NCIS has seen its fair share of cast exits throughout its 20-plus years on TV — but some stars, including Michael Weatherly, have also made epic comebacks.
When season 23 premiered in fall 2025, Sean Murray, who plays Timothy McGee, was the only original cast member still featured on the CBS hit series. He won’t be alone, however, when season 24 begins in fall 2026.
CBS announced in July 2026 that Weatherly — who played the beloved Tony DiNozzo and playfully nicknamed McGee “proby” — will be back for a “season-long” story arc.
Weatherly isn’t the first NCIS actor to leave the show only to return years later. He’s following in the footsteps of Cote de Pablo, Emily Wickersham and more.
Scroll down to see which NCIS stars have returned to the franchise over the years:
Michael Weatherly
Michael Weatherly as Tony DiNozzo. Cliff Lipson/CBS
Weatherly portrayed Anthony “Tony” DiNozzo from season 1 to 13 before his 2016 exit. His character announced his departure from the NCIS office to focus on raising his and Ziva David’s (de Pablo) daughter, Tali, after she seemingly died two seasons prior.
The actor returned to the series in 2024 for the season 21 tribute episode to the late David McCallum, who played Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard on the flagship series until his death in September 2023.
Weatherly later reprised his role as Tony on the Paramount+ spinoff series, Tony & Ziva, which premiered in fall 2025. It was cancelled after one season that same year.
In July 2026, CBS confirmed that Weatherly will be back on NCIS for season 24. His character will be featured in a “season-long” arc.
LL Cool J
LL Cool J as Sam Hanna. Robert Voets/CBS
LL Cool J’s character, Sam Hanna, was introduced in 2009 during season 6 of NCIS, before he became the colead on NCIS: Los Angeles that fall. (Chris O’Donnell played his partner on the spinoff, G. Callen.)
While crossovers between the flagship series and its spinoffs are common, LL Cool J has managed to make himself a fixture throughout the franchise. After NCIS: Los Angeles ended in 2023 after 14 seasons, he made his way to NCIS: Hawai’i with a two-episode arc during season 2. The actor was upgraded to a series regular for season 3 in 2024, which ended up being the show’s final season.
LL Cool J has also popped up on NCIS multiple times after NCIS: Los Angeles ended. He appeared on season 20 and 22, most recently having a two-episode arc during season 23 in 2026.
The actor will once again helm his own NCIS show in fall 2026 when NCIS: New York premieres. LL Cool J will reprise his role as Sam, while being partnered with a new detective portrayed by Scott Caan.
Emily Wickersham
Emily Wickersham as Ellie Bishop. Robert Voets/CBS
Wickersham joined the NCIS cast during season 11 in 2013 as Eleanor “Ellie” Bishop. She left the series at the end of season 18 in 2021 after Bishop took a job with an ex-CIA instructor where she had to pretend to be a disgraced NCIS agent, leaving without a trace.
The actress surprised fans in December 2025 when her character popped up in the season 23 fall finale, watching the NCIS team from her car. When the show returned in March 2026, Wickersham reprised her role as Bishop in a one-off episode.
Wickersham, however, exclusively told Us Weekly at the time that she is open to making more appearances after her character shared a very telling kiss with former partner Nick Torres (Wilmer Valderrama).
“I think we left the door open. I leave it up to the writers,” she said. “I don’t know their plan, but I had such a great time. And I’m always down.”
Cote de Pablo
Cote de Pablo as Ziva David. Cliff Lipson/CBS
The actress played Ziva David from season 3 to season 11, when her character was seemingly killed off in a bombing at her family’s home in Israel. Her last episode that season aired in 2013 and fans were convinced she was gone for good.
However, Ziva popped up during the season 16 finale, before it was confirmed in the season 17 premiere that she had not died. De Pablo reprised her role for four episodes during season 17 in 2019 and 2020, before leaving the flagship series once again.
Viewers got to see the continuation of Ziva’s story — along with her longtime partner in and out of the NCIS office and the father of her daughter, Tali — during the spinoff series NCIS: Tony & Ziva. The show was cancelled in December 2025 after one season.
Mark Harmon
Mark Harmon as Leroy Jethro Gibbs. Cliff Lipson/CBS
Harmon helmed NCIS as Leroy Jethro Gibbs from 2003 to 2021 before he exited the series during season 19. Harmon has been featured in various flashbacks since his departure using past footage, but he hasn’t filmed anything new for the series.
Harmon, however, did begin narrating the prequel series NCIS: Origins in 2024, reprising his role as the older Gibbs. (The younger Gibbs is portrayed by Austin Stowell, who the show centers around.)
He also made a cameo during the prequel’s series premiere in 2024, before playing Gibbs on screen for an NCIS–NCIS: Origins crossover event in November 2025. CBS announced in June 2026 that Harmon will step back in front of the camera, playing older Gibbs, throughout season 3 of NCIS: Origins.
NCIS returns for season 24 to CBS Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET and streaming on Paramount+.
