Mark Harmon ended his run starring as Leroy Jethro Gibbs on NCIS by stepping down from the role after 19 seasons. The character has not been seen since Harmon’s exit, not even for a special appearance, and even the actor isn’t sure if Gibbs will ever return.
Per TVLine, Harmon was present at the Television Critics Association summer press tour event on Saturday. He commented on his NCIS exit as a series regular, noting how it just felt like it was the right time for him to move on. Harmon confirmed he was happy with his character’s exit from the series along with how the show has managed to proceed without him just fine. As far as a possible role reprisal goes, Harmon seemed to suggest he’s open to it, but that he has yet to be directly pitched an idea by the creative team.
“It wasn’t so much a decision to leave, but the right timing to push away a little bit,” Harmon said of his NCIS departure. “I was thrilled with the storyline they came up with and how they handled the character. And the show continued on… I have been asked [about a return] a lot… I’ve always let the writers do what they want to do.”
“I’ve always let the writers do what they want to do.”
When specifically asked if the NCIS team had invited him back for an appearance since Season 19, Harmon responded, “Directly, like a phone call…? Not that I’m aware of… I don’t know… It’s really about feeling like you’re fulfilled with a role, or complete with a role.”
There was speculation that Gibbs would make an appearance in the tribute episode for D. Donald “Ducky” Mallard following the passing of actor David McCallum. Though Michael Weatherly made his return as Tony DiNozzo, there wasn’t an appearance from Gibbs. Similarly, there had been some hope with fans for a Gibbs cameo in the special 1000th episode of NCIS, but the special appearance did not come to be. The show’s creative team has suggested that if Gibbs were to return one day, it would have to be for something that’s a much bigger deal than a brief appearance.
The Door Is Open for a Gibbs Return on NCIS
“Of course the door is always open,” co-showrunner and EP Steven D. Binder told TVLine. “When we bring him back, we’re not going to bring him back for two minutes. It’s got to be something special.”
Meanwhile, Harmon will be voicing Gibbs by serving as the narrator for the upcoming prequel series, NCIS: Origins.
