Mark Harmon, the original star of NCIS, and his character Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs bid farewell to the CBS drama series in a recent episode after more than 18 seasons. In the episode, Gibbs tells NCIS Director Vance (Rocky Carroll) that he’s staying in Alaska, where he found a “sense of peace” after solving a case. He shares a heartfelt moment with Special Agent Timothy McGee (Sean Murray), reflecting on their 18 years of partnership.
Harmon’s character had recently faced suspension and survived a boat explosion. Despite his departure as a series regular, executive producer and showrunner Steve Binder emphasized that Harmon remains a significant part of the show as an executive producer, hinting that Gibbs’ story might not be over. CBS Entertainment President Kelly Kahl suggested that Harmon might make occasional appearances in the future.
Harmon had reportedly intended to leave the show earlier but agreed to return in a limited capacity to help secure the show’s renewal. NCIS has been a global success, winning an international award in 2014 as the most-watched drama in the world.
