When NCIS first premiered on CBS in 2003, fans immediately became obsessed with the procedural drama. A spinoff of the series JAG, the show followed a group of government agents who all worked for the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS). With dangers lurking left and right, romances in the air and storylines that spun off into more shows in the hit TV franchise, folks still make sure to tune in to see the team get invested in every case presented to them.
Throughout the series’ iconic 22-season run, many actors (including Mark Harmon and Michael Weatherly) have made their marks in roles that people love to this day. One of these actors is none other than Wilmer Valderrama, who NCIS fans affectionately know for portraying SSA Nick Torres. First introduced as an undercover agent, Torres can be seen as unpredictable in his case-solving methods and how he interacts with the rest of his team. But he also has a strong bond with those who work alongside him, making him (and subsequently, Wilmer) a beloved character viewers want to see more of each week.
Given how Wilmer is now a staple cast member, fans may be wondering how long Wilmer Valderrama has been on NCIS. As it turns out, he has a unique history with the show — and he’s been on the series for even longer than folks may remember.
How long has Wilmer Valderrama been on NCIS?
According to IMDB, Wilmer first appeared as Nick Torres on the NCIS season 14 premiere episode, “Rogue” (which aired on September 20, 2016). Meaning: Wilmer Valderrama has been on NCIS for just over eight years.
While it’s not clear as to what brought Wilmer to NCIS, there was one distinct casting switch that occurred right before he joined the show.
In January 2016, news broke that Michael Weatherly (who portrayed Anthony “Tony” DiNozzo)’s last season as a full-time cast member would be season 13. At the time, Michael had been on NCIS for 13 years, and he was leaving in order to star in the CBS drama Bull (which aired from 2016-2022). What’s more, Michael will eventually be back in the NCIS fold as he stars in the upcoming spinoff NCIS: Tony and Ziva.
With Michael’s exit leaving a slot open for a new actor (and subsequently, new character) to join NCIS, it was only six months later that fans learned Wilmer was cast as a season regular. At the time, former NCIS executive producer Gary Glasberg said in a statement that Wilmer would get the chance to “flex his dramatic, physical and comedic talents” in his new role.
“Fans are going to see him like they’ve never seen him before,” he stated, per TVLine. “This is going to be fun. We’re thrilled he’s coming aboard.”
While Wilmer continues to showcase his acting chops as Torres on NCIS, this isn’t the only show in the hit procedural franchise Torres has popped up on. Fans have seen Wilmer make appearances on NCIS: New Orleans, NCIS: Hawai’i and NCIS: Los Angeles in crossover episodes, the last of which aired in January 2023.
