39 Intriguing NCIS Details That Gibbs Wouldn’t Want People To Find Out

First aired in 2003 on the CBS network, NCIS has proved to be one of the most popular television shows in history. But the show has also suffered its fair share of behind-the-scenes drama. There was that time two co-stars fell into a Twitter feud, for example, and when the creator of the show sued the network. And that's not to mention when three major stars in Cote de Pablo, Pauley Perrette, and Mark Harmon left the show for good. So here's everything you need to know...

1. It was originally called Navy NCIS

It’s funny now, but yes, the show was once called Navy NCIS. Why? Well, the CBS network was worried people would confuse it with shows such as CSI and SVU. But they needn’t have fretted — fans quickly came to know and love the show as NCIS and “Navy” was dropped from service.

2. Mark Harmon had the show’s creator fired

NCIS star Mark Harmon did not see eye to eye with the show’s creator, Donald Bellisario, on the set. The frustrations eventually boiled over in 2007 — when Bellisario stepped back from the show altogether. So while Harmon played the central character, Leroy Jethro Gibbs, from 2003 to 2021, Bellisario has not had creative input since 2007.

3. The network was sued over the spin-off

It seems logical that CBS would want to have a spin-off show, given how well NCIS was received by fans. But when NCIS: Los Angeles set sail in 2009, creator Donald Bellisario wasn’t having it. Pointing out that his contract stipulated that he had the right to launch the inaugural spin-off, Bellisario sued. He eventually settled for an undisclosed sum.

4. Before NCIS: New Orleans, we were about to see Red

Ever seen NCIS: Red? It featured in a couple of episodes of NCIS: LA — but blink and you’ll have missed it. Producers floated the idea of a new spin-off series called NCIS: Red, starring John Corbett as the head of an anti-terrorist squad. Alas, the network didn’t really think the idea was seaworthy and scuttled it before it ever had a chance to hit the airwaves.

5. Mark Harmon’s part almost went to Crockett

NCIS: Miami Vice edition? It almost went that way, believe it or not, when the role of Agent Gibbs was offered to Don Johnson. But the acting legend, who starred as Agent James “Sonny” Crocket in the long-running 1980s TV smash Miami Vice, turned it down. Of course, it went instead to the man everyone now knows as the face of NCIS: Mark Harmon.

6. Diane Neal had a set to-do with the crew

Diane Neal, otherwise known as Agent Abigail Borin, had some harsh words for the NCIS team back in 2015. Neal claimed the conditions on set were "dangerous" and tweeted that she was used like a “rented mule.” She later apologized and deleted the remarks — but not before her comments made the rounds on the internet.

7. Where did they find that foof sound?

NCIS fans are all too familiar with the show’s distinctive “foof” noise — used to transition between scenes. But what they may not know is that the sound was made by the show’s creator, Donald Bellisario, simply tapping his palm against a microphone. So hi-tech!

8. Most of the show is filmed in the Golden State

Yes, the majority of the show’s plotlines may well take place within the Capital Beltway, but the NCIS scenes themselves are actually filmed in Santa Clarita in northern California. The shooting location is a far cry from Washington, D.C., but a fave location for studios to film.

9. Pauley Perrette is a law unto herself

Pauley Perrette’s role in the show as goth-styled forensic scientist Abby Sciuto was not entirely an act. In real life, she studied psychology, sociology, and criminology at Georgia’s Valdosta State University and New York’s John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

10. The show has a name for nepotism

For creator Donald Bellisario, NCIS is clearly a family affair. His stepson, son, and wife have all had guest spots on the show. Although he is by no means the only one guilty of using family connections — the role of a young Agent Gibbs in flashbacks is played by Mark Harmon’s real-life son, Sean.

11. de Pablo puts the accent on good acting

While the accent of Israeli Mossad officer Ziva David may seem effortless, it actually took quite a bit of hard work. In real life, Cote de Pablo, the actress who plays David, is of Chilean descent. She worked diligently with a Hebrew language instructor to make the character’s accent seem kosher.

12. What’s really sloshing around Sciuto’s cup?

Abby Sciuto needs something to keep her so amped up, and it appears the key to the character’s frenetic energy is in her high-octane beverage of choice — she always has a large Caf-Pow on hand. But what is the actress Pauley Perrette really holding inside that cup? Apparently, it’s entirely innocent unsugared cranberry juice.

13. Weatherly was allowed to sail off script

While actor Michael Weatherly has since moved on to his own starring role in the show Bull, he was once an NCIS fave. Fans loved him as the no-nonsense Tony DiNozzo not only for his hunky good looks but also for his quick-witted take on situations. Turns out the wit was partly Weatherly’s, as he was the only cast member who was allowed to ad-lib.

14. Fans lose their shirt over Harmon

Mark Harmon was a heartthrob even back in his St. Elsewhere days. It appears things haven’t changed much as NCIS fans absolutely adore him as Agent Gibbs. So much so that they have even sent him vintage Marine Corps and NCIS T-shirts, which he takes pride in wearing.

