NCIS Fan-Favorites: 4 Characters Who Got Away, but Fans Are Begging for Their Return
These characters' exits were the most painful of all.
More than 400 episodes, 21 seasons, millions of fans — this is NCIS, one of the most popular shows on television right now. The project has had its ups and downs, there were characters that fans loved and hated.
And there were those who left the show but remained forever in the hearts of viewers who still hope for their return. Here are four of the most beloved NCIS characters whose fates on the show weren't long enough.
1. Abby Sciuto played by Pauley Perrette
Pauley Perrette's Abby was one of the few remaining original cast members, so fans took it hard when Pauley announced she was leaving the show in 2017.
Perrette, who appeared in over 350 episodes of NCIS, left the show to pursue her acting career. But her absence is still felt by fans even four years after her last appearance on the show — viewers miss her eccentric behavior, unusual outfits, and the charming dynamic she had with many of the show's characters.
2. Eleanor Bishop played by Emily Wickersham
Just two weeks before her debut on the CBS drama, Emily Wickersham's role went from cameo to recurring. Wickersham's initial mission was to fill the void left by Cote de Pablo's Ziva David. However, Eleanor Bishop soon became not only a substitute, but a full-fledged member of the NCIS team.
At first, the reason why Emily left the project after season 18 was not disclosed, but it soon became known that the actress gave birth to a child shortly after her departure. At the same time, Eleanor's disappearance was also justified by the fact that the character became pregnant. Considering that Emily left NCIS due to pregnancy, fans still have hope that Emily will return to the show.
3. Leroy Jethro Gibbs played by Mark Harmon
The fourth episode of the 19th season of NCIS, which aired on October 11, 2021, was the farewell for the show's main star, Mark Harmon. The actor, who played Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs for 18 years, left a gaping hole in the heart of every NCIS fan.
Without a doubt, there's no one fans look forward to seeing once more than Gibbs — after all, there was nothing more consistent in NCIS than Mark Harmon's appearances in every episode.
Although Harmon has left the series, the show's showrunner left the door open for the actor to return at some point in the future. And fans can't wait for it to finally happen.
4. Jacqueline Sloane played by Maria Bello
The fate of Jacqueline Sloane in NCIS was not so long — the audience had to say goodbye to her in the 18th season, three years after they met the character. But even during that time, Sloane, played by Maria Bello, won more than one fan's heart.
According to the plot, Jacqueline went to Afghanistan to continue her work as a forensic psychologist, but viewers still expect her to return to Washington one day. Maria Bello decided not to renew her contract when it ended, so the chances of her reappearing are not very high.