Was This ‘NCIS’ Actor ‘Very Unhappy’ About Being Written Off, According to the Show’s Creators?

NCIS is known for its unexpected character departures, and one actor, Muse Watson, who played Supervisory Special Agent Mike Franks, wasn’t happy about how his character was written off in season 8. According to executive producer Charles Floyd Johnson, Watson loved the show and his character, and his reaction to being killed off was one of displeasure.

Watson described his character’s departure as losing an old friend. He learned about Mike Franks’ death while filming a Christmas production in Branson, Missouri, and was informed by an executive producer and a writer from NCIS. Although the show’s creators intended to have Watson return as a ghost, he expressed mixed feelings about the departure, as it also meant losing a source of income.

Several other actors left NCIS for various reasons, such as Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo, who wanted to explore new opportunities, and Mark Harmon, who transitioned to an executive producer role.