As a top-rated naval drama entering its nineteenth season in 2021, NCIS has had its share of on-set turmoil, which has resulted in a few of the show’s actors departing and never looking back. You can be confident that Mark Harmon will continue to appear on the program as Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs, at least temporarily. (After reading this list, you may decide if that’s a good or negative thing.) Who remains and who leaves the cast looks to be in question for the rest of the group, though.
Former cast members are now opening up about the drama that caused them to permanently leave the program!
Zoe McLellan as Meredith Brody
Meredith “Merri” Brody, played by Zoe McLellan, is a senior special agent with NCIS who has experience conducting interrogations and holds a black belt in aikido. In 2014’s season 11, McLellan joined the cast of NCIS and later rose to fame on its spinoff, NCIS: New Orleans. She departed the show in 2016 after only two seasons, allegedly owing to a “creative decision,” but the real reason she left turned out to be a little more contentious than that.
Why Zoe McLellan Left the Show
Years later, former showrunner Jeffrey Lieber said that he had been under pressure from the show’s executives to remove Zoe McLellan. At first, he wasn’t clear why they wanted her fired because he (and the audience) were continually pleased with her performance. Then he said one of the executives had acknowledged they didn’t find her attractive and wanted her gone. Lieber was expelled from the program, and someone else took his place. That person was eventually fired for reportedly engaging in even more sexist behavior toward women.
Cote de Pablo as Ziva David
For eight seasons, Cote de Pablo played Ziva David on NCIS as a regular cast member. De Pablo said she wasn’t ready to discuss the circumstances surrounding the decision to remove her character off the program in 2013, after it had already happened. Not long after leaving, she told TV Guide, “As far as my choice to quit, that’s a personal matter, and I’d rather leave it at that.” Fans had a glimmer of hope that Ziva would yet make a comeback because she was spared from death.
So what was the cause of her departure?
Why Cote de Pablo Left the Show
“I didn’t go because I was ready, because I wanted to go, or because I was exhausted. I really didn’t have much of a choice, de Pablo told USA Today. She admitted that she departed the program because she objected to the route the writers were taking her character in a 2016 interview. Hey, I really like this character. I spent eight years lovingly creating this character. Therefore, no amount of money in the world [would keep me there] if I felt or thought the character was not being handled with the respect she deserved.
Your guess is as good as ours, but to make matters more confusing, de Pablo then withdrew her words, saying they were misinterpreted and that she still isn’t ready to discuss why she left.
Michael Weatherly as Tony DiNozzo
Over the course of an astounding 13 seasons and 305 episodes, Michael Weatherly portrayed special agent Tony DiNozzo on NCIS. Additionally, he had guest appearances in the spinoffs NCIS: New Orleans and Los Angeles. He is recognized for being an outspoken former athlete whose charming personality enables him efficiently undertake undercover work and cope with friction inside the agency. His character is the senior field agent of the Major Case Response Team.
On the show, viewers adored Weatherly and his persona.
So why did he make his exit?
Why Michael Weatherly Left the Show
Weatherly startled NCIS viewers in January 2016 by announcing that he will be quitting the program permanently. He stated, “I shall miss the incredible staff and actors, who are like family to me. “And thank you to all of the fans throughout the world; it’s been a wonderful trip!” Later, he said that he had been itching to do more diverse roles and that he believed it was the right moment for him to leave the program. He received his next major acting role quite quickly, so he obviously made the right choice!
Pauley Perrette as Abigail Sciuto
For an incredible 15 seasons, Pauley Perrette’s Abby Sciuto, a pig-tailed forensic scientist, was a favorite of the NCIS audience. She even made appearances in four episodes of the NCIS: Los Angeles and NCIS: New Orleans spinoffs of the main series. Given the popularity of her portrayal of Abby Sciuto, Perrette rose to prominence among American primetime television actresses in 2011. Her enormous popularity only served to make her exit in 2018 all the more unexpected.
What transpired on the set that motivated her to permanently leave the program is detailed below.
Why Pauley Perrette Left the Show
According to reports, Perrette and co-star Mark Harmon were extremely tense with one other and insisted on having entirely distinct shooting schedules. When Harmon’s dog attacked a staff member in 2016, putting them in the hospital, tensions began to rise. As a result of how uncomfortable it was making the rest of the cast and crew, Perrette became quite outspoken about Harmon not bringing the dog back to the set. Then, in 2019, Perrette wrote that Harmon had given her nightmares and that she was truly afraid of him. She was unapologetically direct with viewers about the fact that she wouldn’t be coming back to the program.
Adam Jamal Craig as Dominic Vail
You have to be always conscious that your character might be killed off when you’re performing in a program like NCIS. Adam Jamal Craig (shown, right), who portrayed rookie agent Dominic “Dom” Vail and was initially slated to be a series regular in the spinoff NCIS: Los Angeles, experienced just that. Before being kidnapped, Dom appeared in the first 13 episodes. This caused his role to disappear. Here is why the decision was taken by the show’s producers.
