In a sea of suits and seriousness, Abby Sciuto was a beam of goth-infused light. From her lab filled with Caf-Pow cups to her bear hugs and dark lipstick, she was unlike any other forensic scientist on TV. Portrayed by Pauley Perrette, Abby was a fan-favorite from day one. And when she left in Season 15, it left a void NCIS has never truly filled.
The Heartbeat of the Lab
Abby wasn’t just comic relief. She was the show’s conscience. She bonded with Gibbs like a daughter, she adored Ducky, and she balanced the show’s procedural coldness with emotion and joy. Her scientific genius and quirky energy made her one of the most recognizable characters on TV. She could outsmart terrorists, hack into Pentagon-level systems, and still have time to bake for the team.
A Bittersweet Goodbye
Her final episodes—particularly “Two Steps Back”—were emotionally heavy. After the death of Clayton Reeves, Abby left the agency and moved to London. Her departure was abrupt, and viewers felt it. For a character who had been part of the team since the pilot, it was hard to imagine the NCIS lab without her music, her pigtails, and her loyalty.
A Departure Shadowed by Real-Life Drama
Behind the scenes, Perrette’s exit was marred by controversy. Though details were never fully disclosed, she made public claims about feeling unsafe on set, pointing toward an alleged incident involving Mark Harmon’s dog and studio tensions. CBS acknowledged her departure but stayed quiet on the deeper issues.
Regardless of the off-screen drama, fans remember Abby not for how she left, but for the love and life she brought to NCIS. She wasn’t just a character—she was a movement. Cosplayers, forensic science students, and countless viewers found inspiration in her fearless individuality.
