After more than 20 years on air, NCIS has mastered longevity—but not without turbulence behind the scenes. Several major cast departures sparked rumors, controversy, and lingering fan questions.
Pauley Perrette’s 2018 exit as Abby Sciuto proved the most explosive. Though initially framed as amicable, her later tweets alleging fear and a toxic work environment fueled speculation of a serious rift, reportedly tied to an on-set dog bite incident involving Mark Harmon. CBS never fully addressed the claims.
Cote de Pablo’s sudden Season 11 departure as Ziva David stunned fans. She later revealed creative dissatisfaction, only returning years later when the storyline felt worthy. Michael Weatherly’s graceful goodbye as Tony DiNozzo was later overshadowed by harassment allegations on Bull, complicating his CBS legacy.
