Very” Special Agent Tony DiNozzo. The hit show will return next season without Weatherly, who is leaving to take a role in Bull, another CBS show, in which he’ll play a jury consultant.

Michael Weatherly reacted to his NCIS finale episode Jace Downs/CBS via Getty Images

But as fans dashed to social media to mourn the departure of the much-loved special agent, Weatherly and his costars got involved too, making sure DiNozzo got the send-off he deserved.

“I love you all …” Weatherly wrote. “And you gotta believe what you gotta believe! I’ll miss those days with my great friends!”

I love you all … and you gotta believe what you gotta believe! I’ll miss those days with my great friends!

— Michael Weatherly (@M_Weatherly) May 18, 2016

Executive producer Gary Glasberg, who took over the show’s social feed, reassured fans that Weatherly’s departure had been taken very seriously.

“The entire NCIS writing staff took part in the planning of this very special story,” he wrote. “We’ve been discussing Tony’s departure for months and have taken these decisions very seriously. We truly recognize and appreciate everything this character has brought to our show.”

Tune in now, #NCIS fans and watch along w/ NCIS EP Gary Glasberg pic.twitter.com/CaN2maud23

— NCIS (@NCIS_CBS) May 18, 2016

Pauley Perrette (who plays Abby Sciuto) shared a picture of Weatherly’s empty parking space on the CBS lot and a few funny pictures of her attempts to keep her costar in the show (taping him to her microscope and locking him in her evidence locker)!

I tried to lock @M_Weatherly in my #NCIS evidence garage: pic.twitter.com/m3P9lMoA66

— Pauley Perrette (@PauleyP) May 17, 2016

#NCIS pic.twitter.com/PJKhKoeTh7

— Pauley Perrette (@PauleyP) May 18, 2016

Last month, the dark-haired actress, 47, shared a snap of rehearsals for what turned out to be one of the duo’s final scenes (for details on the finale episode check out the recap here).

My brother. @M_Weatherly Today… just in rehearsal. Tears. This #NCIS episode is amazing. I LOVE YOU MAN! pic.twitter.com/JTp3utRqn4

— Pauley Perrette (@PauleyP) April 16, 2016

“My brother. @M_Weatherly Today… just in rehearsal. Tears,” she wrote. “This #NCIS episode is amazing. I LOVE YOU MAN!

And Cote de Pablo, who plays Ziva David, also made it onto Twitter, courtesy of Weatherly’s snaps. The actress was hanging out with Weatherly as he live-tweeted funny DiNozzo-style comments during the East Coast screening, such as “I gotta go (to the bathroom- I’ll be right back !”

Thank you and I love you all- Cote is here with me now! pic.twitter.com/RsmWInjMSl

— Michael Weatherly (@M_Weatherly) May 18, 2016

“Thank you and I love you all- Cote is here with me now!” Weatherly captioned one snap of the on-screen lovers. “Big kiss # NCIS,” he captioned another.