Two years after departing from his iconic role as Leroy Jethro Gibbs in NCIS, Mark Harmon sheds light on the reasons behind his exit, despite persistent requests for his return.
Harmon, who portrayed the formidable leader Gibbs for nearly two decades, clarifies the circumstances surrounding his departure from NCIS in season 19. Addressing rumors and speculation, Harmon reveals the true reason for his decision during an appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show. In his own words:
“I was tired for a long time. The job required being at home with a young family and not traveling for movies. The reality of long working hours, like the 22-hour first day, differed from my expectations. We had many days like that in the first four years.”
Having retired from the role of Gibbs at the age of 70, Harmon, similar to David McCallum’s Ducky, found limiting screen time not to be a viable option due to the significance of his character.
While Gibbs walked away, providing him with a fitting conclusion, the open-ended nature of his character’s fate leaves the possibility for Harmon’s return to NCIS. Despite not ruling it out, Harmon’s return is contingent on various factors.
As NCIS Season 21 approaches, the absence of legacy players in the 20th season prompts speculation about Gibbs making a comeback, especially with recent developments like Ducky’s passing and potential real-life inspirations from David McCallum’s fate.
While there is currently no indication of CBS planning Gibbs’ return for NCIS Season 21, and Harmon remains unaware of such plans, the delayed start of production this year could provide an opportunity for writers to explore a potential comeback, possibly in a memorial episode dedicated to Ducky.