Michael Weatherly Explains Why Leaving NCIS Was Better For His Kids
Michael Weatherly may have decided nearly three decades ago that he wanted to pursue acting as a career, even dropping out of college to do so, but his top priority is being a father.
The former NCIS star has three children: Olivia, ten, and Liam, nine, with his wife Bojana Jankovi, whom he married in 2009, and 26-year-old August from his previous marriage to Amelia Heinle.
Though his exit from NCIS in 2016 was heartbreaking for many fans, it resulted in a significant change in the lives of his children, who were at the “critical” ages of four and two-and-a-half when their father left the show and was able to spend more time with them.
At the time of his departure from the long-running series, the actor spoke with People Magazine about how welcomed it was in his family.
“The kids are very excited to see me, mostly because I’m wrapped around their little fingers,” he explained.
He also mentioned how it was a challenge for the family to find a balance between being authoritative and upsetting his children.
The celebrity and his family reside in New York City.
“I’m just a sucker and I’m trying very hard to be authority dad,” he explained, adding, “As a lot of working parents know, when you’re not around a lot and then you’re with your kids, it’s very difficult to just come in and be the strict one because then you’re just a [expletive]” but maintaining, “You don’t want to be too soft.”
Even though he misses being a part of NCIS, he insists that the pay-off, being able to spend more time with his family, is unquestionably a worthy reward.
Oliver was Thing 1 for Halloween. I was a combo platter of “guy in sweatpants”, “unemployed actor” and “Dad”. Perfect Night! pic.twitter.com/lkaReJs6qV
— Michael Weatherly (@M_Weatherly) November 2, 2022
He recently shared a glimpse of his family’s Halloween celebrations.
“I think a lot about the kids and the time I get to spend with them now, at this age of four and two and a half, which is such a critical time,” Michael said.
“They just have some extraordinary things going on in their lives, and they have great questions for me about why frogs and crickets make sort of the same sound,” he joked.
