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Tobias C. Fornell or "T.C. Fornell" is a former FBI Special Agent who occasionally works with the NCIS Major Case Response Team and who is also good friends with the team's former leader, Leroy Jethro Gibbs.

He is also the ex-husband of Diane Sterling and father of Emily Fornell.

In addition, Fornell would work alongside the NCIS team if a case crosses over into the jurisdiction of the FBI.

Following a case concerning Gabriel Hicks in November 2017, Fornell resigned from the FBI and now works as a Private Investigator.

Biography

Pre-Series

Tobias C. Fornell was born on July 15th, 1956. He has three brothers.

Much of Fornell's past is unknown but at some point, he met and married Diane Sterling against the advice of her ex-husband, Leroy Jethro Gibbs. Diane and Tobias had a daughter named Emily Fornell together around 2000.

Unfortunately, they later divorced, parting on bitter terms. And just as she had done to Gibbs, she took him for all he was worth in the divorce.

At some point, Fornell also joined the FBI and rose up through the ranks from being a Junior Agent to Senior Agent and then finally, a Special Agent.

NCIS Season 1

NCIS Season 2

NCIS Season 3

NCIS Season 4

NCIS Season 5

NCIS Season 6

NCIS Season 7

NCIS Season 8

NCIS Season 9

NCIS Season 10

NCIS Season 11

NCIS Season 12

NCIS: New Orleans Season 1

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Fornell in the NCIS: New Orleans Season 1 episode, "It Happened Last Night".

NCIS Season 13

NCIS Season 14

NCIS Season 15

NCIS Season 16

NCIS Season 17

NCIS Season 18

NCIS Season 19

Personality

Physical Appearance

Abilities

Interrogation

Trivia

  • In the Season 1 premiere episode, "Yankee White", William Baer was heard calling Fornell "Tom" which hinted that it was "Tom Fornell" although the NCIS writers presumably later changed it to "Tobias" to avoid confusion between Fornell and Thomas Morrow who was NCIS Director at the time.
  • Also in the season 1 premiere "Yankee White" he seemingly has no knowledge of Leroy Jethro Gibbs (as seen when he fakes being Ducky's assistant and he had no clue who he really was) while at some later point they retcon it so that they had known each other for years even having the same ex-wife.
  • At 55 episodes, Fornell is the longest-running recurring character associated with the main NCIS series itself to have appeared in various episodes across NCIS Seasons 1 to 16 and 18-20. In addition to this, Fornell is the only recurring character to appear in every season of the main NCIS series, except for Season 17. He is, however, mentioned in Gone, Musical Chairs and Lonely Hearts.
  • He is the only recurring character to appear in more episodes than series regulars. Appearing in more episodes than Alex Quinn, Clayton Reeves, Caitlin Todd, and so far, Jessica Knight and Alden Parker.
  • His birthday is revealed to be 7-15-1956, as shown on his driver's license in Keep Your Enemies Closer.

Appearances

For a more detailed list, see Tobias Fornell/List of Appearances.

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Total 55
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