Tracking the careers of the cast since leaving the CBS juggernaut.

What happened to the original *NCIS *cast? See what Mark Harmon and other stars are doing today

Tracking the careers of the cast since leaving the CBS juggernaut.

By Sarah Weldon

and Kevin Jacobsen

May 12, 2026 7:00 p.m. ET

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The cast of 'NCIS'. Credit:

*NCIS* is the source of so many spinoffs that you may be shocked to learn the CBS stalwart was *itself* a spinoff. An offshoot of *JAG*, the popular procedural began in 2003, following a team of special agents working at the Naval Criminal Investigative Service in Washington, D.C.

Mark Harmon's Leroy Jethro Gibbs leads a team investigating various military-related crimes. When it debuted, that team included brilliant forensic scientist Abby (Pauley Perrette), cocksure senior field agent Tony (Michael Weatherly), and eccentric medical examiner Ducky (David McCallum), each of whom brought a unique perspective to the table.

With* NCIS* wrapping up its 23rd season, we figured it's a good time to revisit the OG stars. How long did they stay on the show? What did they get up to afterward? Read on for the answers.**

Mark Harmon (Leroy Jethro Gibbs)

Mark Harmon as Leroy Gibbs on 'NCIS'; Harmon in May 2024.

Tony Esparza/CBS Photo Archive/Getty; Gregg DeGuire/Getty

For 18 seasons (and four season 19 episodes), Mark Harmon starred as former U.S. Marine Corps scout sniper–turned–special agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs.

"What has always drawn me here is the character I play and to keep that fresh and to keep it challenging," Harmon said in a featurette on the season 19 DVD in 2022. "Plot-wise, this character has taken the path that it did."

Although his onscreen presence is deeply missed by *NCIS* fans, executive producer and showrunner Steven D. Binder said in a 2021 statement to "never count Leroy Jethro Gibbs out" for future episodes. Harmon also appeared in several episodes of *NCIS*: *New Orleans* and lends his voice as the narrator of *NCIS: Origins*.

Harmon has been married to actress Pam Dawber since 1987. They have two children together.

Pauley Perrette (Abby Sciuto)

Pauley Perrette on 'NCIS'; Perrette in July 2023.

Robert Voets/CBS Photo Archive/Getty; Amanda Edwards/Getty

In 2018, it was announced that Pauley Perrette would be leaving *NCIS* after playing the team's forensic scientist for 15 seasons. She also appeared as Abby on spinoffs *NCIS: Los Angeles* and *NCIS: New Orleans*. Perrette starred on CBS's short-lived series *Broke* in 2020. She revealed in 2022 that she survived a "massive stroke" the year prior.

Perrette retired from acting in 2020. As she explained to *Hello!* magazine in 2024, "I'm not ungrateful for the benefits that it gave to me. But I'm a different person now and I want to be here for it — the good and the bad and the painful. I want to be me all the time, and it takes a good amount of courage for me to say that to myself but it's authentically how I feel."**

Perrette was married to musician/actor Coyote Shivers from 2000 to 2006.

Sasha Alexander (Caitlin Todd)

Sasha Alexander on 'NCIS'; Alexander in March 2026.

Everett; Michael Buckner/Getty

Since leaving *NCIS *after the show's third season, Sasha Alexander went on to star on TNT's *Rizzoli & Isles* as Dr. Maura Isles from 2010 to 2016. For her role as Isles, Alexander won a People's Choice Award. She has guest-starred on such shows as *Shameless*, *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit*, *Curb Your Enthusiasm*, and *The Morning Show*.

"I really firmly believe in my heart that I would not be where I am today — happily married, with two kids, doing things creatively that I want — if I had stayed," Alexander told *TV Guide* in 2012 of her decision to leave *NCIS*. "I didn't want to wake up and be in my forties and go, 'Oh, my gosh!' But people don't understand."

Alexander has also stepped behind the camera as a director for episodes of *Rizzoli & Isles*, *You*, and *Bull*, the latter of which starred her *NCIS* costar Michael Weatherly.

She has been married to director Edoardo Ponti — son of legendary actress Sophia Loren — since 2007. They have two children together.

David McCallum (Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard)

David McCallum played Ducky on 'NCIS'.

Everett; Sonja Flemming/CBS via Getty

David McCallum had a long tenure as NCIS chief medical examiner Donald "Ducky" Mallard. Following Harmon's departure, he was the last remaining member of the show's original cast.

McCallum died of natural causes in 2023 at the age of 90. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Katherine Carpenter, and five children.

"David McCallum made every moment count, in life and on set," Weatherly wrote on X after his costar's death. "No one did it better. We were lucky to have him bring us Ducky. Let's send all the love in the world to his beautiful family."

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Michael Weatherly (Anthony DiNozzo)

Michael Weatherly as Tony DiNozzo on 'NCIS'; Weatherly in October 2025.

Everett; Slaven Vlasic/Getty

Michael Weatherly portrayed senior NCIS Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo for 13 seasons. After his run on the show ended in 2016, he starred as Dr. Jason Bull on the CBS drama *Bull*. He was accused of sexual harassment by former *Bull* costar Eliza Dushku in 2018, which led to the show's cancellation in 2022.

Weatherly and his former costar Cote de Pablo returned to the *NCIS* universe on the Paramount+ series *NCIS: Tony & Ziva*. The pair also hosted *Off Duty*, an *NCIS* rewatch podcast, in 2024.

Weatherly married Dr. Bojana Janković in 2009. They have two children.

Sean Murray (Timothy McGee)

Sean Murray on 'NCIS'; Murray in May 2025.

Monty Brinton/CBS via Getty; Steve Granitz/FilmMagic

After guest-starring as computer specialist Timothy McGee in several episodes of *NCIS'* first season, Sean Murray became a series regular the following year (and remains there). He also appeared in a 2017 episode of *NCIS: New Orleans*. Following McCallum's death, Murray is now the longest-running main cast member on *NCIS*.

Murray observed in a 2023 interview with EW why he feels *NCIS* has lasted as long as it has: "You know, a lot of these procedurals, everyone takes themselves very seriously, it seems. And we have a little more fun. The longer we've been around, the longer people have kind of really gotten to know these characters and like these characters, have become very protective of them."

Murray has two children with teacher Carrie James, to whom he was married from 2005 to 2025.

Joe Spano (Tobias Fornell)

Joe Spano on 'NCIS'; Spano in February 2026.

Robert Voets/CBS Photo Archive via Getty; Amy Sussman/WireImage

A recurring star since the first episode, Joe Spano portrays Gibbs' FBI counterpart and longtime friend, T.C. Fornell. His other TV credits since 2003 include *The Closer*, *The Mentalist*, *NCIS: New Orleans*, and *Pearson*.

Spano married therapist Joan Zerrien in 1980; they have two daughters.

Pancho Demmings (Gerald Jackson)

Pancho Demmings as Gerald Jackson on 'NCIS' Pancho Demmings at the 4th annual Variety's Texas Hold 'Em poker tournament to benefit the Children's Charity of Southern California on July 16, 2014. CBS; Barry King/FilmMagic

Pancho Demmings' character, assistant medical examiner Gerald Jackson, survived being shot by a terrorist in season 1 and captured by the same villain in season 3.

Though Gerald hasn't been seen since, Demmings has appeared on *24*, *CSI: NY,* *Bones, *and* Tyler and Borelli.*

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Original Article on Source

Source: “EW NCIS”