NCIS is one of TV’s longest-running shows, currently approaching its 20th season. Over the years, plenty of characters have taken their leave.
NCIS has had a long run, but why did Abby leave NCIS along with a slew of other fan-favorite characters? As one of the longest-running shows on television, NCIS has seen plenty of turnover in its team of special agents. Though some fan favorites make an appearance on NCIS from time to time, other exits have been much more permanent. While most departures from the show were made on a high note, some farewells were less than amicable. Beginning in 2003, NCIS has become a staple in the CBS line-up.
The cast and characters of NCIS are a large part of why the series has become one of the most successful on television. Approaching its 21st season, it is still one of the most-watched scripted television series in history, pulling in millions of viewers every season. Starting as a spin-off of the hit show JAG, NCIS itself has launched several successful spin-offs based throughout the U.S. While the many plots and twists of NCIS have entertained fans for almost two decades, it is the characters that provide the true heart of the show. But why did Abby leave NCIS, and what about the other character departures?
Caitlin Todd – Sasha Alexander
Caitlin Todd left NCIS because she didn’t have the stamina to continue with the show. Todd (Sasha Alexander) was one of the first special agents on the NCIS team. As a former Secret Service Agent on board Air Force One, she was an expert psychological profiler that was frequently surprised by NCIS’ shirking of the rules. Todd’s exit from NCIS at the end of season 2 was one of the most shocking in the history of the series, as she was shot in the head by the Mossad double-agent and series antagonist Ari Haswari right in front of her team.
Though Alexander was initially signed on to play Todd for a six-season stint, she left the series as a regular character at the end of NCIS season 2. Then-showrunner Donald Bellisario cited that Alexander did not have the stamina to meet the filming demands of a 24-episode season, which Alexander told TV Guide spanned “10 1/2 months a year, 17 hours a day.” Alexander doesn’t regret her decision to leave the hit series, explaining that she would not have the family and creative liberties she has now if she had stayed.
Ziva David – Cote De Pablo
Ziva David left NCIS because she felt her character wasn’t written well anymore. Israeli Mossad officer Special Agent Ziva David (Cote de Pablo) was brought in to take the place of the recently-deceased Agent Todd. Starting as Liason Officer, David eventually resigned from Mossad to become a full-time member of the NCIS team alongside DiNozzo and McGee. Ziva’s romance with fellow agent Tony was one of the series’ greatest relationship arcs, culminating in the pair welcoming a daughter, Tali David-DiNozzo.
After the entire team resigned from NCIS in order to protect their team leader in NCIS season 1, David opted to return to her home country of Israel when her colleagues returned to their positions. Though viewers — and her team members — were led to believe that David died in an attack on her farmhouse in season 13, it was later revealed that she had faked her death to go deep undercover and eliminate the criminals that had attacked her and her family. After the threat was eliminated, Ziva was able to retire to Paris in NCIS with her love and her daughter.
Cote de Pablo had a long run as Ziva David on NCIS, and leaving the series was not an easy decision for her. Despite being offered even more money to stay on, de Pablo chose to maintain David’s integrity. de Pablo ultimately cited that the scripts were no longer good enough for her character, revealing in a 2016 Q&A that her character “wasn’t being treated with the respect she deserved,” and that she told the show “until someone can write something really fantastic for Ziva I won’t come back” (via Hello Magazine).
Tony DiNozzo – Michael Weatherly
Tony left NCIS because he was simply tired of the show. Tony DiNozzo was one of the defining members of the NCIS team. Starting alongside Gibbs from the beginning, Very Special Agent Tony DiNozzo was known for his charm, humor, and playboy behavior. Just when it seemed like nothing could tear DiNozzo from his position, love ultimately won out. DiNozzo originally left to take care of his daughter after Ziva’s “death,” but his story didn’t end there. Having tracked down Ziva during her supposed death, DiNozzo was ready to settle down and raise their daughter in Paris once the dust had cleared.
Michael Weatherly was a staple on NCIS for 13 seasons — and, after such a long run, the actor was simply burnt out by NCIS. Weatherly was tired after so many demanding seasons, telling Hollywood Reporter that he was “ready for a new challenge.” He also greatly missed the on-screen chemistry between his character and Ziva David, who had already taken her leave.
