Her immune system has never misunderstood the assignment since.
Throughout its impressive twenty-year run on CBS, the police procedural NCIS consistently highlighted the formidable presence of Supervisory Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs, played by the equally stern actor Mark Harmon. Gibbs, who retired in season 19 to enjoy life in Alaska, left behind a legacy that continues to resonate, both on-screen and off. Recently, a revealing behind-the-scenes story about Harmon emerged from one of his notable co-stars.
During an episode of Off Duty: An NCIS Rewatch, which reunited Sean Murray (Timothy McGee), Michael Weatherly (Tony DiNozzo), and Cote de Pablo (Ziva David), de Pablo shared a tough conversation she had with Harmon that significantly impacted her health. She recalled an incident during season 3 when she was on the verge of taking a sick leave but was compelled to show up on set. Despite her doctor’s orders to stay home, Harmon insisted she consider the shooting schedule before deciding to take a day off.
De Pablo explained that although Harmon conveyed the actors’ strict rules on set with initial kindness, his stern demeanor made it clear how serious the situation was. Ironically, her body seemed to heed the gravity of his words—she hasn’t fallen ill since.
Reflecting on the experience, de Pablo noted, “Mentally, it just did a trick on you. And when you think about it, you know, anyone can do a job, better, worse, whatever. But no one can play McGee, no one can play DiNozzo. No one can play any of the characters. So you really had to be there, and that’s a lot of pressure.”