Few TV exits have sparked as much curiosity as Cote de Pablo’s departure from NCIS. For nearly a decade, fans have wondered why she walked away from one of television’s most popular shows—and whether she ever found the personal life she guarded so fiercely.

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Full Name: María José de Pablo Fernández ·
Date of Birth: November 12, 1979 ·
Nationality: Chilean-American ·
Known for: Ziva David on NCIS ·
Years active: 1994–present ·
Net worth: Estimated $6 million

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Left NCIS after season 11 under her own terms (E! News)
  • Born November 12, 1979, in Santiago, Chile (Wikipedia)
  • Has never been publicly married and has no confirmed children (E! News)
2What’s unclear
  • Current relationship status: no public partner or spouse confirmed (YouTube biography)
  • Rumors of a daughter remain unsubstantiated; no credible source confirms a child (YouTube biography)
  • Exact reason for leaving NCIS beyond “creative differences”—de Pablo has not given a deeper explanation (YouTube biography)
3Timeline signal
  • 1979: Born in Chile (Wikipedia)
  • 2005: Cast as Ziva David on NCIS (Wikipedia)
  • 2013: Exits NCIS early in season 11 (Wikipedia)
  • 2024: Returns as executive producer and star of Tony & Ziva spin-off (Paramount+ Facebook)
4What’s next
  • Co-star and executive producer of NCIS: Tony & Ziva on Paramount+, expected to premiere in 2025 (Paramount+ Facebook)
  • Revival brings her back together with Michael Weatherly, reigniting on-screen chemistry that defined a decade of NCIS (Paramount+ Facebook)

Eight key facts define the known arc of Cote de Pablo’s life and career, from her birth in Santiago to her net worth and current projects.

Label Value
Full name María José de Pablo Fernández
Born November 12, 1979, Santiago, Chile
Education Carnegie Mellon University
Debut 1994 (singing)
Breakout role Ziva David on NCIS (2005–2013)
Net worth Estimated $6 million (TheRichest)
Marital status Unmarried
Children None confirmed

Who was Cote de Pablo in a relationship with?

Did Cote de Pablo date anyone from NCIS?

Despite years of on-screen chemistry with Michael Weatherly, de Pablo has never confirmed a romantic relationship with any NCIS co-star. In 2024, she clarified in a YouTube interview that her character Ziva David and Tony DiNozzo were “never in a relationship” — a statement about the fictional pairing, not real life (YouTube interview clip). The two actors maintain a close professional friendship; Weatherly told Entertainment Weekly in 2024 that they “always had great chemistry, both on and off screen” (Yahoo Entertainment).

Was Cote de Pablo ever engaged?

The only widely reported relationship is with actor Diego Serrano, which a 2024 YouTube biography suggests ended around 2015 (YouTube biography). However, de Pablo has never publicly confirmed an engagement. She has kept her personal life remarkably private, and no reliable source places her in a long-term partnership since then.

The pattern

De Pablo’s silence on relationships is itself a statement: she has chosen career control over public romance, a trade-off that explains why fans still know so little about her private world.

The implication: De Pablo prioritizes privacy to a degree that leaves relationship timelines essentially unverifiable. For fans, the lesson is that on-screen chemistry rarely mirrors real life.

What is the real reason Cote de Pablo left NCIS?

Did Cote de Pablo leave NCIS on bad terms?

According to CBS, de Pablo announced her departure on July 10, 2013, staying long enough to conclude Ziva’s storyline early in season 11. She later told E! News that she left “under my terms, and that was wonderful” (E! News). There is no evidence of a firing or a feud; the decision was driven by contract disputes and creative differences, as she felt Ziva David’s story had run its natural course.

Was Cote de Pablo fired from NCIS?

None of the credible sources — including CBS, Wikipedia, or entertainment outlets — suggest she was fired. The narrative that she left on her own terms is consistent across all tier-2 and tier-3 reporting. The real friction appears to have been over salary and creative direction, not personal animosity.

Why this matters

De Pablo’s 2013 exit was a career gamble that paid off: she regained creative control, and nearly a decade later, she returned as both actor and executive producer — a rare second act in TV.

The bottom line: De Pablo left NCIS not because she was pushed, but because she wanted ownership over Ziva’s arc. The spin-off proves she got exactly that.

Does Cote de Pablo have any children?

Does Cote de Pablo have a daughter?

As of 2025, de Pablo does not have any children. Rumors about a daughter circulating on social media and some YouTube channels lack any credible sourcing. Reputable databases such as Wikipedia and IMDb list no children.

Who is the father of Cote de Pablo’s daughter?

Since no reliable source confirms she has a daughter, the question of a father is moot. The rumor appears to stem from confusion with other celebrities or from fictional storylines.

The catch: De Pablo’s privacy has created a vacuum that speculation fills. Without an official statement or credible documentation, the claim about a daughter belongs in the “unconfirmed” column.

Did Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo get along in real life?

Are Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo friends?

Both actors have described a strong professional bond that persisted after her NCIS exit. In 2024, Weatherly told Entertainment Weekly that their off-screen chemistry was genuine (Yahoo Entertainment). They reunited professionally for the Paramount+ spin-off NCIS: Tony & Ziva, with de Pablo serving as an executive producer alongside Weatherly.

Did Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo date?

Neither has ever confirmed a romantic relationship. De Pablo clarified in 2025 that the characters Tony and Ziva were never in a relationship — a statement that fans sometimes misinterpret as referring to the actors (YouTube interview clip).

The pattern: The line between fiction and reality blurs when a TV couple is this beloved. But the available evidence points to a close, platonic friendship — not a romance.

Is Cote de Pablo married now?

Does Cote de Pablo have a husband?

De Pablo is not married as of 2025. No credible source identifies a husband or spouse. She has never been married in the past, according to Wikipedia and other biographical records.

Who is Cote de Pablo’s partner?

If de Pablo has a current partner, she has not made that information public. Her relationship status remains private, and she has not been photographed with a romantic companion in recent years.

The trade-off: De Pablo’s decision to keep her personal life offline means that for fans, the question of “who is she with” may never have an answer — and that is entirely by design.

“It was a very difficult decision… but I felt the story was complete.”

— Cote de Pablo, 2013 interview with E! News

“We always had a great chemistry, both on and off screen.”

— Michael Weatherly, 2024 interview with Entertainment Weekly (via Yahoo)

Timeline: Cote de Pablo’s career at a glance

  • 1979: Born in Santiago, Chile.
  • 1994: Moves to Miami, Florida, and begins acting.
  • 2005: Cast as Ziva David on NCIS.
  • 2013: Leaves NCIS after season 11.
  • 2024: Announced as executive producer and star of NCIS: Tony & Ziva for Paramount+.

What’s confirmed vs. what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

  • She left NCIS due to contract and creative issues on her own terms.
  • She has never been married.
  • She has no publicly acknowledged children.

Unconfirmed rumors

  • The exact identity of a current partner — if one exists.
  • Rumors of a daughter — no credible source.

The pattern across de Pablo’s guarded private life is consistent: she reveals only what serves her career. For fans and journalists, the gaps are a feature, not a bug. The upcoming spin-off will test whether the Tony-and-Ziva magic can translate into a new format — and whether de Pablo, now a producer, will finally let the public see more of the woman behind the character.