NEED TO KNOW
- The characters of NCIS have shared several emotional moments since its 2003 premiere
- In real life, many of the cast members have raised their children while filming the hit military police procedural
- From Wilmer Valderrama to Cote de Pablo, much of the NCIS cast have children
NCIS has had no shortage of drama and emotional moments over the last 22 seasons.
The military police procedural has followed the lives of special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) since its premiere in September 2003. More than two decades later, fans have continued watching the characters grow, fall in love and start families.
Although the stars have come and gone over the years, their legacies have continued to live on in the NCIS universe and its many spinoffs. While the characters go through various personal and professional challenges, many of the real-life stars have families and children of their own.
Off-screen, Mark Harmonwho left the show in 2021, has two sons: Sean and Ty. The former has even followed in his dad’s footsteps by appearing in several NCIS episodes as a younger version of Harmon’s character, special agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs.
“I’m proud of both our boys, and they work hard at what they do and I’m proud that they get up in the morning and try to do that every day,” Harmon told Entertainment Tonight in November 2020.
Here’s everything to know about the children of the NCIS cast.
Marc Harmon’s 2 Sons
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Harmon starred as beloved special agent Gibbs for 19 seasons before leaving NCIS in 2021. The Ghosts of Honolulu author and his wife of nearly four decades, Pam Dawberare proud parents to two sons: Sean and Ty Christian.
Harmon and Dawber became parents when they welcomed Sean in April 1988. They had a second son, Ty, in June 1992. Ty is a screenwriter and visual effects artist who has worked on various films and television shows, including Thor: Love and Thunder, Venom and The Electric State.
Meanwhile, Sean also got involved in the entertainment industry and works as an actor and stuntman. One of Sean’s most notable roles is a young version of his dad’s NCIS character, which he has performed in seven episodes over the years.
Although Harmon has mostly kept his personal life out of the spotlight, he has expressed how proud he is of both his sons.
“Separate from anything as an actor, you hopefully take pride in who people are individually away from any camera just as people, as citizens,” Harmon told ET in 2020. “And both our boys have done well and hopefully made smart choices and are doing well daily … we have a lot of reasons to be proud of both of them.”
Sean Murray’s 2 Children
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Murray has acted as NCIS Senior Field Agent Timothy McGee since the show premiered in 2003. Just like in the series, Murray is also a dad to two children.
The Hocus Pocus actor welcomed daughter Caitlyn in 2007 and son River in 2010 with his ex-wife, Carrie James.
In 2022, Murray revealed that Caitlyn would be guest-starring in an episode of NCIS.
“I am pleased to introduce my daughter, Cay Ryan Murray, into the on-screen world of NCIS! Cay guest stars in our upcoming May 2 episode, and I couldn’t be more proud,” Murray captioned a photo of them on set.
Brian Dietzen's 2 Children
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Dietzenwho plays Dr. Jimmy Palmer, shares two children — daughter Clover and son Satchel — with his wife, Kelly Dietzen.
The actor does not share photos of his children on social media, but he shared that Clover likes music and Satchel enjoys video games when getting his golf clubs engraved with their names and favorite things in 2022.
Dietzen also frequently posts with his wife of two decades and expresses his gratitude for her as a mother.
“Happy Mother’s Day to you all. Today, our family is celebrating this woman right here,” he captioned a photo of them in May 2022. “You’re the best, Kel. Our kids lucked out by getting you as their mom.”
Wilmer Valderrama’s 2 Children
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Although Valderrama plays the rough-around-the-edges Special Agent Nicholas Torres, in reality, he’s a dad to two young children.
The That ’70s Show actor became a father in February 2021 when his fiancée, Amanda Pacheco, welcomed their first child, daughter Oceana's intention. They had their second child, son Wolf Montein July 2025.
Although Valderrama told PEOPLE in September 2025 that being a working dad of two can be “pretty challenging,” he credited Pacheco for “making it look easy.” He also said that Nakano is an “awesome” big sister.
“She’s having a great time. She’s really about it. She loves her baby brother,” he said. “She goes to the grocery store, she’s putting stuff in the cart for him and so far so good. We’ll see what happens when he starts grabbing her toys.”
Rocky Carroll’s Daughter
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Carrollwho has portrayed NCIS Director Leon Vance since season 5, has one child, daughter Elissa, with his wife, Gabrielle Bullock.
Although Carroll and Gabrielle, who tied the knot in 1996, keep much of their personal lives private, Gabrielle occasionally shares sweet moments of the three of them spending time together on Instagram.
In April 2023, she posted a photo of Elissa and Carroll walking together and captioned the picture, “Father & Daughter 💕.”
Gary Cole’s Daughter
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After Harmon left NCIS in 2021, Cole joined the cast as NCIS Supervisory Special Agent Alden Parker. Off-screen, Cole has one child, daughter Mary, with his late ex-wife, Teddi Siddall.
