When Lauren Holly bid farewell to NCIS, fans were curious but not crushed. Her exit didn’t spark headlines of chaos or backstage drama—it was more of a graceful fade-out. Now, compare that to Pauley Perrette’s explosive departure, and you’ve got two exits from the same show that couldn’t be more different.
Holly’s reason for leaving was, well, downright simple—no scandals, no controversy, just a personal choice. In a series known for its twists and turns, her decision was uncomplicated, leaving fans with a mystery-free goodbye.
Lauren Holly’s Exit from NCIS: A Move Fueled by Family and Creativity
When Lauren Holly left NCIS, it wasn’t about drama or discord. Her exit was refreshingly straightforward: she got bored. Holly, who played Director Jenny Shepard—a character with a rich history as Gibbs’ romantic flame—decided it was time to move on after the fifth season.
Jenny’s departure came in the form of a dramatic desert shootout—but off-screen, Holly’s reasons were much calmer. She revealed that while she loved working with the cast, commuting between Chicago and L.A. took its toll. Moving her family back to California helped, but the grind of playing a static role wore her down. She explained:
I loved being back at work, the cast totally embraced me. Sasha was filming her final episodes, and kept wishing me luck (?! ). Cote [de Pablo] was a three episode tryout to see if she would get the regular gig. Looking back, I wonder if all was not as it appeared…I started commuting between Chicago and LA, but that was hard, I missed my family!
I was happy to be a minor character because that meant I could be with them more. When they asked me back for the second season, the decision was made to move my family back to California with me. And so, we were living back in Los Angeles for two years…
Holly also noted the shift in the show’s dynamics after creator Don Bellisario was forced out. She missed his influence and felt a noticeable change. Eventually, she got bored of her character. Despite this, she cherished her friendships with co-stars and the chance to work on a show that millions adored. The actress revealed,
I enjoyed being on the show, and began some wonderful friendships. I was saddened that Don Bellisario was forced out, and I missed him a lot. To be honest, now that the work bug had bitten me again, I got bored with my part of the “Director.” Then the decision was made to kill me, and boy did they. About five different ways!
In contrast to Pauley Perrette’s exit, which involved allegations of toxicity and tension, Holly’s departure was amicable. She even wished the series continued success, saying, “I hope it continues forever. It probably will…”
Lauren Holly’s exit may not have made waves like Perrette’s, but it underscored her priorities: family, creativity, and the joy of trying something new. For fans, it’s a reminder that not all TV goodbyes need to come with fireworks—or feuds.
Pauley Perrette vs. Mark Harmon: The Feud That Ended Abby’s NCIS Run
Abby Sciuto wasn’t just a quirky goth forensic whiz—she was the heart of NCIS. With her Caf-Pow obsession and sharp instincts, Abby cracked cases like no one else. But after 15 seasons, Pauley Perrette exited the series under a cloud of tension.
The drama began when Mark Harmon’s dog allegedly attacked a crew member on set. Despite the incident, Harmon kept bringing the dog to work, escalating tensions. Perrette and Harmon reportedly avoided sharing scenes, and scripts were adjusted to keep them apart.
Perrette later tweeted she was “terrified of Harmon,” revealing nightmares about him. Abby’s on-screen charm masked the off-screen fallout, marking a bittersweet end to her NCIS journey.
NCIS is available to watch on Hulu & Apple TV.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
