Eric Close appreciated that his Without a Trace character was ''affected by the emotional aspects of his cases''
In Without a Trace's first season, Martin Fitzgerald was the new guy on the team, and we all know how that is. Maybe not as an agent, but we've all been the new person at work or school. Fitzgerald had a lot to learn, and mistakes were inevitable. But working with the FBI, there is little room for error.
Played by Eric Close, Agent Martin Fitzgerald was different in a way that could conflict with doing his job correctly: he was more sympathetic to his cases. According to the actor, his character's ability to react to another person's fears or sorrow was a good thing.
"I think it makes it easier for the man or woman he's interviewing to talk to him about the missing person, possibly giving Martin a better insight into how and why that person vanished," he told the Laurel Outlook in 2004. He also said the "stoic" cop image is a little stereotypical.
"The FBI has been very cooperative with the show. They had us all see how real agents work, and I found they're very much aware that they're dealing with human beings who are hurting. One more thing, when you [the interviewer, Sally Stone] said Martin had a lot to learn when he was new on the job, he still does. Everyone does. The learning process never stops when you're with the FBI."