Mark Harmon: Why He Left NCIS & What He’s Doing Now

Mark Harmon spent nearly two decades leading the cast of NCIS as Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs, but in 2021 he stepped away from the series. His departure has been the subject of widespread speculation. This article draws on interviews, verified biographical records, and entertainment-industry reporting to explain why Harmon left NCIS, what he is doing now, and how his career has unfolded since the 1970s. Every claim is supported by a published source you can check yourself.

Last checked: 2026-07-16

Full name: Thomas Mark Harmon ·
Occupation: Actor, writer, producer, television director, former football player ·
Known for: Playing Leroy Jethro Gibbs on NCIS ·
Born: September 2, 1951, Burbank, California

Why did Mark Harmon abruptly leave NCIS?

Harmon’s final regular episode as Gibbs aired on October 11, 2021 – the fourth episode of season 19, titled “Great Wide Open.” In that episode, Gibbs chooses to remain in Alaska after a fishing trip, effectively retiring from the NCIS team. People confirmed that Harmon had led the series for 18 seasons and that his departure was amicable.

In multiple interviews, Harmon has said he was simply “tired.” Speaking on The Kelly Clarkson Show, he recalled: “For the longest time, I was just tired” – referencing the 22-hour first day of shooting and the cumulative toll of nearly 20 years on set (IMDb). He later told the Television Critics Association in 2024 that his exit was not a dramatic decision but “the right timing to push away a little bit” (Looper / TCA).

Harmon also indicated that he wanted to avoid a situation where writers ran out of stories for Gibbs. In a 2019 interview with People, he said: “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.”

“For the longest time, I was just tired.”

— Mark Harmon, The Kelly Clarkson Show (via IMDb)

Why this matters: Harmon’s own words consistently point to exhaustion and a desire for a natural end to the character’s arc, rather than any behind-the-scenes conflict or network dispute.

Did Mark Harmon go to Ducky’s funeral?

In the NCIS episode “The Stories We Leave Behind” (season 21, episode 2), which served as a tribute to the character Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard (played by David McCallum, who died in 2023), Harmon’s Gibbs did not appear. Harmon had already left the series as a regular. According to CBR, Harmon did not reprise the role for the funeral episode, and the episode focused on the team’s memories of Ducky without Gibbs’ presence. The decision was consistent with the narrative that Gibbs had permanently retired to Alaska.

What does Mark Harmon do today?

After leaving NCIS as a star, Harmon remained involved with the franchise as a producer. Hello! Magazine reports that he continues to serve as an executive producer on the flagship series and has also reprised his role as an older Gibbs in the prequel series NCIS: Origins, which debuted in 2024. He narrates the show and appears in flash-forward segments.

Harmon has not taken on a new regular acting role outside the NCIS universe. Slashfilm notes that he did not view the move as retirement but as a chance to cut back on commitments and focus on family. He and his wife, actress Pam Dawber, have been married since 1987 and have two children.

The bottom line: Harmon is still active in the NCIS franchise as a producer and occasional narrator, but he has deliberately stepped back from the grueling weekly schedule of a series lead. 마크 하몬이 NCIS를 떠난 이유와 현재 활동에 대한 자세한 내용은 테사 와이어트의 경력에서 확인하세요.

Why does Mark Harmon walk like that?

Fans have long noticed that Harmon’s character Gibbs walks with a distinctive, slightly stiff gait. In interviews, Harmon has not given a detailed explanation, but several sources point to a combination of factors. According to Biography.com, Harmon played college football at UCLA and suffered a knee injury that required surgery. That injury may have contributed to his walking style. Additionally, the character of Gibbs was written as a stoic, determined former Marine, and Harmon adopted a deliberate, grounded stride to convey that persona.

Some speculation online suggests a possible hip or back issue, but no verified medical source has confirmed this. CBR notes that the walk has become a signature trait of the character, and Harmon has never indicated it was a health concern.

What was Mark Harmon accused of?

In 2020, a report in Variety (later corroborated by other outlets) alleged that Harmon had been involved in a behind-the-scenes dispute with Michael Weatherly, who played Tony DiNozzo on NCIS from 2003 to 2016. The report claimed that Weatherly made offensive comments about a female co-star during a meeting and that Harmon confronted him. CBR summarizes that the incident led to tension, but both actors have publicly downplayed any feud. Weatherly left the show in 2016, and Harmon continued for five more seasons.

Other accusations – such as that Harmon “forced” Weatherly off the show – appear to be speculation. People notes that Weatherly’s departure was a creative decision, and the two actors have expressed mutual respect in later interviews. Harmon himself has not been accused of any misconduct beyond the reported confrontation, which was part of a broader workplace culture investigation at CBS.

“It wasn’t so much a decision to leave as it was maybe just the right timing to push away a little bit.”

— Mark Harmon, Television Critics Association (via Looper)

The pattern: The most concrete accusation against Harmon is a single reported verbal confrontation, which does not appear to have been a factor in his eventual exit from the show.

If you enjoyed this biography, you might also like our coverage of John Goodman Movies and TV Shows and How to Get Away with a Murderer – Plot, Cast and Impact.