NCIS has earned its place as one of television’s longest-running criminal dramas. But behind the action and camaraderie, the show has bid farewell to several beloved characters—each departure a mix of personal choice, storylines, and off-screen dynamics. Let’s explore the real reasons Abby, Ziva, Kate, Tony, Bishop, Sloane, and others exited the series.
Abby Sciuto (Pauley Perrette)
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Why she left: After 15 seasons, Pauley Perrette walked away to focus on health, philanthropy, and life outside TV.
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Behind the scenes: Tensions with Mark Harmon’s dog on set reportedly escalated to multiple incidents. Perrette expressed feeling unsafe and ultimately stated she was “terrified of Harmon”ew.com+15thedirect.com+15newsweek.com+15cbr.com+10curiousjourney.net+10tvguide.com+10.
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How it played out: Abby’s exit was honorable—ending with tragedy, a heartfelt funeral, and her decision to start a charity in memory of Clayton Reeves en.wikipedia.org+4thedirect.com+4tvguide.com+4.
Ziva David (Cote de Pablo)
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Why she left: Ziva exited in Season 11 due to creative dissatisfaction. De Pablo felt her character wasn’t being respected and threatened to quit unless given stronger story directionen.wikipedia.org+13newsweek.com+13curiousjourney.net+13.
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Fan impact: Her departure stirred massive reaction—emails, paperclips, protest—demonstrating how deeply audiences connected with her ew.com+15en.wikipedia.org+15screenrant.com+15.
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Return potential: De Pablo eventually reprised her role for several episodes and is set to star in the new NCIS: Tony & Ziva spinoff cbr.com+14ew.com+14usmagazine.com+14.
Caitlin “Kate” Todd (Sasha Alexander)
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Reason: Alexander left after two seasons due to the physically gruelling schedule—10.5 months a year, 17-hour days tvguide.com+6newsweek.com+6cbr.com+6.
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Official storyline: Kate was killed off at the end of Season 2, shocking both viewers and co-stars with the intensity of the on-screen assassination en.wikipedia.org+5newsweek.com+5thecinemaholic.com+5.
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Afterwards: Alexander went on to star in Rizzoli & Isles and later directed for Bull, finding a sustainable balance post-NCIS cbr.com+6newsweek.com+6curiousjourney.net+6.
Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly)
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Why he left: Weatherly exited in Season 13, citing burnout after many seasons and a desire for new challenges, leading to his lead role in Bull en.wikipedia.org+8newsweek.com+8curiousjourney.net+8.
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In-universe: Tony left after learning of Ziva’s presumed death and discovering they share a daughter, Tali. It was a heartfelt goodbye aligned with his character arc usmagazine.com+6tvguide.com+6ew.com+6.
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Next steps: Tony is returning, alongside Ziva, in the upcoming NCIS: Tony & Ziva spinoff premiering September 2025 en.wikipedia.org+3ew.com+3tvguide.com+3.
Eleanor “Ellie” Bishop (Emily Wickersham)
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Her departure: Wickersham exited in Season 18 without public controversy.
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Detail: Her character left for a mission tied to the NSA and soon after, Wickersham welcomed a baby. She thanked the show publicly and has stepped back from actingthedirect.com+5movieweb.com+5people.com+5curiousjourney.net.
Jacqueline “Jack” Sloane (Maria Bello)
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Why she left: Bello chose not to renew her contract after a three-year run.
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On their terms: Her departure was amicable, built into the narrative as Sloane returning to humanitarian work in Afghanistan. Bello expressed gratitude for the experience cbr.com+8tvguide.com+8curiousjourney.net+8.
Other Notable Exits
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Quinn (Jennifer Esposito): Her departure after just one season was due to creative redirection; she confirmed the show moved away from her character cbr.com+1people.com+1.
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Gibbs (Mark Harmon): Harmon stepped back in 2021 after 18 seasons. Though retiring on-screen, he continues contributing as Executive Producer movieweb.com+9curiousjourney.net+9people.com+9.
✅ Final Take
Every departure from NCIS carries its own story—some rooted in actor well-being and career evolution, others sparked by creative frustration or personal transitions. But each exit was handled thoughtfully: by offering dramatic send-offs, creative logic, and integrity to both actors and characters. That enduring care is what’s kept NCIS resilient—even as it waves goodbye to beloved figures.
❓ FAQs
Q1: Did Abby leave because of on-set drama?
Yes, tension with Mark Harmon’s dog and safety concerns reportedly factored into Pauley Perrette’s departurevanityfair.com+8thedirect.com+8screenrant.com+8.
Q2: Why was Ziva’s departure so emotional for fans?
Cote de Pablo felt the role had become stagnant. Her exit sparked a social media flood of protest and fan backlashen.wikipedia.org+7digitalspy.com+7en-news.net+7.
Q3: Was Kate’s exit planned or sudden?
Kate was killed off after Sasha Alexander found the schedule unsustainable. The exit was abrupt by designnewsweek.com+3en.wikipedia.org+3reddit.com+3.
Q4: What’s Tony up to now?
Michael Weatherly’s Tony heads the upcoming NCIS: Tony & Ziva spinoff on Paramount+ with Zivaen.wikipedia.org+6ew.com+6tvguide.com+6.
Q5: Will Gibbs return on-screen?
Mark Harmon has retired from acting on NCIS but remains executive producer. His return isn’t confirmed, but a Gibbs prequel NCIS: Origins is in production.
Custom Message:
Every goodbye on NCIS reflects real stories—of growth, change, and new chapters. Change is vital, but the legacy remains. Here’s to the characters who shaped us—and the stories yet to come.
