Pauley Perrette, who played fan-favorite Abby Sciuto in NCIS, exited the show at the end of Season 15. The character’s arc ended in a wholesome manner, despite the tragedy that accompanied it. Abby got to say her goodbyes to all her colleagues on the MCRT team. But fans felt that Abby’s farewell scene with her father figure Leroy Jethro Gibbs, played by Mark Harmon, was odd.
They didn’t share the screen for Abby’s final scene. She chose to leave him a note and watched him read it from across the street. While fans didn’t think much of this creative choice at the time, Perrette soon revealed the reason why. Perrette opened up about issues, telling the whole world about the drama that unfolded between two fan-favorite stars on one of the longest-running TV shows.
Pauley Perrette Left NCIS After A Feud With Mark Harmon
After exiting NCIS, Pauley Perrette wrote a series of vague tweets about the real reason why she left the show. In her first tweet, she wrote about how tabloids were spreading lies about her and that she “never told publicly what happened.” In a follow-up tweet the next day, she added that she wanted to “spill the beans” but had concerns about the jobs of the show’s crew.
Further, she opened up about a “rich, very powerful publicity machine” who was keeping her silent and feeding false stories about her. She hinted that a single person was at the root of these problems when she shared, “He did it.” In her final tweet in that series, she mentioned being bullied by someone on the set and added that there were “multiple physical assaults” on the set.
There is a “machine’ keeping me silent, and feeding FALSE stories about me. A very rich, very powerful publicity “machine”. No morals, no obligation to truth, and I’m just left here, reading the lies, trying to protect my crew. Trying to remain calm. He did it.
— Pauley Perrette (@PauleyP) May 13, 2018
I’ve been supporting ant-bullying programs forever. But now I KNOW because it was ME! If it’s school or work, that you’re required to go to? It’s horrifying. I left. Multiple Physical Assaults. I REALLY get it now. Stay safe. Nothing is worth your safety. Tell someone.
— Pauley Perrette (@PauleyP) May 13, 2018
Accusations of workplace harassment were rampant against NCIS after these tweets and CBS issued a statement in response. The statement admitted that Perrette went to the network with a “workplace concern” and that they “worked with her to find a resolution” (via Deadline). Perrette appeared to have no issues with CBS as she shared in another tweet that she wanted to thank CBS for her role.
While the actress didn’t name anyone in her tweets, it did bring up a rumored feud story from the NCIS set from 2016. It was reported that the alleged feud happened over a dog bite. According to Vanity Fair, the incident took place when Mark Harmon brought his dog to the set. Harmon’s pooch allegedly bit a crew member, who required 15 stitches for the injury.
The lead star of the show allegedly continued to bring his dog to the set, potentially endangering the cast & crew. His attorney and sources close to him disputed this accusation. However, the story goes on that Perrette was the only one with the power to confront Harmon about the dog. When Perrette questioned him, it began an alleged feud between them.
In June 2019, Perrette finally revealed Harmon as the problem and shared that she was “terrified” of him and had “nightmares” about her time with the actor. She added that she would never come back to NCIS and asked her fans to stop asking her about the same.
NO I AM NOT COMING BACK! EVER! (Please stop asking?) I am terrified of Harmon and him attacking me. I have nightmares about it. I have a new show that is SAFE AND HAPPY! You’ll love it!#HappyPlace Love y’all!
— Pauley Perrette (@PauleyP) June 7, 2019
In another deleted tweet, she shared photos of a crew member in stitches who was allegedly beaten up (via E! News/IG). She shared that she “fought like hell to keep it from happening again” (via USA Today). She claimed that she was “physically assaulted” for fighting back and lost her job in the process. Harmon never responded to these allegations in public.
Pauley Perrette Will Never Return to NCIS Ever Again
After NCIS, Perrette landed the lead role in the CBS sitcom Broke. However, the show was canceled after one season in May 2020. A couple of months later, Perrette announced her retirement from acting via a tweet. She shared that she considered quitting after NCIS but Broke was “important, beautiful” for her and that she did her last dance on the show.
Actually I retired after NCIS but BROKE was important, beautiful.I did my last dance & am proud of it! Everyone that knows me knew I was retiring right after. I’m proud of my work. I love you guys! I AM FREE!!! (To be the tiny little simple human I am!) #Plants #RescuePets #Books
— Pauley Perrette (@PauleyP) July 7, 2020
Pauley Perrette’s return to NCIS was widely speculated, especially after Harmon exited his role as Agent Gibbs in 2021. She was even mentioned in the episode which paid tribute to late actor David McCallum and his character Dr. Ducky Mallard. When Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo’s new Paramount+ series, NCIS: Tony & Ziva was announced, rumors once again suggested Perrette’s return.
