Since its debut in 2003, NCIS has captivated audiences with its gripping naval investigations and complex characters, including Emily Fornell, whose sudden death shocked fans. Over the years, the CBS procedural NCIS universe has introduced numerous recurring characters, with Tobias Fornell and Diane Sterling being particularly memorable. FBI Agent Tobias Fornell (Joe Spano) is a close ally of NCIS Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon), while Diane Sterling (Melinda McGraw) is Fornell's ex-wife and Gibbs' second ex-wife. Their unique dynamic and enduring camaraderie provided a compelling backdrop, particularly when their daughter, Emily Fornell (Juliette Angelo), became involved.
As a teenager, Emily Fornell first appeared in season 4 and quickly became a beloved recurring character. Her journey through adolescence included struggles with addiction, which was poignantly explored in later seasons. Emily's relationship with her father, Tobias, was both touching and heartbreaking, as he tirelessly tried to help her through recovery. However, her story took a tragic turn in season 18 when Emily suddenly died off-screen, sending shockwaves through the NCIS fandom.
Emily Fornell Died Of An Accidental Drug Overdose In NCIS
The Shocking News Was Delivered Off-Screen In Season 18, Episode 9, "Winter Chill"
Every NCIS Episode Emily Fornell Appeared In | ||
|---|---|---|
Episode Title | Season and Episode Number | Year |
"Escaped" | Season 4, Episode 2 | 2006 |
"Devil's Triad" | Season 11, Episode 10 | 2014 |
"Cabin Fever" | Season 12, Episode 10 | 2015 |
"Dead Letter" | Season 13, Episode 23 | 2016 |
"Family First" | Season 13, Episode 24 | 2016 |
"The Tie That Binds" | Season 14, Episode 10 | 2016 |
"Daughters" | Season 16, Episode 24 | 2019 |
"Sunburn" | Season 18, Episode 3 | 2021 |
"Head of the Snake" | Season 18, Episode 5 | 2021 |
Emily Fornell's story in NCIS was one marked by resilience and fragility. The daughter of Tobias Fornell and Diane Sterling, Emily's struggles with addiction became a significant subplot in the series. Despite her parents' best efforts and a long period of recovery, her death from a drug overdose occurred in season 18, episode 9, "Winter Chill." The shocking news was delivered off-screen through a gut-wrenching phone call to Gibbs, revealing that Emily had relapsed and was in critical condition at the hospital. Sadly, she did not survive, leaving Fornell devastated and Gibbs in mourning.
Emily's death had a profound impact on the NCIS team. Fornell, a typically stoic character, was overcome with grief as he held onto hope for his daughter's recovery. The team's response, particularly Gibbs' unwavering support, highlighted Gibbs and Fornell's tight-knit friendship. This loss not only humanized Fornell but also underscored the unpredictability and tragedy of addiction. Emily's death left a void in the series, affecting both the storyline and the fans who had grown attached to her.
Emily Fornell Actress Juliette Angelo Wasn't Told About Her NCIS Character's Death
Angelo Posted To Instagram That She Found Out Via Text
Angelo's departure from NCIS sparked conversations about how to handle her character's passing. Many fans were disappointed that Emily's death occurred off-screen, arguing that her arc deserved a more meaningful conclusion. As a result, "Winter Chill" isn't exactly regarded as one of the best NCIS episodes. In a surprising twist, actress Juliette Angelo, who played Emily Fornell for eight seasons, was not informed of her character's death before it aired. After the episode "Winter Chill" aired, she posted an Instagram story expressing her shock and gratitude (via Express), explaining:
"It was a shock, for all of us. I found out the same time as you, via text. Lots of emotions about this. Just wanted to pop by in the midst of my social media break and say thanks for all the love these past years. Emily has been a part of my life since I was 13. As a newly 22-year-old, it has certainly been a journey. Onward."
Angelo maintained a positive outlook, expressing gratitude for her time on the show. Since her exit from NCIS, Juliette Angelo hasn't had any other acting credits. However, that seems like a personal choice, as she has pursued a career in music and is enjoying tons of success from touring. Angelo's promising musical career trajectory suggests that she has a bright future ahead, even after the untimely end of Emily Fornell's storyline.
How Fans Reacted To Emily's Death
Fans Believed Emily Was A Case Of "Fridging"
Emily Fornell's death in NCIS took many fans by surprise. The popular procedural killed a lot of characters over the years, and many of them were shocking and heartbreaking. However, in the case of Emily, it seemed almost unnecessary to some fans. They watched her grow up on the show, and having her die from a drug overdose seemed wrong. A few Reddit threads have popped up since her death, with many blasting NCIS for the move. Redditor WXYRUTK5 was one such fan:
"Killing off Emily Fornell has to be the most unnecessary "kill off" in NCIS history… I understand that they were setting up Gibbs to "spiral out of control" and lead to his eventual exit, but there were a million ways they could have done it without randomly killing off Fornell's daughter."
One thing that this does is seemingly add another layer to the idea of "fridging" female characters for the character advancement of male characters. This term started in comic books when Green Lantern's girlfriend was murdered and placed inside a refrigerator. Her death was a way to force the hero to do what he needed to do in the storyline.
However, there are other fans who feel that Emily's death was used for more than just Gibbs' character development. Redditor Ptazdba wrote, "Emily was their token for the opiate addiction problem and to free up Fornell as he was making noises about retiring to Costa Rica and they wanted him freed up. Again IMHO bad writing." In that case, not only did Emily die to move a male character forward, but NCIS used her as a "message death" concerning a hot-bed topic of the day.
What Juliette Angelo Has Done Since NCIS
Angelo Is Now Embracing A Music Career
Juliette Angelo was only 13 when she joined the NCIS cast. When the show decided to kill her character, she was 22 and in a different place in her life. She only appeared in limited episodes of the series, with only nine appearances in 14 seasons, but she was still acting in other things around the same time. She had a 10-role run on Shameless from 2017 to 2020 as Geneva, a friend of Ian Gallagher and one of his followers when he became "Gay Jesus."
She also appeared on other TV shows like Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders and Mad Men and in movies like The Trial of the Chicago 7 and Hope Springs Eternal. However, since leaving NCIS in 2021, she quit acting. Instead, she admits she began dealing with sobriety issues.“I’ve attempted suicide, and I was done. You know, the last night I drank, I was done with my life. I didn’t want to exist. And I have a dog and I even felt like that with my dog,” Angelo said (via KTVQ).
In the same interview, she admitted that she had to get away from Hollywood, where she said, "I was never allowed to just fully be a kid." Angelo chose to get help, moved to Montana, and started a new career as a musician. Now sober, she has focused on her music career, and she had her first live show in 2022. "My music is my peace and freedom, but there's also a reality to my childhood and the industry that’s just not talked about enough," the former NCIS actress said.
