By Kayla DeKraker
For nearly two decades, Mark Harmon was the face of NCIS.
His character, Leroy Jethro Gibbs, helped shape the procedural drama into one of television’s most successful series. But when Harmon left NCIS in 2021 after 19 seasons, many fans believed the show would not be able to continue.
However, executive producer Charles Floyd Johnson believes one actor, Gary Cole, ultimately saved the series.
“We thought [Harmon leaving] was the death knell,” Johnson admitted in a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter. “Coming in at 6:30 a.m., five days a week, and being the major character that was the linchpin — that’s pretty tough, and he did it for 18 seasons.”
Related: ‘We Might See Gibbs Again’: NCIS Star Hints at Mark Harmon’s Return
Putting his family first contributed to Harmon’s decision to step away.
“He had just gotten to the place where he was getting close to turning 70, and he wanted to spend time with [wife] Pam [Dawber] and his kids,” Johnson said. “So he was leading up to it. It started probably [with him dropping hints] around the 15th or 16th season. But he was so loyal to that crew and so supportive of the show. He was very proud of it, and he stayed on longer than he even intended.”
When the future of the show seemed uncertain, one actor stabilized things.
“In the end, we hit gold with Gary Cole,” the EP said. “There were a lot of names bandied about. When everybody finally decided we’d make an offer to Gary Cole, we didn’t pitch it to him as, ‘He was going to become the new Gibbs.’”
Cole plays Special Agent Alden Parker.
“We pitched it to him that he was going to come in and wasn’t sure he was going to stay with the team, so that he didn’t have to feel like he was stepping into the shoes of someone who had been there for 18 seasons,” Johnson explained.
It still wasn’t easy for Parker to take on the leadership position long held by Gibbs.
“He [wondered], ‘Is this where I really want to be?’ The stakes couldn’t be higher,” Cole said of his character after Director Leon Vance offered him the job. “The [team is] on a perpetual stress train. Parker, by nature, is a loner. Out of instinct, he doesn’t trust anybody. But he’s got to make compromises and do two things: watch his back and trust other people with his life. At first, Parker was adversarial with everybody, but Vance gave him the benefit of the doubt. [Vance] is a trademark good leader, firm but fair, and that’s what Parker tries to be.”
NCIS is on it’s 23rd season and is already renewed for a 24th. It’s safe to say the Cole really did save the series.
Read Next: CBS Announces NCIS—and Mark Harmon—Will Return
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