NCIS Star Mark Harmon Shares New Revelations About His Exit
By Movieguide® Staff
Former NCIS star Mark Harmon, who played the iconic role of Special Agent Leroy Gibbs, recently opened up about his decision to exit the series after 18 seasons.
In a new season 19 NCIS DVD special called “Being Gibbs,” the 70-year-old actor explained that plans to write him out of the show began before his final season.
“What has always drawn me here [to NCIS, not Alaska] is the character I play and to keep it fresh and to keep it challenging,” Harmon explained. “Plot-wise, this character has taken the path that it did. I thought it was honest and OK with, ‘I’m not retired.’ The character is living in Alaska as far as I know.”
Executive producer Steven B. Binder added that he did not want Gibbs to retire from the show.
“It just didn’t feel right to see him retired and shopping at the grocery store, working in his basement, and playing checkers in the park,” Binder said. “It just didn’t seem right to put him actually anywhere, so we ended up putting him nowhere. He went off into the wilderness, into the wild. And that left open any possibility. It didn’t leave the audience with any specific thing. It allowed the audience to imagine what happened to Gibbs. He can come back. He’s safe. He’s happy.”
In Season 18, Gibbs is suspended after he fights a man who is abusive to dogs. But Harmon assured fans that, like when he was suspended, Gibbs would never stop working.
“Once he works on his boat and he finishes that, which he did, then what?” he said. “So, you’re going to make those choices and play those extreme choices, then you’ve got to be open to what’s truthful behind that.”
Movieguide® previously reported:
After 18 seasons, Mark Harmon officially bid farewell to his lead role on the CBS staple NCIS.
“I’m not going back, Tim,” Harmon’s Gibbs said in the Oct. 11 episode, signaling his departure. “I’m not going back home.”
Harmon’s exit should not shock fans, as many media outlets, including Movieguide®, have reported on the speculation for more than a year.
However, just because Harmon will no longer be a series regular does not mean fans won’t see him again.
“As an executive producer and dear friend, Mark continues to be an integral part of the fabric of the show. 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,” said Steven D. Binder, NCIS executive producer/showrunner.
Furthermore, CBS Entertainment President Kelly Kahl stated, “Mark’s always been part of the show, Mark’s always going to be part of the show. In terms of his on-air appearances, we’re just going to have to see how it plays out going forward.”
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Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
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