Abby Sciuto – Pauley Perrette
Abby Sciuto left NCIS because the actor felt that she couldn’t work with Mark Harmon anymore. Though she was not a field agent, Sciuto was beloved both by her team and audiences alike. As the quirky, goth forensic specialist, there wasn’t a bit of evidence that could escape Sciuto’s keen eye — as long as there was enough Caf-Pow to fuel her, anyway. Though her methods weren’t always traditional, Abby always got the job done. After 15 seasons on NCIS, Sciuto left the series to start a charity in honor of her friend, Clayton Reeves, after he passed away saving her life.
But despite Abby and Gibbs’ close relationship on NCIS, Pauley Perrette and Mark Harmon had a falling out after Harmon’s dog attacked a crew member on set. When Harmon reportedly continued to bring the dog on set, the feud between the two grew so heated that they filmed on separate days, and the script was written to avoid having them on screen at the same time. Perrette would ultimately leave the series, stating (via Twitter) that she was “terrified of Harmon” and that she had nightmares of him attacking her. Though fans were hopeful she would eventually return, Perrette made her stance on this more than clear in her tweet.
NO I AM NOT COMING BACK! EVER! (Please stop asking?) I am terrified of Harmon and him attacking me. I have nightmares about it. I have a new show that is SAFE AND HAPPY! You’ll love it!#HappyPlace Love y’all! — Pauley Perrette (@PauleyP) June 7, 2019
Eleanor Bishop – Emily Wickersham
Eleanor Bishop left NCIS for unspecified reasons that remain a secret to this day. Special Agent Eleanor Bishop (Emily Wickersham) joined the NCIS team in NCIS season 11, taking up the mantle of Ziva’s absence. As a former NSA member, Bishop was an incredibly capable and quick-witted member of the NCIS Major Case Response Team. Bishop ultimately left the series after almost a decade with the team when it was discovered that she had leaked an NSA document in her past career. This, however, was revealed to be part of a ploy for Bishop to enter an undercover operation after leaving NCIS in “disgrace.”
Though Wickersham never cited a reason for quitting NCIS, it seems as though the departure was amicable and was made in good spirits. Wickersham announced her exit in a 2021 Instagram post, thanking the cast and crew for the opportunity to appear on the show. Wickersham has not appeared in any projects since NCIS, but the actress welcomed a son with her partner shortly after her departure.
Jacqueline Sloane – Maria Bello
Jacqueline Sloane left NCIS because she didn’t want to renew her contract for the series. Dr. Jacqueline “Jack” Sloane (Maria Bello), a former Lieutenant in the US Army, served as the team’s operational psychologist and profiler. The NCIS senior special agent had a close relationship with team leader Jethro Gibbs, to the point that the team would frequently rib the pair by hinting at a relationship between them. Though Sloane had hoped to retire to a peaceful life in Costa Rica, she ultimately decided to return to Afghanistan and further help those in need, continuing the work of a murdered friend.
Maria Bello’s exit from the show is another that seems to be in good spirits. After three years, the actress simply decided not to renew her contract, although she has never stated why. Bello expressed her love and gratitude for the cast and crew in a 2020 post (via Instagram), stating that she has “never worked with a kinder, more generous group of people.”
Leroy Jethro Gibbs – Mark Harmon
Gibbs left NCIS because he decided to retire from the series. As the team members of the NCIS Major Case Response Team rotated out, Agent Jethro Gibbs seemed like a permanent fixture. Taking no nonsense from his agents, Gibbs ran his team like a well-oiled family, keeping them all in line with a series of his own rules while ensuring they got always got their guy in the end. While it seemed like Gibbs would run his team forever, he made the surprising decision to retire to Alaska in 2021, where he finally found peace.
After 18 years on the show, Mark Harmon is stepping down from NCIS — in an acting capacity, anyway. Harmon will continue to serve as an executive producer on the show, working behind the scenes instead of in front of the camera. An on-screen return for Gibbs is not entirely out of the question, but nothing has been confirmed as of yet. Still, a large faction of NCIS fans is eagerly awaiting his return.
