Mark Harmon has opened up about his departure from NCIS and hinted at the possibility of his character, Leroy Jethro Gibbs, returning to the beloved CBS series.
Speaking at the Television Critics Association summer press tour in July, the 72-year-old actor reflected on his 2021 exit while discussing CBS’ upcoming prequel series, NCIS: Origins. When asked about stepping away from his iconic role, Harmon explained, “It wasn’t so much a decision to leave, but the right timing to push away a little bit. I was thrilled with the storyline and how they handled the character. The show continued on.”
Harmon, who hasn’t portrayed Gibbs since season 19 but remains an executive producer on NCIS, addressed whether he’d consider reprising the role. “I’ve been asked that a lot,” he said, adding, “I’ve always let the writers do what they want to do.”
On the prospect of returning for the show’s eventual series finale, Harmon told TVLine, “I don’t know. It’s really about feeling like you’re fulfilled with a role or complete with a role.” He continued, “What has always drawn me here is the character I play and keeping it fresh and challenging. Plot-wise, this character has taken the path that it did.”
Harmon also shared his thoughts on Gibbs’ current life within the NCIS universe: “I’m not retired. The character is living in Alaska, as far as I know.”
Meanwhile, fans of NCIS and its prequel NCIS: Origins face a six-week hiatus after the Christmas episodes air on December 16. The break, which runs until January 27, aims to reduce the number of reruns, leaving fans eagerly awaiting the shows’ return. New episodes will air every Monday until the holiday pause.
