NCIS star Maria Bello’s rarely-seen son is all grown up as she shares new photo for his 25th birthday: ‘My protective warrior’

NCIS actress Maria Bello couldn’t have been prouder of her 25-year-old son, Jackson McDermott, as the star celebrated his birthday via social media. Maria took to Instagram to share a photo of herself kissing her only son on the cheek as they stood out on a balcony and smiled for the camera.

Jackson looked dapper in a pair of black pants and a white button-down shirt, and Maria epitomized chic in a beige dress and an off-white and brown knitted cardigan.

“My son (SUN). My moon and stars. My favorite person in the world,” she began in the caption. “My kind and loyal friend. My protective warrior. My life. 25 years ago today, we were blessed with your existence. Thank you for choosing me to be your Mama. Happy Birthday, Jackson Blue! May you always keep dancing.”

Maria’s fans took to the comment section to share the love, with one writing: “So sweet!!” while another added: “Beautiful,” and a third said: “The way time flies.”

Maria, who portrayed Jacqueline “Jack” Sloane on NCIS from 2017 to 2021, shares her son with her ex-partner, Dan McDermott. She has remained close to Dan since their split in 2006, and even shared a touching tribute to the TV executive in 2021.

“My baby daddy is the bomb. Thank the dear lord he is steady and funny and kind and organized. Whoever you love, however you love them – love is love. Merci, Dan McDermott. Happy Father’s Day,” she wrote on social media.

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The 58-year-old previously opened up about having an important conversation with Jackson when she came out, an experience which she documented in her groundbreaking 2013 essay for The New York Times.

See Maria in The Waterfront below…

“I didn’t think of it as romantic or sexual,” she wrote of her feelings for her best friend-turned-partner, Clare. “She was one of the most beautiful, charming, brilliant, and funny people I had ever met, but it didn’t occur to me that we could perhaps choose to love each other romantically.”

“[Jackson] trusted Clare. He loved her,” Maria continued. “He had never met most of the men I had been in love with and had no idea I had been with a woman as well.”

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“I took a deep breath, knowing that my answer, and his response, would have an impact on our lives for a very long time,” she added. “I had become involved with a woman who was my best friend, and, as it happens, a person who is like a godmother to my son.”

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Thankfully, Jackson reacted with understanding and love, as Maria recounted. “He looked at me for what seemed like an eternity and then broke into a huge, warm smile,” she wrote. “‘Mom, love is love, whatever you are,’ he said with wisdom beyond his years.”

Maria and Clare went their separate ways in 2015, and the actress married chef Dominique Crenn in May 2024, yet split a year later, citing irreconcilable differences.