This article was originally published on TVBee
Although Mark Harmon has starred in countless TV shows, the actor will always be known to many as Leroy Jethro Gibbs. Mark joined the cast of CBS's NCIS in 2003 but was so much more than just the main character. He embodied the whole essence of the show, and it overtook his life. And while fans assumed that he would stay with the show forever, he shocked everyone when he abruptly quit mid-season in 2021. Fans were forced to say goodbye to Gibbs in the fourth episode of the show's 19th season, but they just didn't understand why. But does this behind-the-scenes drama hint towards the real reason he left?
His Departure Came Out of the Blue
When Leroy Jethro Gibbs' boat blew up at the end of season eighteen, many fans wondered whether we'd seen the last of Mark Harmon on our screens. However, rumors of his departure were squashed when it was confirmed that the legendary actor would return for the 19th season of the show. And while viewers were excited to see Mark back on their screens, confusion arose when he suddenly disappeared once again.
Just as quickly as Gibbs had survived the boat explosion, he disappeared again out of the blue. It didn't make sense, which made people wonder whether something had happened behind the scenes.
Rumors Began to Spiral
However, just before his departure, rumors in Hollywood had started to spiral. Whispers amongst the television world suggested that Mark would be leaving, and what we saw on screen was a good indicator that something wasn't quite right. After all, we were seeing a lot more of Cote de Pablo's character Ziva David on our screens, and a lot less of Leroy Jethro Gibbs. After his giant stint on the show, was he being replaced?
As the rumors continued to escalate, Cote de Pablo got even more screen time. Plus, Mark began to tell his friends that he wanted to spend more time on his Montana ranch.
His Final Scene Left Us With Questions
Although fans at home had no idea of the Hollywood rumors that were making the rounds, those in the Hollywood circle could sense that something big was coming. The air was thick with tension, and Mark's place on NCIS was being pulled even more into question. So, it came as no surprise to some when Mark was finally written out of the show in 2021. But his final scene left us with questions.
After finishing up his business, Leroy Jethro Gibbs hopped onto his boat and disappeared from view. And at that point, fans had no idea whether he would come back. But how could he? Mark knew he was done with the drama.
The Drama on Set Proved Too Much
Mark Harmon was already an established actor when he was given the chance to take on the role of Gibbs, but there's no doubt about the fact that NCIS changed the game for him. As the show became more and more popular, so did he - and it was this popularity, alongside his talent, that kept him on the show for so long. Overall, he starred in over 400 episodes. But in the end, behind-the-scenes drama caused his demise.
Although fans still loved Harmon's character, rumors of a rift between some of the show's most important actors reportedly caused irreparable damage to the show. But who did he have a fight with?
He Was a Man With a Mission
But before we get into his behind-the-scenes feud, we need to understand a little more about Mark Harmon - and why he wasn't the man to stick around when drama reared its head. The 71-year-old made his mark on Hollywood in the 1970s, but he had never intended to become famous. In fact, he reigned supreme as a college football superstar in his youth and then had hopes of becoming a lawyer or advertising executive.
It was only by chance that Harmon made his break into acting, which makes his decision to leave NCIS even more understandable. After all, maybe he just wasn't cut out for the cut-throat acting business...
A Happy Life and a Happy Wife?
As a man in the spotlight, Mark Harmon is no stranger to attention - but that doesn't mean that he enjoys it. Although Mark enjoyed a few years of singledom towards the beginning of his career, he settled down early and married fellow actor Pam Dawber in 1987. The couple have since welcomed two sons into the world, and they're reportedly still happily married. However, they're not your typical Hollywood couple.
Instead of flashing their marriage off to the world, these two prefer to keep a lower profile. But this is understandable, considering how much they had to go through just after they got hitched.
A Custody Battle That Nearly Broke Them
Shortly after Harmon married his wife, they embarked on a bitter custody battle that nearly broke up their marriage - and had a major effect on Mark's family. After witnessing his sister Kristen's substance abuse, he deemed her unable to look after her teenage son. So, he decided to fight for custody of his nephew. And while he assumed that it would be an easy process, it was anything but.
Although Mark was equipped to take care of his nephew, questions arose when his wife's own alleged past substance abuse was brought out of the woodwork. To save himself and his marriage, Mark eventually dropped his case.
His Wife Allegedly Wants to Take Over
Although Mark has struggled to speak publicly about his decision to leave NCIS, many believe that one of the reasons he left was because he wanted to spend more time with his wife now that he's not tied to CBS. However, it seems as though his wife has other plans. In fact, rumors suggest that she wants to take over his place on the show to get back into her own acting career.
An insider close to Dawber suggested that the actress "feels [that appearing on NCIS] could be her big shot to get back out there." Unfortunately, reports suggest her husband isn't too happy about that.