15. The show’s creator is an advocate of authenticity

The show’s creator was actually working off real-life material when he came up with NCIS. Donald Bellisario had plenty of time to research the program in his former role as a gunnery sergeant in the Marine Corps — and used the knowledge he gleaned in that experience to help dream up NCIS.

16. Perrette and de Pablo had a Twitter feud

There was a bit of an internet kerfuffle between stars Cote de Pablo and Pauley Perrette. When de Pablo announced she was leaving the show in 2013, Perette tweeted a pic of herself wearing a T-shirt that read, “I love my job.” Allegedly, de Pablo took it as a slight, and the affair whipped up a minor Twitter storm that hit fans of the good ship NCIS. Perette finally restored calm when she took down her pic.

17. Pauley Perrette is scared of Harmon

Perhaps the most controversial of all the NCIS cast exits came when Pauley Perrette left the show in 2018 after 15 seasons of playing forensics expert Abigail Sciuto. In 2019 Perrette told The Wrap that she left NCIS because Mark Harmon once "body-checked" her and his dog had assaulted a crew member. She even said she was "terrified" of Harmon — and has now retired from acting altogether.

18. Cote de Pablo's mysterious decision to leave

Cote de Pablo played Ziva David for eight seasons of NCIS but left under a cloud in 2013. In 2019, though, de Pablo made a surprise return run on the series. She told USA Today of her initial decision to leave, “I’m not ready to talk about that yet. I will someday. But I didn’t leave because I wanted to go or because I was ready or because I was tired. I didn’t really have an option.”

19. Harmon no more

Back in 2019, an inside source told OK! that Mark Harmon had been “saying for a long time that he needs more time off to spend with his family and that he wants a smaller workload.” That all seemingly came to a head at the end of season 18. Harmon's character almost died in the finale — and then made only limited appearances at the beginning of season 19. He's now practically been replaced by Gary Cole's Alden Parker.

20. Michael Weatherly has had some rich rewards

NCIS fans may be surprised to learn that Michael Weatherly comes from a very wealthy family. However, when young Weatherly announced his ambition to act at the age of 12, his disapproving father cut him out of his will. Fortunately for Weatherly, his gamble paid off and he has enjoyed a massively successful acting career, including appearances in all four NCIS-related shows — the only actor able to claim this accolade.

21. Abby’s locket is no mere prop

There is a touching piece of verity in the “Enemy On The Hill” episode, in which the character of Abby is seen with a locket that holds a photo of her adoptive mother. But it turns out the picture is really of actress Pauley Perrette’s actual mom, Donna Bell, and is a tribute to the woman who sadly passed away in 2002.

22. One of the Most Wanted is one of the most vaunted

The average viewer wouldn’t catch it, but eagle-eyed fans of NCIS have spotted a photo of the show’s creator, Donald Bellisario, hanging up on the “Most Wanted” wall at the fictional base in a humorous nod to the one-time showrunner.

23. Sasha Alexander opts out

Sasha Alexander was one of the original stars of NCIS. But in a move that shocked fans, she walked away from the show after only two seasons. It seems the grueling schedule of a network TV show was simply too much for Alexander, and she decided to get out. The star told TV Guide in 2012, “People don’t realize that on a network show you make 24 episodes a year — that’s ten and a half months a year, 17 hours a day. It’s hardcore.”

24. Zoe McLellan's dramatic exit

In 2011 Zoe McLellan joined the cast of NCIS for season 11 and became one of the leads of the spinoff NCIS: New Orleans. Unfortunately, in 2016, McLellan left the show. Why? Well, Variety reported in 2017 that then-showrunner Brad Kern got rid of her character because men didn't find her attractive. Kern was later fired after multiple HR investigations. McLellan has never responded to these allegations and has since moved on to other things.

25. Duane Henry died a hero

English actor Duane Henry was put on the map after being cast as Clayton Reeves in NCIS. But Henry’s character was killed off after two seasons on the show — and he sacrificed his life to save Pauley Perrette’s character, Abby. Henry told TVLine that “to be wrapping up with her was incredible, a dream come true for anyone.” He was also extremely happy with the heroic exit that was written for Reeves.

26. Lauren Holly got bored

Lauren Holly was a series regular on NCIS for three seasons between 2005 and 2008. She played Jenny Shepherd, director of the eponymous agency. But eventually, her experience turned somewhat sour. Holly wrote on her website, “I was saddened that Don Bellisario was forced out, and I missed him a lot.” She confessed, “To be honest, now that the work bug had bitten me again, I got bored with my part of the ‘Director.’” Therefore, when word came down that the character was to be killed off, Holly wasn’t exactly too broken up about it.

