Introduction
If you’ve been watching NCIS since its early seasons, you know it’s not just a police procedural—it’s a cultural phenomenon. Over more than two decades, the cast has changed, roles have shifted, and fan favorites have departed (or returned!). But where are those actors now? And who holds down the fort in this long-running procedural? In this deep dive, I trace the journey of major NCIS cast members through the years—where they started, major turning points, and what they’re doing today.
1. The Beginnings: Original Cast and Their First Big Arcs
Mark Harmon (Leroy Jethro Gibbs)
Mark Harmon has been the cornerstone of NCIS since the show’s inception in 2003. He played Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs—a character defined by quiet strength, his rules, and a complex past. Harmon led the show for 18 seasons before exiting in 2021.
Pauley Perrette (Abby Sciuto)
Pauley Perrette’s Abby was iconic—bright, eccentric, scientifically brilliant, and a fan favorite. She remained on the show for 15 seasons before leaving in 2017.
Michael Weatherly (Anthony ‘Tony’ DiNozzo)
Tony DiNozzo was the charismatic, often comedic foil to Gibbs for many years. Weatherly remained with the series until 2016, making his mark with some big character arcs and moments.
Cote de Pablo (Ziva David)
Introduced in Season 3, Ziva brought a different energy to the team—tough, mysterious, emotionally complex. De Pablo stayed until 2013, but made recurring returns later.
Sasha Alexander (Caitlin Todd)
In the earliest seasons, Sasha Alexander’s character was one of the first big departures. Caitlin Todd left the show early but left a lasting impression.
2. Mid-Series Changes: Additions, Departures, and Shifts
David McCallum (Dr. “Ducky” Mallard)
McCallum played the beloved Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard—wise, kind, often philosophical. He was with the show for many years until his departure.
Rocky Carroll (Leon Vance)
Rocky Carroll came in as a recurring character in Season 5 and later became a major fixture as NCIS Director Leon Vance. He continues to be a part of NCIS as of the latest seasons.
Emily Wickersham (Eleanor Bishop)
Wickersham joined later—after several original members had left—and took on the role of Eleanor Bishop. Her tenure lasted until about 2021, after which she stepped away from the show.
Maria Bello (Jack Sloane)
Bello played Jacqueline “Jack” Sloane for about four seasons before leaving in 2021. Her character added depth with psychological insight and backstory.
3. Who Stayed & Who Rose Up: The Supporting Players That Became Mainstays
Brian Dietzen (Dr. Jimmy Palmer)
Brian Dietzen started in a supporting role around 2004, became regular in Season 10, and has stayed on the show ever since. He’s one of the longest-serving cast members still with NCIS.
Sean Murray (Timothy McGee)
McGee started early and gradually grew into a central character. He’s remained, evolving alongside the show as cast members rotated in and out.
Wilmer Valderrama (Nick Torres)
One of the newer faces in recent seasons, Torres has become part of the core team, helping steer NCIS into new storylines and dynamics.
4. What They’re Doing Now: Former Stars & New Spin-Offs
Mark Harmon
Since leaving as a regular, Harmon hasn’t completely disappeared. He narrated NCIS: Origins, the prequel series about Young Gibbs, and serves in executive production roles. The character of Gibbs is still “alive” in the fictional universe and may appear again.
Michael Weatherly & Cote de Pablo
These two are back together in NCIS: Tony & Ziva, a spin-off that premiered in 2025. Their characters—Tony DiNozzo and Ziva David—are reunited, and the show explores their lives, relationship, and family (including their daughter) in a new setting.
Pauley Perrette
After leaving in 2017, Perrette has kept a lower public profile. She appeared in the sitcom Broke in 2020, but largely stepped away from her high-profile NCIS life.
Emily Wickersham
Since her exit, she has focused more on personal life, including motherhood. Her public appearances and acting roles have been more selective.
Maria Bello
Post-NCIS, Bello appeared in Beef (a Netflix series) and has also taken on producing and writing work.