Why Adam Jamal Craig Left the Show
Shane Brennan, the executive producer, reportedly has a wicked sense of humor. To keep the audience on their toes, he simply had Dom murdered off the program. I firmly believe in manipulating the audience’s expectations, he declared. They need to understand that nothing is sacrosanct. The cast is also aware of the game I play. Nobody is secure. Adam Jamal Craig handled it well, saying that even though he had “high aspirations for Agent Vail,” he still had “full confidence and respect in [Brennan’s] vision for the characters and the universe he built.” It would appear that this mentality would easily lead to a hostile climate on set.
Lauren Holly as Jenny Shepard
Between 2005 to 2008, Lauren Holly played Director Jenny Shepard as a regular on the program. Interestingly, Holly was OK with the job being only supposed to be a six-episode commitment because it allowed her to spend more time with her family. Holly and her family moved from Chicago to Los Angeles and stayed there for two years when the show’s producers chose to keep her character on as a regular.
Why Lauren Holly Left the Show
Holly has stated that although she made a lot of friends and loved her time on NCIS, in the end she didn’t agree with the new creative team that was hired. She stated on her website, “I was heartbroken when [NCIS co-creator] Don Bellisario was driven out, and I missed him a lot. Holly wrote, “To be honest, now that the work bug had struck me again, I grew bored with my part of the “Director,”” acknowledging her boredom. It goes without saying that she wasn’t really unhappy to learn that her character will be murdered off.
Sasha Alexander as Caitlin Todd
Special Agent Caitlin Todd was portrayed by Sasha Alexander, who stayed with the program until the end of season two. She had such an important role in the 2003 pilot episode that it served as the central plot point for the whole show. After season two, she left the program as a full-time cast member, and in season three, she was listed as a guest star in a two-part episode before she made the decision to quit the show permanently.
Why Sasha Alexander Left the Show
Donald Bellisario and Sasha Alexander are pretty candid about her leaving the program. People are unaware that 24 episodes, or ten and a half months and seventeen hours per day, are produced for a network show every year. It’s intense,” Alexander declared. In 2005, Bellisario told the Chicago Tribune, “I had already begun writing the final episode of the season and was preparing to fly to Australia to take a little break.”
She entered the office two days before I was scheduled to go and sobbed, “I simply can’t work this hard.” Bellisario pushed for Alexander’s release from the CBS contract even though she was still under contract there at the time. When someone claims that something is not what they anticipated, you shouldn’t make them labor against their will, Bellisario added.
Emily Wickersham as Ellie Bishop
Ellie Bishop, an NSA analyst, is a character played by Emily Wickersham who first appears in season 11. She is described as an Oklahoman rural girl whose boss refers to her as a “reclusive data freak.” She claims that she identifies particular memories with the food she was eating at the time. The character also likes food and is frequently seen munching on snacks at her desk. Wickersham persevered through the program for an astounding eight seasons, but following the season 18 conclusion, she made the decision to end her involvement.
Why Emily Wickersham Left the Show
Ellie Bishop’s exit from the program was precipitated by her covert, lone undercover assignment. Although the motivation behind Emily Wickersham’s desire to be written off is still unclear, the fact that her character was not killed off suggests that she left on friendly terms. Maybe she was only exploring for new acting roles since she thought the part was growing old after eight years. But considering that she left the door unlocked after leaving, maybe she’ll show up again in later episodes.
Duane Henry as Clayton Reeves
British M16 Intelligence Operative Clayton Reeves was portrayed by Duane Henry. His character originally featured in season 13 and then made a comeback as the major character in season 14. He frequently makes an unannounced appearance with information crucial to the case at hand. Henry had to couch surf when he initially started the part because he had never been to Los Angeles before. But when Pauley Perrette, a co-star, learned about it, she suggested that he stay at one of her homes!
Why Duane Henry Left the Show
In pretty much the most sincere manner imaginable, Duane Henry quit the show. His character is murdered off after two seasons while attempting to save Perrette’s Abby. In an interview with TVLine, he remarked, “To be closing up with her was wonderful, a dream come true for anyone. Showrunner Gary Glasberg, who invented the character, passed away while the program was still being produced, leaving the actors, particularly Henry, in suspense about the character’s future. Henry recalled noticing a hint of worry on people’s expressions as he passed.
Miguel Ferrer as Owen Granger
On NCIS: Los Angeles, Miguel Ferrer portrayed Assistant Director Owen Granger. He appeared often in seasons three and four and played a major role from seasons five through eight. Then, after Ferrer received a real-life diagnosis of throat cancer, the show’s creators included his illness. Granger eventually has speech difficulties and his health deteriorates, which was a representation of Ferrer’s condition in real life as a result of cancer. Given that Ferrer was well-known for his voice, everything looked to be a cruel twist of fate.
