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Why did Mark Harmon leave NCIS?

By Michael Weyer

“Great Wide Open” – Gibbs and McGee head to Alaska while the team works at home to uncover the conspiracy behind the serial killer, on the CBS Original series NCIS, Monday, Oct. 11 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network and available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+. Pictured: Mark Harmon as NCIS Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs. Photo: Cliff Lipson/CBS ©2021 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
“Great Wide Open” – Gibbs and McGee head to Alaska while the team works at home to uncover the conspiracy behind the serial killer, on the CBS Original series NCIS, Monday, Oct. 11 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network and available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+. Pictured: Mark Harmon as NCIS Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs. Photo: Cliff Lipson/CBS ©2021 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved. /
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NCIS fans still haven’t fully recovered from the loss of Leroy Jethro Gibbs. The question remains: what made Mark Harmon leave the smash hit series, and can he someday come back? Find out here!

From the moment NCIS was introduced via a backdoor pilot for JAG, Mark Harmon was the center of it all as Gibbs. It took a while to flesh out his backstory of multiple marriages and never getting over the death of his first wife and daughter. He was known for his gruff manner, complete inability to understand modern technology and his quirky rules. But Gibbs also cared deeply for his team and was willing to bend the rules to help them.

Season 18 had Gibbs in some tough spots, including being suspended for attacking a suspect. He was on the hunt for a serial killer, finally getting that boat he’d been building for years out of the basement when it was bombed.

The season 19 premiere had McGee helping Gibbs catch the killer. Gibbs then stunned McGee by saying he was staying in Alaska, and it looked like he was finally retiring. It was a surprise to fans as Gibbs was still in the opening credits for the season but never made an on-screen appearance.

Gibbs’ removal from the credits in season 20 settled his departure, but why would Harmon leave the role after almost two decades?

Why Mark Harmon left NCIS

Harmon was mostly silent until the release of the season 19 DVD in late 2022, where one featurette had him explaining his departure.

"What has always drawn me here is the character I play and to keep it fresh and to keep it challenging. Plot-wise, this character has taken the path that it did. I thought it was honest and OK with."

The actor has been mostly quiet about this since that statement, although he remains a producer on NCIS. So, could a return come about? The same feature had Harmon pointing out, “I’m not retired… The character is living in Alaska as far as I know.”

NCIS has remained a hit with fans even without Gibbs, yet many will agree it’s not quite the same without his unique energy. As of now, there are no plans for Gibbs to make a return, but fans can always be hopeful Mark Harmon decides to bring Gibbs back and spark up the series again.

Next. All 20 seasons of NCIS ranked worst to best. dark

NCIS seasons 1-20 are streaming on Paramount+.

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