Pauley Perrette Didn't Make His Life Easy
And while we can only assume that Mark doesn't want his wife to step into his grave, his resistance to Dawber's desire to star on NCIS might also have something to do with Pauley Perrette. Throughout the show's run, rumors of a feud between Harmon and Perrette were rife. And it's believed the tension between the two actors came as a result of Mark's dog, who would often hang out on set with him.
Apparently, Pauley took issue with Mark when his dog apparently snapped at a worker while they were behind the scenes. The person reportedly had to have stitches as a result of this attack.
Perrette Was the Only One to Face up to Him
The actions of Mark Harmon's dog on the set of NCIS reportedly shook the whole cast and crew, but it was Pauley Perrette who really took offense with it. She was not happy that the person had been attacked, and she wasn't impressed by Mark's reaction to the incident. She was especially irate when Mark continued to bring his dog to work, despite the fact that he'd already caused an injury.
In the end, Pauley reportedly confronted Mark about the incident - and this caused a huge amount of tension between them. But in Pauley Perrette's eyes, she was only saying what everyone else was thinking.
They Both Refused to Work Together
Unfortunately, Mark and Pauley didn't patch things up after this altercation. If anything, the drama between them intensified. Both parties believed each other to be in the wrong, and a power struggle began to play out between them. In the end, they both refused to work together - and the tension between them became so bad that the writers had no choice but to make sure that they didn't star in any scenes together.
An insider also reported that Pauley would do her scenes one day, "and he did his work on other days," and that "it was simply scheduled that they did not work the same days."
Pauley Even Launched a Twitter Tirade
When Pauley Perrette said goodbye to CBS and left NCIS behind in 2018, many of the cast and crew hoped that the feud between her and Mark Harmon would come to an end. However, it seemed as though Pauley wasn't done with her tirade against the star of the show. So, she took her grievances to Twitter and wrote countless tweets about her time on the show, and her interactions with Mark.
Pauley told her followers that she believed the media was making up false stories about her behavior behind-the-scenes, and that "he" was the one who had done something awful instead. She didn't specifically name Mark, but fans put two and two together.
Mark Refused to Acknowledge Her Claims
In these tweets, Pauley Perrette claimed that a man on the set of NCIS had been so horrible to her that he'd even given her "nightmares." And it was incredibly clear for everyone to see that she was talking about Mark Harmon, so fans were on tenterhooks to see how the actor would respond. But in the end, they waited and waited, but no response came out of the woodwork.
Mark refused to acknowledge her claims personally, but a source close to him stated that "He says he had nothing to do with it, but he wishes her the best." And soon enough, even CBS had its say on the matter.
CBS Had Their Say on the Feud
As Pauley's cryptic tweets rustled up even more drama and even more rumors, CBS decided to nip the whole ordeal in the bud and release its own statement. in this statement, they stated that "Pauley Perrette had a terrific run on NCIS and we are all going to miss her. However, over a year ago, she came to us with a workplace concern. We took the matter seriously and worked with her to find a resolution."
They also concluded by saying that "We are committed to a safe work environment on all our shows." And while the network probably hoped to call this drama a day, their statement just raised even more questions.
Mark's Departure Caused Even More Tension
Although there were a few years between Pauley Perrette's departure from the show and Mark Harmon's departure from NCIS, some fans still couldn't help but think that there was some connection there. After all, Harmon's reputation had started to dwindle after reports of the dog incident, and the cliffhanger of season 18 seemed to be testing the waters of NCIS without Leroy Jethro Gibbs. So, why did he come back for four episodes?
Although some fans were excited to see the actor return for season 19 of the show, they could sense that something was happening as the first few episodes aired. The tension was building for something big.
His Goodbye Left Fans in Tears
During his last season, fans were inspired when they saw Gibbs solve his last case in Alaska. And while they expected him to return home, they were confused when he told Timothy McGhee that he wasn't going home. He felt as though he'd solved everything he needed to solve, and he believed that he finally felt a "sense of peace." As fans watched at home, they couldn't believe what they were seeing.
In fact, many fans claimed that Harmon's departure left them with tears rolling down their cheeks. After all, he had been such an integral part of the show for almost two decades. But it turns out that he planned to leave a lot earlier.
Harmon Was Supposed to Leave in Season 18
Many have questioned whether Harmon's season 19 departure was so abrupt because it wasn't supposed to happen in the first place. Rumors had been circulating that Harmon had wanted to leave for a few years, and The Hollywood Reporter even claimed that he was supposed to leave during season 18. The NCIS legend reportedly wanted to call it a day and asked to leave the show. But in the end, he signed up for another year.
