Mark Harmon Talks About Reasons For Quitting ‘NCIS’ And His Return On ‘NCIS: Origins’

Mark Harmon is famous for portraying Leroy Jethro Gibbs on the long-running Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS). Harmon’s involvement with NCIS has been pivotal, greatly influencing the show’s popularity and success. After 18 remarkable seasons, Harmon stepped down from his role as a regular on the series in October 2021.

Interestingly, the 72-year-old is set to make a comeback with NCIS: Origins, scheduled to premiere on October 14, 2024, on CBS. In light of the new development, Harmon, in a recent interview, reflected on his departure from the original series, while also expressing nostalgia and excitement about the upcoming project.

Mark Harmon speaks on why he left ‘NCIS’

During the discussion, Harmon shared his positive experiences working on the set of NCIS, particularly highlighting the creativity and dedication of the writing team. He expressed that his decision to leave the show was not motivated by any external factors or dissatisfaction but was simply because he felt it was the right moment for him to step away.

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Harmon also noted that right from the inception he believed in the enduring success of NCIS and was confident that the series would thrive regardless of any cast changes. He expressed satisfaction that the show continued to flourish even after his departure, emphasizing his faith in the show’s ability to captivate the audience and maintain its legacy.

Mark Harmon says working on the upcoming ‘NCIS: Origins’ is exciting

With Harmon returning to work on the new series, he will be collaborating closely with his son, Sean, and longtime friends David J. North and Gina Lucita Monreal who had both served as showrunners and executive producers, bringing a wealth of experience and creativity to the project.

The actor added that when he was first approached by the executives about joining the new series, he was excited despite the initial lack of detailed information. It seems a part of Harmon has missed being on NCIS as he reiterated his commitment to the series while noting that it would be significantly different from the original series.