On Monday night - the 11th of October -, NCIS star Mark Harmon ended his run as a series regular on CBS’ long-running procedural drama. In a statement tied to the episode’s airing,
NCIS EP/showrunner Steve Binder praised Harmon, who had headlined the series since its launch 18 years ago, while also speaking to his future on the series. “As an executive producer and dear friend, Mark continues to be an integral part of the fabric of the show,” Binder said in a statement. “Our north star has always been staying true to our characters, and that truth has always guided the stories we tell and where those characters go. So regarding the future of Gibbs, as long-time fans of the show may have noticed over the years…never count Leroy Jethro Gibbs out.”
For some time now, Harmon’s exit as a series regular had appeared to be a matter not of if, but when, given the scaling back of his on-screen duties, and the addition of Gary Cole as series regular, Special Agent Park.
While it’s not yet clear whether Harmon will return to
NCIS, CBS Entertainment President Kelly Kahl echoed Binder’s statement in an interview with Deadline last month. “Mark’s always been part of the show, Mark’s always going to be part of the show,” Kahl said. “In terms of his on-air appearances, we’re just going to have to see how it plays out going forward.”