However, Perrette recently provided her two cents on the matter, sharing that she would never return to acting again. Speaking to Hello! Magazine in October 2024, Perrette shared that she is a different person now and wants to remain the same. She shared that she was at that point in life where she needed to “find authenticity in everything”. She shared that going back to acting would take away this authenticity. Perrette shared:
At this point in my life I have this deep need to find authenticity in everything, and being an actor, especially at certain points in my life, was a great escape; it’s like a drug because I didn’t have to be me, I could be somebody else. My character didn’t have all of the problems that I was having.
It’s why I only watch documentaries, I want the truth. For me, going back to being an actor would be taking away from this life of true authenticity that I’m living 100% of the time.
It is the second time that Perrette has made it clear that she is not coming back to her role as Abby Sciuto. Interestingly, Perrette was not the only one who made a dramatic exit from the series.
Other Actors Who Have Left NCIS Over The Years And Their Reasons
Sasha Alexander was the first member of the main cast to exit the show. Fans still remember Agent Caitlin Todd taking the bullet to the head in one of the most shocking moments on television. Alexander revealed to TV Guide that she decided to exit the show due to its hectic schedule and work pressure. She shared, “People don’t realize that on a network show, you make 24 episodes a year — that’s 10½ months a year, 17 hours a day. It’s hardcore.”
Lauren Holly’s Jenny Shepard entered the show as the new director of NCIS. She had a history with Gibbs, both professionally and romantically. She did not last much longer compared to the next NCIS director Vance as she was killed off in season five. On her website, Holly mentioned that she got “bored” with the role.
Cote de Pablo’s fan-favorite Ziva exited the show in Season 11. During an appearance at Babson College, she shared that she left the show due to the “political things” involved and “the scripts not being good enough” (via Cinemablend). She added that she felt the character was “not being treated with the respect that she deserved.”
Pablo shocked everyone with the exit as Pauley Perrette shared that she “found out literally 20 minutes before it was released in the press” (via E! News). Michael Weatherly and Rocky Carroll were also present when Perrette revealed that it was “huge news” for the cast. Ziva was later presumed to be killed off-screen in Season 13 before the show brought her back in Season 17 in a guest role.
The “very” Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo left the NCIS to take care of his daughter. In real life, Weatherly too shared that he departed the show to spend more time with his family (via THR). He also added that he wanted to pursue other projects as an actor and producer. The show brought in Wilmer Valderrama and Jennifer Esposito as Weatherly’s replacement, but Esposito didn’t last more than one season.
While fans were sad to see Abby go, the only thing sadder was the death of Clayton Reeves. Duane Henry’s lovable character was created by the late NCIS writer Gary Glasberg. Henry revealed in an interview that the writers were not sure of what to do with his character after Glasberg passed and decided to kill him off (via Cinemablend).
Emily Wickersham’s Ellie Bishop left Valderrama’s Nick Torres heartbroken when she decided to pursue a career as a spy. Wickersham didn’t cite any particular reasons, but she welcomed a baby with James Badge Dale after her exit. She and Dale married in September 2024 and welcomed baby number two in October (via @emilywickersham/IG).
Mario Bello, who played Jack Sloane, decided not to renew her contract after Season 18. Harmon exited the show during the fourth episode of Season 19. He was replaced by Gary Cole’s Alden Parker.
NCIS Cast Salaries: How Much Do Mark Harmon, Pauley Perrette, And Others Earn?
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Mark Harmon was reportedly making $525,000 per episode of the show. However, it did not account for his earnings from syndication royalties and his role as a producer. Forbes reported in 2017 that he earned $19 million a year from the show.
According to THR, Harmon received a pay bump ahead of Season 16 in 2018, making his annual earnings well over $20 million. Celebrity Net Worth reported his net worth as $120 million, making him the richest star in NCIS.
When she exited the show in the 15th season, Pauley Perrette made around $200,000 (via Celebrity Net Worth). For the usual 24-episode season, Perrette earned around $4.8 million annually. According to Forbes, she made $8.5 million in yearly income at the time of her exit. She has an estimated net worth of $22 million. Here are the per episode and annual salary of the cast of NCIS:
| NCIS Cast | Per episode salary | Annual salary (per season) | Net worth |
| Mark Harmon | $525,000 | $12,600,000 | $120 million |
| Pauley Perrette | $200,000 | $4,800,000 | $22 million |
| Michael Weatherly | $250,000 | $6,000,000 | $45 million |
| Sean Murray | $300,000 | $7,200,000 | $8 million |
| David McCallum | $175,000 | $4,200,000 | $15 million |
| Cote de Pablo | $120,000 | $2,880,000 | $6 million |
| Wilmer Valderrama | $100,000 | $2,400,000 | $20 million |
| Emily Wickersham | $100,000 | $2,400,000 | $6 million |
| Mario Bello | $125,000 | $3,000,000 | $12 million |
Sean Murray is currently the highest-earning star in the show. Mark Harmon is still closely working as an executive producer on NCIS and serves as the narrator and executive producer of the prequel series NCIS: Origins. The 22nd season of the series started airing on CBS on October 14.
All previous seasons of NCIS are now available for streaming on Paramount+.
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