However, it seems as though he didn't sign up as a series regular. He only agreed to return for season 19 as long as he could return in a restricted capacity. But what did that mean?
Harmon Spoke About His Departure in 2019
Since he's left the show, some fans have scoured the internet looking for reasons as to why he would have left so abruptly. And in a 2019 interview with People, he stated that "I've always thought that if there's ever a time where the writers are walking into the room and going, 'I don't know what to do,' then I think we all have to look at each other and call it a day."
But during this interview, he also confessed that "We're not there yet." And while the writers obviously had a few years left in the tank, Mark obviously didn't feel as though he could deal with the show when 2021 came around.
Now He Thinks His Career's Over
When Mark Harmon hung up his boots as Leroy Jethro Gibbs, fans were obviously upset. And while they were devastated to learn that he wouldn't be on NCIS anymore, they hoped that it wouldn't take him long to find another job to fill his time. However, Mark quickly shut down any hope that fans had and suggested that his time on television had come to an end. He stated, "I've been around long enough to know what this is."
He continued: "That commitment is part of what I signed up for. So I know when this show ends, that's it. There won't be anything else for me." But was that what he was hoping for all along?
Apparently, He Wanted to Take a Step Back
For many fans, Mark's departure came out of the blue - but was this what Mark was gearing himself up for all along? In 2019, an insider close to the actor stated that Mark 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." Of course, this makes sense, considering Mark is past the normal retirement age for non-actors.
And while this may have contributed to his decision to ask to leave the show in season 18, this just begs another question. If he wanted to leave, why did he stay on for season 19?
Maybe He Wanted to Help Gary?
Just as Mark was getting ready to enjoy his time away from the show, another male actor was gearing up to stake his claim on NCIS. In 2021, fans of the show were introduced to a new character by the name of Alden Parker - and Gary Cole brought this character to life. And while his introduction came with a lot of questions, CBS claimed that Parker wasn't there to take over from Gibbs.
And this has led many fans to question whether Mark Harmon stayed on to give Gary Cole the welcome introduction he needed to truly make his mark on the show. Perhaps he was showing Gary the ropes?
Gary Seemed to Be Taking Over
To begin with, NCIS appreciated seeing two strong male characters on our screens in the form of Jethro Leroy Gibbs and Alden Parker. And while it seemed as though they were sharing their screen time, it soon became clear to viewers that Parker was introduced to replace Gibbs after all. Harmon began spending less and less time on set, and Gary Cole seemed to be written into almost every scene.
Immediately, fans were quick to judge CBS. They believed that the network was forcing Gary to jump in Mark's bed while it was still hot, and they weren't happy with this new development.
Fans Called Out CBS for Their Lies
As fans dealt with the new dynamic on their screens, they weren't afraid to share their disappointment with CBS executives. Some fans decided to boycott the show, while others took to social media to air their grievances. One fan even claimed that CBS "flat out" lied to fans about the introduction of the new character, and this was something they didn't appreciate. Especially after they'd devoted so much time and attention to the show over the years.
This deception left a sour taste in fans' mouths, but this wasn't the only reason why they were annoyed. Fans were also annoyed about another well-known character on the show.
They Believe McGhee Was Robbed
Of course, fans weren't annoyed at Gary Cole specifically. They knew that Gary was a hugely talented actor who was more than capable of taking on a huge role in a show like NCIS. They were mostly annoyed at the situation, and how he got the job. After all, the writers had insinuated for many years that, when the time came, Timothy McGhee would one day take over from Gibbs.
Not only had McGhee been around since season one, but he had also been Gibbs' right-hand man for decades. Surely he would have been the perfect man to step into Mark Harmon's shoes?
Fans Showed Their Disgust
As more and more fans believed that McGhee had been robbed of the job that had been lined up for him for years, they were quick to share their disgust online. They left CBS with a barrage of messages and comments that proved McGhee was a more popular choice to take over from Gibbs. One fan even wrote on Twitter that "You said Parker was not a replacement for Gibbs. That is exactly what you were planning."
They continued by saying, "Second beef: Gibbs would have never recommended Parker over McGhee for leader. The job should have been McGhee's!" In the end, NCIS's showrunner had to step in and speak up.
Steven D. Binder Then Had His Say
As CBS was hit with more and more complaints, they couldn't stay silent any longer. And it was showrunner Steven D. Binder who decided to take on the challenge and back their decision to choose Parker as the replacement. He posted on Twitter that "I, personally, would not presume to think Gibbs recommended Parker over McGhee." But that's not all he had to say about the matter, as he wanted to explain a little more.
He also wrote, "I would like to think Gibbs and McGhee had plenty of time to talk about the future and what McGhee told Torres on the stake-out... Gibbes already knew..."
