Before Wilmer Valderrama starred as Fez on "That '70s Show," he had learned to speak English a few years prior.
Immigrating from Venezuela at age 13 and booking the sitcom by the end of high school, Valderrama credits his limited English knowledge for helping him nail the role. Make no mistake, Valderrama combined accents from different countries for the ethnically ambiguous Fez.
As Valderrama reflects on starring on 200 episodes of the hit sitcom, he never thought he'd accomplish a similar milestone on the long-running police procedural "NCIS" (Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS).
"Sometimes when you do 20 episodes a season, it doesn't seem as heroic," Valderrama, 46, tells USA TODAY, comparing his run to the CBS show's 23 seasons and more than 500
episodes. "At 200-plus, I feel like I'm always going to be the new guy, you know? So it's a really interesting place to be."
Valderrama, who plays Special Agent Nick Torres on the CBS series, joined in Season 14. He immediately felt the pressure of joining a successful franchise, particularly after the departure of Special Agent Anthony "Tony" DiNozzo, played byMichael Weatherly.
"I was the new guy who just got off the bus, and everyone's like, fresh meat," Valderrama jokes. "But very quickly that mentality and that energy was replaced with a lot of collaboration and trying to figure out if this is going to work."
The show's 23rd season ends with a stand-off between Agent Torres and Mateo, Special Agent Timothy McGee's son (Patrick Keleher), at the NCIS office. In the new season, they investigate a mysterious new threat to the Navy Secretary, with help from DiNozzo, who returns as NCIS director.
Below, Valderrama speaks to USA TODAY about entering the "NCIS" boys club, receiving his first check while on "That '70s Show" and what he'd tell Latino voters.
Question: When you joined "NCIS" in Season 14, you said it felt like a boys club. How did you find your way?
Wilmer Valderrama: It was a boys' club because, not in a tyrannical way, but more in the fact that this is a team that's been doing this thing. My biggest hesitation with joining the show is it was already number one. They already had a great thing going. What can I bring to the table that's valuable? The show was nothing but welcoming and really excited to have me on, so that made it a very easy transition.
In this new season, Michael Weatherly's Tony DiNozzo returns as the NCIS director, which marked the first time you two have worked together. What was that like?
Considering that his departure opened the door for my arrival, and now we can share the screen and co-lead the show together, it's pretty great. We missed each other by literally rolling credits. Ten years later, having the opportunity to share the screen with Michael, who obviously was such a massive, fundamental part of "NCIS," was a really great full-circle [moment] for us to be on the same screen together.
Will DiNozzo return for another season?
I don't have any information on that. It really, truly, is up to the fans. The fans dictate so much of what "NCIS" does … we're always listening, and whatever they want, we're going to do our best to bring it to life. If it works for people and [fans] are liking the dynamic, I have no doubt that he will be here beyond it. It's such a fun and great character for him to play, and he can use all his weapons as a performer.
Mark Harmon, who plays Agent Gibbs, left "NCIS" after Season 19. He is now an executive producer and starring on "NCIS: Origins." What are the odds that Gibbs will make an "NCIS" comeback?
The last couple of years of the "NCIS" universe has made it more possible than ever. I think the idea that the world of "NCIS" is expanding in such innovative and refreshing ways kind of gives you an idea that anything can really happen. I don't know if he'd come back full time because his role has also changed. If you watch "NCIS: Origins" this season, you see that he is on a one-way ticket to redemption and discovery, and closing one last final chapter. So, we'll see where that goes. I know where it goes. I can't say it.
You've been a passionate advocate for Latino voter participation, as part of the Voto Latino Foundation "Vota Con Ganas" campaign in 2024. What message do you have for Latino voters?
We should never forget the amount of influence that this community has in this country. Even more critically, how important it is for them to continue to shape the [House of] Representatives, the voices, the people that embody your interests, your needs, and your protection as a community. It's incredibly vital that we continue to participate, that if we have an opinion about things, if we are unhappy with things, we live in a country that's free, of not just speech, but also free to get involved. The discomfort and the spirit of our community right now needs to be heard. The vote is literally the way you respond.
You're a Venezuelan immigrant, and you've often talked about how you fulfilled the American dream with "That '70s Show."
I tell you, it's a testament to our country. It's a testament to the United States. I remember very clearly the day that I got that audition. My dad had to borrow a little money to drive me to that audition. I remember auditioning four times and then getting that contract, which wasn't an offer.
At the time, you didn't get a chance to get an attorney or somebody to look at it. You're like, I'll sign anything. So you grab this contract [that said] I was going to make $15,000 for the first episode, and then I was going to make $10,000 per episode after that. My dad was in this transitional period where he was trying to figure out how to break even, and we were eating dinner every other night, and we were a couple of months late on the rent. So I went in and I auditioned my a-- off, and I was just like, we'll see what happens.
When you landed the role, what did you do with your first check?
I took [my mom] to the regular grocery store and we got, not the off-brand stuff, we got the actual brand stuff. Instead of Lucky Charms, in the 99-cent store it was just Charms. We were now getting Lucky Charms with the little leprechaun that actually had the hat on. So we paid the rent, we got some groceries, and then at that point, I was like, whatever I do on that screen is not ever going to get me fired. So I was having fun just giving all of myself, and I was able to take care of my family.
This interview was edited for length and clarity.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Wilmer Valderrama on 'That '70s Show' and how $10,000 checks saved his family
