Reiko Aylesworth as Michelle Dessler
Michelle Dessler was portrayed by Reiko Aylesworth in the series,
24. Michelle pursued her secondary education at the University of California, Davis, from where she eventually graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science. Prior to gaining employment as an Internet Protocol Manager at the Counter Terrorist Unit- Los Angeles, Michelle was working at DARPA’s High Confidence Systems Working Group, and before that, was employed at the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Computer Security Division.
Her career at the CTU- Los Angeles included becoming Intelligence Agent, Associate Special Agent in Charge and Temporary Special Agent in Charge. It was also there that she became romantically involved with CTU Agent Tony Almeida. They worked together in coming up with a strategy to foil the terrorist threat in Day 2, but at that time, Tony was still involved with Nina Meyers, who would eventually confess to being a mole. When Tony’s relationship with Nina ended, Michelle made her feelings known to Tony and before the beginning of Day 3, Michelle and Tony tied the knot.
Their relationship was far from perfect, and their love for each other was further tested after Michelle was abducted by terrorist Stephen Saunders. Tony was forced to collaborate with Stephen in order to save Michelle, and was consequently imprisoned after being charged with treason. Upon his release on Day 4, Tony had developed a drinking problem, which Michelle found difficult to deal with. As a result, Michelle left him, and they were only reunited when she came back to CTU-Los Angeles in order to serve as Special Agent in Charge. Initially, Michelle conflicted with Tony, but as the day progressed, she realized she still had feelings for her former husband. At the end of Day 4, Michelle and Tony decided to leave CTU and begin anew.
When Day 5 began, Michelle had already retired from the CTU and had started working alongside Tony at a private security technology company. Unfortunately, just as she and Tony were in the middle of leading a happy life, they were told that President David Palmer had been assassinated. Michelle immediately decided to go CTU, with Tony desperately trying to convince her to do otherwise. As he followed her outside of their home, Michelle’s car exploded, and when Tony rushed to her side, another explosion occurred, seriously injuring him. Sadly, although Tony survived the explosion, Michelle did not.
(Photo courtesy of FOX)