5. The NCIS Universe Expands: Spin-Offs, Prequels & New Faces
NCIS: Hawaiʻi
Vanessa Lachey led this spin-off as Jane Tennant. The show launched in 2021 and offered a new locale and cast dynamic. It wrapped up after three seasons, ending in May 2024.
NCIS: Sydney
An Australian installment in the franchise, NCIS: Sydney offers fresh settings, characters, and an international flavor. It’s part of the franchise’s growth beyond the original U.S. base.
NCIS: Origins
This prequel series (first airing around 2024-2025) explores a younger Gibbs and earlier years before the main NCIS timeline. It helps deepen the lore and gives longtime fans a peek into how things began.
NCIS: Tony & Ziva
Premiered in 2025 on Paramount+. It reunites longtime fan favorites in a new context—showing what their lives look like after the events in the original NCIS, and how they move forward together.
6. Key Themes & Speaking Points: What the Changes Tell Us
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Longevity and Adaptation: Few series survive this long; NCIS has done it by allowing its cast to evolve. Some exit, others rise. The show changes, but honors its roots.
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Fans & Nostalgia: Returning characters (like Ziva, even in guest or spin-off roles) show how much nostalgia matters. Viewers want connection to the past.
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New Voices, New Styles: Spin-offs and newer cast members inject fresh energy—international settings, modern storytelling, more diverse character arcs.
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Leaving & Reclaiming Identity: Many departing cast members talk about wanting fresh challenges, stepping away, balancing public/private life. Their stories matter as much as the characters’.
7. Spotlight: Individual Journeys & Surprising Paths
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Duane Henry (Clayton Reeves): He had a short but memorable run; his character’s exit came partly due to behind-the-scenes issues (creative development after the death of a showrunner). Henry has since worked in films and TV elsewhere.
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Jennifer Esposito (Alex Quinn): One-season character, but Esposito continued with strong TV and film roles after leaving NCIS.
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Wilmer Valderrama: Though a newer character relative to the originals, his presence has been steady and his resume outside NCIS continues (voice work, other show appearances).
Conclusion
There’s something special about NCIS that goes beyond procedural plots—it’s about characters growing, changing, and connecting across decades. Whether you were first drawn in by Gibbs’s stoicism, Abby’s brilliance, or the energy Tony injected, you’ve witnessed a cast that doesn’t just age—they evolve. Some actors left, others rose up, and new spin-offs ensure the universe keeps expanding. If there’s one thing the NCIS cast shows us, it’s that change doesn’t have to mean losing what audiences loved—it can mean building something bigger.
FAQs
Q1: Is Mark Harmon done with NCIS, or could Gibbs come back?
A1: While Harmon left his role as a regular in 2021, Gibbs hasn’t been written off as dead. He’s living in Alaska in the storyline, and there’s still room in the NCIS universe for him to make appearances.
Q2: Why did Pauley Perrette leave NCIS and what is she doing now?
A2: She departed in 2017 after 15 seasons. Post-NCIS, she appeared on shows like Broke in 2020, but generally, she’s kept a lower profile and stepped back from large-scale acting projects.
Q3: What is NCIS: Tony & Ziva about and who returns for it?
A3: Premiered in 2025, NCIS: Tony & Ziva reunites Michael Weatherly (Tony DiNozzo) and Cote de Pablo (Ziva David). It follows their life post-original series, focusing on raising their daughter, navigating threats, and dealing with their past.
Q4: Which original or early NCIS cast members are still on the show today?
A4: Brian Dietzen (Jimmy Palmer) and Sean Murray (Tim McGee) are among those still on the series. Rocky Carroll is also still part of the cast.
Q5: How many spin-offs and related NCIS series are there now?
A5: As of 2025, there are several: NCIS: Los Angeles, NCIS: New Orleans, NCIS: Hawaiʻi (now ended), NCIS: Sydney, NCIS: Origins, and NCIS: Tony & Ziva. The franchise continues growing.