This Response Didn't Go Down Well
And while Steven probably hoped that his tweet would quieten some of the fans' outrage, it seems as though it had the opposite effect. As more people read his explanation, the more irked they became. And one fan once again decided to reach out online when they said, "Not cool, passing over McGhee - inconsistent writing. After training and depending on McGhee, Gibbs would have picked him." But what did McGhee himself, think?
On the show, McGhee later made it clear that he didn't want to step into the shoes of Gibbs. However, fans didn't buy this shady piece of writing and thought it was a cop-out from the writers.
The Negative Response Kept Coming
To many fans, seeing McGhee turn down the idea of a job that they thought was rightfully his made them even angrier. They couldn't bear to watch the shows - and while they had nothing personally against Parker, they were still annoyed at him. One fan even went so far as to say "McGhee deserves the job - not Parker. Boot Parker, give him his own team if necessary, but this team is McGhee's."
Another fan also reached out to CBS online, writing "Really can't believe that Vance offers Gibbs' job to Parker! Slap in the face to McGhee." But what did Harmon himself think about the casting?
Thankfully, Mark Hasn't Gone for Good
Unfortunately, Mark himself has not spoken out about his replacement - so we'll never know whether he thought Parker was the right man for the job or not. But one thing we do know is that his drama with Pauley Perrette wasn't enough to push Mark too far away from CBS and their studios. Although the actor has hung up his boots as Leroy Jethro Gibbs, he's not left the show completely.
In fact, the actor still serves as an executive producer on the show, which means that he's still involved every step of the way. But now he's focused behind the camera, rather than in front of it.
He's Opting for a Quieter Life
Perhaps it's his unplanned entrance into Hollywood that made his exit from NCIS so easy for Mark Harmon. And while fans have struggled to come to terms with the fact that he'll no longer star in their favorite show, it seems as though Mark is now focusing on living the quiet life he could have had if he'd become a lawyer. And even though he's rich and famous, he's never really given into the "celebrity" lifestyle.
One insider even stated that "Mark may be worth well over $100 million, but he's never been a big spender. He spends his afternoons doing carpentry, working on his cars, or cooking with Pam. Those are the moments he cherishes."
Apparently, He's Pretty Easygoing
When news of Harmon's feud with Pauley Perrette came to life, many people wondered whether Mark had fallen victim to the curse of Hollywood. They wondered whether he had become selfish and vain, and felt as though he was above everyone else. However, a source close to the actor has stated that this isn't the case and that he's actually "changed over the years. He's mellowed with his age, and he's not as buttoned-up as he seems."
They also went on to say that "He might come off as standoffish, but people will be shocked to know he has a great sense of humor and is actually a pretty easygoing guy."
The Show Sees Him as Their North Star
Although it seemed as though Mark was booted off the show and replaced without much thought from the writers, showrunner Binder wanted to make sure that fans understood their feelings about Harmon. In a statement, the showrunner stated that "Our north star has always been staying true to our characters, and that truth has always guided the stories we tell and where those characters go." Then, he left fans with a cryptic message.
He said, "So, regarding the future of Gibbs, as long-time fans of the show may have noticed over the years... never count Leroy Jethro Gibbs out." But what does that mean? And what about the other characters that have left?
Sasha Alexander Also Decided to Leave the Show
Although she didn't last quite as long as Mark Harmon, Sasha Alexander also made the decision to leave NCIS. She joined the cast for the very first season of the show, and fans quickly fell in love with her character Caitlin Todd. But in a move that shocked everyone, Sasha left after just two seasons. And now, many can't help but wonder whether the situation going on behind the scenes and between cast members prompted her decision to leave.
Were the cast feuds too much for her? Did she find the work environment toxic? Well, it seems as though these options weren't too far removed from the actual truth of the matter.
Alexander Was Worked Too Hard
In a move that shocked fans, both Sasha Alexander and Donald Bellisario, the show's co-creator, were extremely honest about why the actress chose to leave the show behind after just two seasons. They didn't beat around the bush, and they didn't sugarcoat anything. Bellisario stated that "I had already started writing the last episode of the season and was getting ready to go to Australia to take a little break."
He continued to say that, "[Alexander] came in two days before I was [due] to leave, and with tears in her eyes, she said, 'I just can't work this hard.'"
The Show Was Too Much for Her
While Mark Harmon managed to maintain a lifestyle of work and no play, it seemed as though Sasha struggled to maintain this work-life balance. And a few years after leaving the show behind, she decided to speak out herself. She told TV Guide that "People don't realize that on a network show you make 24 episodes a year - that's ten and half months a year, 17 hours a day. It's hardcore."
So, Sasha opted to put herself first. And fans can't help but wonder whether Mark Harmon would have done the same thing earlier if he could give himself a do-over.