27. Miguel Ferrer's poignant ending

For seven seasons, veteran actor Miguel Ferrer played Assistant Director Owen Granger on NCIS: Los Angeles. Ferrer continued playing the character until 2017 when the actor tragically died from throat cancer. His illness was actually incorporated into the show, with Granger depicted as suffering from an unnamed disease brought on by his smoking.

28. Jamie Lee Curtis loved her time on the show

As one of the biggest stars to ever grace the show, the incomparable Jamie Lee Curtis appeared on NCIS as the elusive doctor Samantha Ryan for five episodes. And in 2021, Curtis revealed that her time on the show — with her "friend" Mark Harmon — was "one of the unexpected delights of [her] varied career."

29. Adam Jamal Craig taken by surprise

The life of an actor on a TV show — especially one like NCIS — can be fraught with anxiety. The possibility of your character being killed off or written out of the show is always there in the background... and that's what happened to Adam Jamal Craig. The actor told Entertainment Weekly in an email, “I had big hopes for Agent Vail, so, naturally, it took me by surprise. But I have complete trust and respect in [Executive producer Shane Brennan’s] vision for the characters and the world he created.” Overall, it was a very classy response to the situation.

30. Michael Weatherly burns out

In January 2016 Michael Weatherly made a bombshell announcement on his Twitter page. He revealed that after 13 long years he was leaving NCIS and his character Tony DiNozzo behind. And during a panel at the Television Critics Association’s press tour, Weatherly unveiled why he felt it was the right time to leave. With great honesty, he said, “I was burnt out by NCIS, and I was ready for a new challenge.”

31. Lucas Black out

Lucas Black debuted as Agent Christopher LaSalle in NCIS before becoming one of the stars of NCIS: New Orleans. In total, he starred in 142 episodes of the franchise and firmly established himself as a fan favorite during that time. In a video posted to the show’s official Twitter page, though, Black revealed, “This job isn’t easy for me; there are a lot of priorities in my life that get sacrificed for me to be here. But it’s time for me to focus on those priorities in my life.”

32. Liza Lapira lives on

Remember Special Agent Michelle Lee? Well, the actress who played her, Liza Lapira, has barely been off our screens since leaving the show. She’s had stints in Dexter and Dollhouse, for example, and has cropped up in the movies Cloverfield and Fast & Furious. And if you’ve been watching the recent Equalizer reboot on CBS, you may have recognized her in that, too.

33. Marisol Nichols made a big impression

Marisol Nichols was practically a small-screen veteran by the time she made her NCIS debut. She’d been in 24, Cold Case, and ER, to name just a few of her many credits. She’d already appeared in the NCIS universe, too, as Tracy Keller in NCIS: Los Angeles. And it won’t surprise you to hear that her career has continued to thrive since she portrayed Zoe Keates. If you’re a Riverdale fan, you’ll know Nicols plays Hermione Lodge.

34. Star Trek connections

As Dr. Jeanne Benoit, Scottie Thompson actually spent two spells on NCIS — from 2006 to 2008 and from 2015 to 2016. But she wasn’t exactly slacking in between! Perhaps you recognize her as Nero’s wife in the 2009 Star Trek movie? Speaking of Star Trek, NCIS's Lieutenant Colonel Hollis Mann — Susanna Thompson — also played the Borg Queen in that series.

35. Pioneering Meredith Eaton

Meredith Eaton’s a total pioneer. Standing at just four feet tall, she became the first woman with dwarfism to win a recurring role in a primetime show. That came after she was cast in Family Law. Eaton later also landed the part of Carol Wilson in NCIS and played the savvy immunologist until 2013.

36. Stephanie Mello ads up

With her curly locks and endearing smile, the character Cynthia Sumner was a welcome addition to NCIS. But the actress who played her is by no means just a one-trick pony! Stephanie Mello has notched up so many national commercial campaigns that she hit triple digits with her various advertising appearances.

37. Nina Foch's farewell roles

Of all the actresses on this list, none came into NCIS with quite the same prestige as Nina Foch. Born in 1924, the Dutch-American performer enjoyed an incredible six-decade career on stage and screen. That included, of course, her time in NCIS, where she appeared in the episodes “Untouchable” and “The Meat Puzzle.” But, sadly, Victoria Mallard proved to be one of the actress’ last ever roles. Foch passed over in 2008 at the grand old age of 84.

38. Stranger Things have happened

One episode was all it took for Millie Bobby Brown to make an impact in NCIS. The then 10-year-old played Dr. Valerie Barnes’ daughter, Rachel, and frankly, she was terrifying. It’s Brown who’s the one getting scared in Stranger Things, though! And after her time as Eleven comes to an end, we’re excited to see what she does next.

39. Emily Wickersham started as a temp

Emily Wickersham may have signed onto NCIS on a temporary basis, but she impressed the show’s execs so much they ended up hiring her season after season. She had big shoes to fill, too, after the departure of Cote de Pablo. But as Eleanor Bishop, the blonde beauty did a pretty fine job of filling the Ziva David-shaped hole. Nick Torres liked her, anyway...