After 22 seasons, NCIS is bidding farewell to its last original cast members. The writers of the popular crime drama have introduced new characters to fill the roles of departing actors, ensuring the show continues to thrive even after two decades on air. Created by Don Bellisario and Don McGill, NCIS has maintained top ratings since its 2003 premiere, with a steady rotation of characters keeping the storyline fresh.
Following the passing of actor David McCallum last year, his character, Dr. “Ducky” Mallard, was also written out. This leaves only a few faces from the inaugural cast. Actor Sean Murray, who has played Timothy McGee the longest, has been mostly absent since the fourth episode of Season 22. Joe Spano, known for his role as FBI agent Tobias Fornell, appeared in NCIS‘s milestone 1000th episode, marking what may be his final appearance on the show.
Meanwhile, the NCIS franchise is expanding. A new spinoff, NCIS: Tony and Ziva, is currently in development, reuniting fan-favorites Tony DiNozzo and Ziva David, played by Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo. Longtime viewers will remember the chemistry between the two agents in the early seasons, with their characters ultimately reuniting off-screen in Paris after their exits from NCIS. Now, they are set to return to screen together in this highly anticipated new series.
