Why Did Mark Harmon Leave NCIS? Who Plays Gibbs on NCIS?
by Mathelene | Updated May 31, 2023
Why Did Mark Harmon Leave NCIS?
Mark Harmon, who portrayed Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs since the beginning of NCIS, departed the series in Season 19, Episode 4, titled "Great Wide Open." In the episode, Gibbs traveled to Alaska for a case alongside NCIS Senior Field Agent Timothy McGee.
Towards the end of the episode, Gibbs made the decision to stay in Alaska instead of returning to Washington D.C., and continuing his career with NCIS. He expressed his desire to find a sense of peace he hadn't felt since the deaths of his wife Shannon and daughter Kelly, stating that he was not yet ready to let it go. He offered McGee his role at NCIS, acknowledging his trust and appreciation for him as a colleague.
As for the reason behind Mark Harmon's departure from NCIS, he provided some insight in a special featurette for the NCIS Season 19 DVD. As an executive producer on the show, Harmon mentioned that he left to keep his career fresh and challenging. He explained that what had always attracted him to the series was the character he played, and he wanted to ensure that the portrayal remained dynamic.
Additionally, in a November 2020 interview with Entertainment Tonight, Harmon hinted that his age may have played a role in his decision to leave NCIS. “I’ve always trusted the writers here… They’ve constantly been challenging here, the character continues to evolve, he’s getting older, and some of this I’m dealing with as an actor as well as playing the character,” Harmon said. “It’s been a ride here that personally I’m proud of as part of this crew.
It’s not easy and I don’t know that there will be a show like this again that has this kind of impact over a period of time like this has had. But as long as it’s here, we still try to keep it about the work here every day.”He continued, “As long as this group is still grabbing onto that every morning when we get in, and certainly this time has made us focus more on that than maybe ever in the past, we’re appreciative to have that opportunity and we know what it took to get there.
We know what it’s going to take to stay, so the effort here has been remarkable.” Despite Mark Harmon's departure from NCIS in Season 19, Episode 4, his name continued to appear in the opening credits of the show until the premiere of Season 20 in 2022. Since leaving NCIS, Harmon has not taken on any new acting roles, as indicated by his IMDb page, where the CBS primetime drama remains his most recent credit.
However, there is a possibility of this changing in the future. In February 2023, The Hollywood Reporter announced that Harmon had signed with The Gersh Agency, a renowned talent agency that represents esteemed actors such as Mandy Moore, Adam Driver, Patricia Arquette, Allison Janney, and Brendan Fraser.
Who Plays Gibbs on NCIS?
Thomas Mark Harmon played Gibbs on NICS. Thomas Mark Harmon, born on September 2, 1951, is an American actor renowned for his portrayal of Leroy Jethro Gibbs in NCIS. He has enjoyed a diverse acting career since the early 1970s.
After working primarily as a character actor in the 1990s, he garnered critical acclaim for his role as Secret Service special agent Simon Donovan in a four-episode story arc of The West Wing in 2002. This performance earned him an Emmy Award nomination.
Harmon's character, Leroy Jethro Gibbs, was first introduced in two guest-starring episodes of JAG before he went on to star in the spinoff series NCIS from 2003 to 2021. Born in Burbank, California, Harmon is the youngest of three children.
His father was Tom Harmon, a Heisman Trophy-winning football player and broadcaster, and his mother was Elyse Knox, an actress, model, and artist. He has two older sisters, Kristin Nelson (a late actress and painter) and Kelly Harmon (an actress and model).
In May 2002, Harmon's portrayal of Secret Service special agent Simon Donovan in The West Wing garnered him his second Emmy Award nomination, 25 years after his first nomination. The creator of JAG and NCIS, Donald P. Bellisario, saw his performance and subsequently cast Harmon as a guest star in two episodes of JAG in April 2003.
It was in these episodes that Harmon's character, Leroy Jethro Gibbs, was introduced. From September 2003 onwards, Harmon portrayed Gibbs as the lead character in the CBS drama NCIS. His role on the show earned him six People's Choice Awards nominations, including a win for Favorite TV Crime Drama Actor in 2017.
Throughout his tenure on NCIS, Harmon had the opportunity to work alongside three of his former co-stars from Chicago Hope: Rocky Carroll, Lauren Holly, and Jayne Brook. Additionally, since 2008, he has served as a producer and executive producer on the show. In the fourth episode of NCIS's nineteenth season, Harmon's character, Gibbs, departed the series as a regular cast member, following the events of the previous season finale.
Is Mark Harmon Coming Back to NCIS?
There are indications that Mark Harmon could potentially return to NCIS in the future. Rocky Carroll, who portrays NCIS Director Leon Vance, hinted in an interview that there will always be a tease of Gibbs potentially coming back as long as the show continues. Harmon's character, Leroy Jethro Gibbs, is often seen as the moral compass of the series, and Carroll expressed his belief that Gibbs is a character fans would love to see return.
In a featurette for the NCIS Season 19 DVD, Harmon also hinted that Gibbs was written out of the series in a way that doesn't definitively kill off the character, leaving the possibility for his return. Harmon mentioned that he is not retired and that Gibbs is living in Alaska as far as he knows.
Statements from executive producer and showrunner Steven D. Binder and executive producer Chase Floyd Johnson further suggest the potential for Harmon's return. Binder emphasized that Mark Harmon continues to be an important part of the show and hinted that the future of Gibbs is unpredictable but never to count him out.
Johnson mentioned that Harmon approved of how Gibbs was written out and that the ending provided a sense of comfort for the audience, but also left room for his potential return. While nothing is confirmed, these hints and statements from the cast and crew of NCIS indicate that Mark Harmon's return as Gibbs is a possibility that fans can look forward to.
NCIS
NCIS is an American police procedural television series that combines elements of military drama, police procedural genres, and comedy. It revolves around a fictional team of special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. The concept and characters were initially introduced in two episodes of the CBS series JAG.
Premiering on September 23, 2003, as a spin-off from JAG, NCIS has become one of the longest-running scripted, non-animated primetime TV series in the United States. Created by Donald P. Bellisario and Don McGill, NCIS has entered its 20th full season and is also in broadcast syndication on the USA Network.
The show underwent a title change, starting with "Navy NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service" before being shortened to "NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service" and finally, simply "NCIS." The success of the series led to two spin-offs: NCIS: Los Angeles, which premiered during the sixth season, and NCIS: New Orleans, which spun off from a two-part episode in the 11th season.
While NCIS initially had modest ratings, it gained popularity over time. By its third season, it consistently ranked in the top 20 shows and eventually became a top-five hit by the sixth season. In 2011, it was voted America's favorite television show in an online Harris Poll. During the 2012-2013 network television season, NCIS finished its 10th season as the most-watched television series in the U.S. The show has now entered its 20th season, and on February 21, 2023, it was renewed for a 21st season.
Why Did Mark Harmon Leave NCIS? - FAQs
NCIS premiered on September 23, 2003.
NCIS revolves around a team of special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, who investigate crimes related to the United States Navy and Marine Corps.
The main character of NCIS is Leroy Jethro Gibbs, portrayed by Mark Harmon. He is a special agent and the leader of the NCIS team.