Why Miguel Ferrer Left the Show
Sadly, Miguel Ferrer passed away in 2017, but the program will carry on his memory. He was renowned for his commitment to acting and talents to the field; he even continued to play Owen Granger up until his passing. Working was the most significant thing to Ferrer, according to the executive producer of the program R. Scott Gemmill. Even when we didn’t want him to work, he remained working constantly since he loved his trade.
Lucas Black as Christopher LaSalle
Senior Special Agent Christopher LaSalle, played by Lucas Black, was one of the series’ leaders and appeared in more than 140 episodes of the spinoff NCIS: New Orleans. Fans soon came to love the former mascot of the University of Alabama and magna cum laude laureate, so it is understandable that they were startled to find that the character will be killed off in season six.
Click to the next slide to learn why Black made the decision to leave…
Why Lucas Black Left the Show
Black stated, “This program has been so nice to me throughout the years – surpassing my hopes and ambitions,” in an official video message released to the NCIS Twitter page. But it’s not simple for me to do this work; I have to put a lot of other responsibilities on hold in order for me to be here. But now is the time for me to concentrate on my life’s priorities. Although that was Black’s stated reason for leaving, some outlets hypothesized that he may have chosen to do so in order to devote more time to his parts in the Fast & Furious franchise.
Pictured is a scene from The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.
Jennifer Esposito as Alex Quinn
In season 14, Jennifer Esposito only appeared in 24 episodes as Alex Quinn. NCIS executive producer Gary Glasberg commented, “We couldn’t be happier to have Jennifer Esposito joining us for season 14.” We are excited for her to join our team since she “embodies all we hoped for in the character of Quinn.” Then, in a decision that shocked viewers considerably, she was dropped off the program in the 2017 season finale.
Why Jennifer Esposito Left the Show
After being diagnosed with celiac disease, rumors spread that Esposito had quit NCIS due to health issues. When she previously worked on the television series Blue Bloods, her role was cancelled after 46 episodes because the network said she could only manage a “restricted, part-time schedule.” Fans assumed this was because of her health, but Esposito later revealed to Dr. Drew that she quit the network because they required her to work more hours than she had agreed to in her contract. So, who is telling the truth?
Muse Watson as Mike Franks
Beginning in 2006, Muse Watson played Special Agent Mike Franks, once the mentor and colleague of Agent Gibbs (played by Mark Harmon), in a recurrent guest role. In the episode “Hiatus Part I,” Franks was first presented through flashbacks. Producers adored the character, but sadly, he was killed off the program around season 8. So why did they decide to fire him then, given that information? Was there any turmoil going on behind the scenes?
Why Muse Watson Left the Show
Nope. In the end, Muse Watson may have departed the program on the best possible terms. It was a difficult choice to fire Mike Franks, according to Gary Glasberg. According to Glasberg, “We adore Muse Watson, we love the character, and their connection is incredibly personal and singular.” In other words, the character’s death was just for shock effect in the show. In fact, Watson left on such friendly terms that he has even appeared in later episodes as an angel and in flashback episodes!
Pancho Demmings as Gerald Jackson
Gerald Jackson, a character played by Pancho Demmings, only appeared in 15 episodes of NCIS. Jackson is abducted in the first episode of season three before making a comeback and telling his coworkers what happened to him. Nevertheless, despite how intriguing that narrative may be, the show’s creators chose not to expand on it past the two-part premiere. One of the most pressing issues for NCIS viewers is the fate of Jackson’s unfinished narrative. Here is what transpired…
Why Pancho Demmings Left the Show
It seems that Demmings was perplexed by Gerald Jackson’s exit from the show in addition to viewers. He said that his character was placed on hold following his brief appearance in season one. Demmings has been a really good sport about the whole issue, despite the sudden departure. He told Showbiz Cheat Sheet that at first, “I suppose they were looking at prolonging my tale.” “I suppose they ultimately decided to go in a different way.” The actor voiced his disappointment at having to quit the program, but he also acknowledged that it occasionally happens in the course of doing business. On whatever program you’re in, he noted, “sometimes that’s simply what occurs as a result of multiple narratives developing.”
Maria Bello as Jacqueline Sloane
Dr. Jacqueline “Jack” Sloane, a senior special agent and operational psychologist with a Ph.D. in psychology, was portrayed by Mario Bello. The persona had served in Afghanistan before becoming a prisoner of war there. Although her time as a POW had a significant impact on her mental health in the show, it also gave her the opportunity to interact with others who had experienced comparable circumstances. It was revealed that Dr. Sloane would return to Afghanistan midway through season 18.
Here’s why Bello left the show…
Why Maria Bello Left the Show
Maria Bello hasn’t really said much about why she left NCIS in the media, but it appears that she only signed on for three seasons and never had any plans to stay for very long. The Woman King is one of the new ventures she has up her sleeve, but even though we’re sure NCIS fans are unhappy about her leave, everything appears to be working out in her favor.