The Midnight Caller actor, who has since married Michelle Knapp, doesn’t appear to have social media and doesn’t frequently share updates on Mary. However, in 2009, he spoke to WebMD magazine about Mary’s autism diagnosis, which she received when she was a toddler in 1995.
“[She] didn’t process information like you or I do, and did not pick up on social cues,” he explained, while advising others, “Seek answers, and the earlier the better.”
In addition to his daughter, Cole is also a stepfather to Knapp’s children. The couple tied the knot in 2021.
Katrina Law’s Daughter
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Law joined the NCIS cast as Special Agent Jessica Knight for season 18 in 2020.
The Spartacus: Blood and Sand actor welcomed daughter Kinley Malika in December 2018 with her then-husband, Keith Andreen. In August 2025, Law filed for divorce from Andreen after 12 years of marriage.
Law previously shared updates of Kinley as a baby, including the two of them traveling, playing together and dressing up.
Michael Weatherly’s 3 Children
Michael Weatherly/Facebook
Weatherly portrayed special agent Anthony DiNozzo for 13 seasons before starring in the spinoff, NCIS: Tony & Ziva. When he isn’t acting as the special agent, Weatherly is helping care for his three children.
The actor became a parent in 1996 when he welcomed son August with his Loving and The City costar Amelia Heinle, whom he was married to from 1995 to 1997.
Weatherly went on to marry Bojana Janković in September 2009, and they had daughter Olivia, in April 2012, and son Liam, in October 2013.
Although Weatherly has taken on a number of roles over the years, he told PEOPLE in 2017 that he is “proudest of” his marriage and three children.
“I don’t bring my work home,” he explained. “I’m a single-track-mind person, so at work I do my work, but at home I’m devoted to my kids. Acting has given me a way of understanding myself. It’s made me a better person.”
Cote de Pablo’s Daughter
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of Paul starred as special agent Ziva David for several seasons of NCIS before reprising her role in the spinoff NCIS:Tony & Zivaalongside Weatherly.
The Seneca actress revealed to PEOPLE in September 2025 that she is a mother to one daughter, but she did not share her child’s name, age or gender. de Pablo spoke about the exciting news while relating to having an on-screen daughter in Tony & Ziva.
“That was a really funny one for me because I am a mother,” she told PEOPLE on Sept. 3. “Since I became a mother, it came sort of organic. However, obviously, exploring this, with Michael was a treat.”
Sasha Alexander’s 2 Children
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Alexander was one of the original cast members, portraying NCIS Special Agent Caitlin Todd for the first three seasons. Since her departure, the actress has continued working while also raising her two children — daughter Lucia Sofia and son Leonardo Fortunato — with Edoardo Pontison of actress Sophia Loren.
The couple became parents in May 2006 when their first child, daughter Lucia Sofia, was born. She was given the middle name to honor her grandmother. While they were expecting their first child, Ponti wrote a series of poems for his unborn daughter and published them in a 2018 book, Letters from a Young Father.
Alexander and Ponti later went on to welcome their second child, son Leonardo, in December 2010. Although the couple don’t frequently share updates on their two children, they occasionally post pictures and videos of them taking their kids to concerts, dancing and traveling.
“It’s really fun to watch the kids interact and fight and just provoke each other,” she told PEOPLE in 2013. “There’s a whole dynamic there that I’m sort of glad I didn’t have — but it’s really fun to watch as a parent!”
Emily Wickersham’s 2 Sons
Emily Wickersham/Instagram
Wickersham, who played NCIS Special Agent Eleanor Bishop from season 11 to season 18is a mother to two sons with husband James Badge Dale.
The actress, who wed Dale in September 2024, became a mom when she welcomed son Cassius in December 2021 and later added son Zephyr to their family in October 2024.
A few months before welcoming her second son, Wickersham reflected on being a mom for Mother’s Day 2024.
“Mannnnnn do I love being your Mom, Cassius,” she captioned a picture of the two of them sitting next to each other. “Probably, most definitely, my favorite thing in the world. I love you.”
Maria Bello's Son
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Bello joined the NCIS crew as Special Agent and psychologist Dr. Jacqueline Sloane for seasons 15 through 18.
The Coyote Ugly actress has one child, son Jackson, with her ex-boyfriend, Dan McDermott. Bello celebrated Jackson’s 24th birthday in March 2025 by sharing pictures of him on a safari when he was 9 years old.
“My Son – I remember the freedom you possessed even when you were 9 years old chasing wild hares on the Masai Mara,” she captioned the post. “I remember your joy, your kindness and your sense of adventure. Those qualities have only grown over the years. Happy Birthday to my best man forever. May your heart always be filled with your adventurous spirit.”