Exclusive: NCIS Producer Explains Abby Star Pauley Perrette’s Exit From Long-Running Show
As part of an oral history on NCIS, executive producer Charles Floyd Johnson discusses why Pauley Perrette asked to leave her popular role as Abby.
- Pauley Perrette’s departure from NCIS was influenced by an incident involving a dog belonging to Mark Harmon, which made her feel unsafe on set.
- Perrette, a passionate advocate for animal rights, was concerned about the dog’s presence and potential impact on the show.
- After being a main cast member since 2003, Perrette felt it was time to move on from the show and explore new opportunities.
NCIS producers look back on Pauley Perrette’s exit, candidly explaining why the Abby actor left the long-running procedural. In the role of Abby Sciuto, Perrette has been with NCIS before it was even a show. She appeared in two episodes of JAG, which served as a backdoor pilot for what would eventually become the spinoff NCIS, remaining a main cast member from its debut in 2003 until her surprise exit in 2018 and remains one of the franchise’s most popular characters.
In a new oral history to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the NCIS premiere, executive producer Charles Floyd Johnson was among those who spoke to The Hollywood Reporter. When it came time to address Perrette’s departure, Johnson mentioned that an incident with a dog belonging to Mark Harmon (Gibbs) began the process. Former CBS Entertainment President Glenn Geller adds his perspective, complimenting Perrette. Read their quotes below:
Johnson: In Pauley Perrette’s case, there was an incident with the show with a dog. The dog was Harmon’s, and apparently the dog bit someone. Pauley was a huge, huge SPCA [Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals] animal person. And then the dog kept coming with Harmon, and she felt it wasn’t safe for the show. By the end of that year, she just felt like it wasn’t working for her anymore, and it was time to move on.
Geller: Pauley Perrette made Abby one of the most beloved characters on television in the 21st century.
How Has NCIS Handled Abby’s Exit?
Perrette made her last appearance as Abby in NCIS season 15. Abby’s farewell begins when Clayton Reeves, an MI6 agent, dies while protecting Abby from a hitman who’s been hired to kill her. Abby is severely wounded in the attempt, but she recovers and decides to track down the man who arranged the hit. That man turns out to be a black ops expert whom Abby had met years earlier. She tricks him into confessing, and he’s ultimately arrested.
From there, Abby resigns from her job. She decides to accompany Clayton’s body back to England, starting a charity that would honor Clayton and his mother, in addition to helping the homeless. Since then, there’s been a noted intention to bring back Abby in spirit by mentioning her character more and speaking in an organic way about what she contributed to NCIS.
Perrette, who has mentioned that she retired from acting, has been open about the fact that she does not have a good relationship with Harmon. In a tweet from 2019, the year after her NCIS farewell, Perrette wrote: “NO I AM NOT COMING BACK! EVER! (Please stop asking?) I am terrified of Harmon and him attacking me. I have nightmares about it.” The new comments from the producers and network team confirm some context about the dispute, so the possibility of an Abby return is now inconceivable.