Who Hasn’t Left NCIS Yet
Most of the original NCIS cast didn’t make it through to the upcoming 21st season, save for one cast member who is still on the show, albeit in a limited capacity. Donald “Ducky” Mallard was introduced in the NCIS pilot episode as the Chief Medical Examiner and quickly became a fan favorite. Some of his memorable quirks include speaking in-depth with the dead as he performs autopsies, a phenomenon often interrupted by Gibbs, and a vast collection of colorful bow ties. And his eccentricities are not the only aspect of his character. Ducky was given his own backstory and character arc, which includes his time working for the Royal Army Medical Corps.
Associations with the CIA and alleged war crimes aside, the character of Ducky (played by David McCallum) retired from his role as Medical Examiner in NCIS season 15, but remains on the series in a limited capacity. After NCIS season 16, it was announced that McCallum would only appear in a reduced capacity in order to spend more time with his family. The fact that the actor is 89 years old could also have something to do with it. All in all, McCallum has appeared in 443 episodes of NCIS and remains in the series to this day.
MORE: Why Michael Weatherly Should Not Return To Replace Gibbs
Fans of NCIS are desperate to see Tony DiNozzo replace Gibbs as team leader after actor Mark Harmon stepped down. Here’s why he shouldn’t return
Fans of NCIS are desperate to see Michael Weatherly return to the show to replace Gibbs as team leader after actor Mark Harmon exited the show, but that would be a mistake. Weatherly played Special Agent Anthony “Tony” DiNozzo, the goofy right-hand man to Harmon’s Leroy Jethro Gibbs at the Naval Criminal Investigative Service from the pilot episode “Yankee White” in 2003 to his exit in 2016. He went on to head up CBS show Bull, playing psychologist Dr. Jason Bull, seemingly looking to further his career away from the Navy Yard. But news that Bull is coming to an end, coupled with Harmon’s departure, has led to some viewers putting two and two together to make five. Hopefully, it’s a coincidence and Weatherly will not return.
During Weatherly’s time on NCIS, his character saw incredible growth, from chauvinistic but lovable ladies man to his long-standing will-they-won’t-they storyline with colleague Ziva David (Cote de Pablo), a former Mossad agent and replacement for Agent Kate Todd, who was murdered by Ziva’s traitor brother Ari. Ziva and Tony’s spark was obvious from the start, and their tumultuous relationship was a consistent driving force of the show. Tony and Ziva—nicknamed “Tiva” by fans—had plenty of bumps in the road, sometimes skating the fine line between love and hate, such as when Tony fatally wounded Ziva’s then-boyfriend, Michael, in a scuffle. But ultimately their love for one another grew, with them even eventually having a child together.
Tony’s NCIS story was intertwined with Ziva up until the end, so to bring Michael Weatherly’s character back alone would be a grave mistake. Weatherly left the show at the end of NCIS season 13 when Ziva was thought to have been killed in a Mossad attack and Tony DiNozzo learned they had a daughter, Tali, leaving NCIS to track her down. But the pair’s narrative came to a somewhat satisfactory close when Ziva returned at the end of NCIS season 16 and revealed she’d faked her death to keep Tony and Tali safe. The show then gave Ziva, Tony, and their daughter a reunion in Paris—albeit off-screen. For Weatherly to return to his old stomping ground as Tony just because Gibbs has taken a step down would be a gratuitous mistake for both actor and character. Tony’s priorities changed as he got to know his daughter and it would make no sense for him to take his old job back or lead the team.
The only way that a return from Tony could be done justice is if it added something to the storyline he shares with Ziva and Tali. It would not be feasible for them both to return to the team—they fled to Paris to protect their daughter, so to return with her would only undo the reasoning behind Tony fleeing with Tali and why Ziva stayed hidden for so long. A guest appearance for one or two episodes could work, but making him a permanent member on the team once again would undermine everything that came before.
Plus, Tony would have to fight off Alden Parker (Gary Cole), the current team leader. NCIS is a different show now—the dynamics have changed as much as its characters—such as Nick Torres (Wilmer Valderrama), Kasie Hines (Diona Reasonover), and of course, the new gaffer Parker. While some fans have struggled with such a change in leadership, others are delighted that Parker is bringing something new to NCIS, which is currently in season 19. Perhaps one reason for the program’s success is its ability to bring in fresh meat and move the overall story along. If Tony returns to his old team, viewers initially excited might be left disappointed in the long run, after realizing that the show could never be the same as it was almost 20 years ago.
