{"id":249558,"date":"2026-07-01T20:00:49","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T20:00:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/01\/michael-weatherly-and-more-of-the-biggest-ncis-franchise-returns-through-the-years\/"},"modified":"2026-07-01T20:00:49","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T20:00:49","slug":"michael-weatherly-and-more-of-the-biggest-ncis-franchise-returns-through-the-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/01\/michael-weatherly-and-more-of-the-biggest-ncis-franchise-returns-through-the-years\/","title":{"rendered":"Michael Weatherly and More of the Biggest \u2018NCIS\u2019 Franchise Returns Through the Years"},"content":{"rendered":"


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NCIS<\/em><\/a> has seen its fair share of cast exits throughout its 20-plus years on TV \u2014 but some stars, including Michael Weatherly<\/strong><\/a>, have also made epic comebacks<\/a>.<\/p>\n

When season 23 premiered in fall 2025, Sean Murray<\/strong>, who plays Timothy McGee, was the only original cast member still featured on the CBS hit series. He won\u2019t be alone, however, when season 24 begins in fall 2026.<\/p>\n

CBS announced in July 2026 that Weatherly \u2014 who played the beloved Tony DiNozzo and playfully nicknamed McGee \u201cproby\u201d \u2014 will be back for a \u201cseason-long\u201d story arc.<\/p>\n

Weatherly isn\u2019t the first NCIS<\/em> actor to leave the show<\/a> only to return years later.\u00a0He\u2019s following in the footsteps of Cote de Pablo<\/strong>, Emily Wickersham<\/strong> and more.<\/p>\n

Scroll down to see which NCIS<\/em> stars have returned to the franchise over the years:<\/p>\n

Michael Weatherly<\/h2>\n
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\n Michael Weatherly as Tony DiNozzo.<\/span> Cliff Lipson\/CBS<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Weatherly portrayed Anthony \u201cTony\u201d 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\u2019s (de Pablo) daughter, Tali, after she seemingly died two seasons prior.<\/p>\n

The actor returned to the series in 2024 for the season 21 tribute episode to the late David McCallum<\/strong>, who played Dr. Donald \u201cDucky\u201d Mallard on the flagship series until his death in September 2023<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Weatherly later reprised his role as Tony on the Paramount+ spinoff series, Tony & Ziva<\/em>, which premiered in fall 2025. It was cancelled after one season<\/a> that same year.<\/p>\n

In July 2026, CBS confirmed that Weatherly will be back on NCIS<\/em> for season 24. His character will be featured in a \u201cseason-long\u201d arc.<\/p>\n

LL Cool J<\/h2>\n
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\"Michael<\/div>

\n LL Cool J as Sam Hanna.<\/span> Robert Voets\/CBS<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

LL Cool J\u2019s character, Sam Hanna, was introduced in 2009 during season 6 of NCIS<\/em>, before he became the colead on NCIS: Los Angeles<\/em> that fall. (Chris O\u2019Donnell<\/strong><\/a> played his partner on the spinoff, G. Callen.)<\/p>\n

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<\/em> ended in 2023 after 14 seasons, he made his way to NCIS: Hawai\u2019i<\/em> with a two-episode arc during season 2. The actor was upgraded to a series regular for season 3<\/a> in 2024, which ended up being the show\u2019s final season.<\/p>\n

LL Cool J has also popped up on NCIS<\/em> multiple times after NCIS: Los Angeles<\/em> ended. He appeared on season 20 and 22, most recently having a two-episode arc during season 23<\/a> in 2026.<\/p>\n

The actor will once again helm his own NCIS show in fall 2026 when NCIS: New York<\/em><\/a> premieres. LL Cool J will reprise his role as Sam, while being partnered with a new detective portrayed by Scott Caan<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Emily Wickersham<\/h2>\n
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\"Michael<\/div>

\n Emily Wickersham as Ellie Bishop.<\/span> Robert Voets\/CBS<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Wickersham joined the NCIS<\/em> cast during season 11 in 2013 as Eleanor \u201cEllie\u201d 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.<\/p>\n

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<\/a> in a one-off episode.<\/p>\n

Wickersham, however, exclusively told Us Weekly<\/em><\/a> 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<\/strong><\/a>).<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we left the door open. I leave it up to the writers,\u201d she said. \u201cI don\u2019t know their plan, but I had such a great time. And I\u2019m always down.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cote de Pablo<\/h2>\n
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\"Michael<\/div>

\n Cote de Pablo as Ziva David.<\/span> Cliff Lipson\/CBS<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The actress played Ziva David from season 3 to season 11, when her character was seemingly killed off in a bombing at her family\u2019s home in Israel. Her last episode that season aired in 2013 and fans were convinced she was gone for good.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Viewers got to see the continuation of Ziva\u2019s story<\/a> \u2014 along with her longtime partner in and out of the NCIS office and the father of her daughter, Tali \u2014 during the spinoff series NCIS: Tony & Ziva<\/em><\/a>. The show was cancelled in December 2025 after one season.<\/p>\n

Mark Harmon<\/h2>\n
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\"Michael<\/div>

\n Mark Harmon as Leroy Jethro Gibbs.<\/span> Cliff Lipson\/CBS<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Harmon helmed NCIS<\/em> 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\u2019t filmed anything new for the series.<\/p>\n

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