NCIS star Mark Harmon has shared a heartfelt tribute following the death of former NCIS showrunner George Shen. The NCIS universe is also anticipating the premiere of the new prequel series, NCIS: Origins, featuring Harmon as the series narrator. The long-running CBS crime drama’s fan base mourns the loss of Shen, who was a showrunner, writer, and executive producer during many seasons of the show. Shen passed away at his Los Angeles home on Saturday, August 3, at the age of 82. The cause of death has not been reported.
Harmon expressed his sorrow at Shen’s passing, stating, “So sorry to hear the news on George. The professionalism and tenacity of George and Frank changed the face of the show. I’m so appreciative of the team and teamwork they both represented.”
Born on February 12, 1942, Shen had a deep passion for Hollywood storytelling, which he pursued after graduating from USC with a screenwriting degree and serving in the US Navy. He joined the NCIS creative team during its first season as a spin-off of JAG, serving as a consulting producer and writer alongside his career writing partner Frank Cardea. Shen became an executive producer starting in Season 9 and, along with Cardea, was promoted to co-showrunner during Season 14 after Gary Glasberg’s passing in 2016. They led the show through significant transitions, including Michael Weatherly’s departure as Tony DiNozzo and Pauley Perrette’s controversial exit in 2017. Shen retired from the industry in 2018, while Cardea continued as head honcho until his own retirement in 2022.
During their tenure, Shen and Cardea crafted over 40 episodes of NCIS. Before his work on NCIS, Shen contributed to 60s and 70s films like Barquero, More Dead Than Alive, and the sci-fi sequel Futureworld. He also wrote and produced for numerous TV shows, often collaborating with Cardea. His credits include episodes of Bonanza, Barnaby Jones, Fantasy Island, Crazy Like a Fox, Bring ‘Em Back Alive, and High Sierra Search and Rescue. Outside of NCIS, Shen wrote episodes for David Morse’s crime drama Hack, Kristanna Loken’s Painkiller Jane, and the 2008 TV movie Kiss Me Deadly, co-starring Robert Gant.
We at CinemaBlend send our condolences to George Shen’s family and friends during this time of mourning.