Emily Wickersham, who portrayed Eleanor “Ellie” Bishop on NCIS, recently shed light on her decision to leave the show in 2021 after eight seasons. Joining the cast in 2011, Wickersham’s departure surprised many fans, sparking speculation about her reasons for exiting.
In a recent interview on the Off Duty: An NCIS Rewatch podcast, Wickersham clarified that her pregnancy wasn’t the cause of her exit. “I left the show, and then I found out I was pregnant a month later,” she explained, revealing that her decision to move on predated the news of her pregnancy.
After eight years in the role, Wickersham felt it was simply time for a change. “I felt it was time for a new chapter,” she shared, echoing sentiments of former co-stars like Michael Weatherly, who left after playing Tony DiNozzo for over a decade. Bishop’s storyline concluded with her going undercover with the CIA, offering closure for both her character and her romance with Agent Nick Torres.
Wickersham’s departure marked another shift in the ever-evolving NCIS cast. While Bishop’s absence left a gap, new characters like Agent Jessica Knight have helped the show continue to adapt and thrive in a changing television landscape.
