Summary
There are someNCISMajor Case Response Team (MCRT) members that are impossible to forget. Many of the original MCRT characters were introduced in a backdoor pilot forNCISin the legal dramaJag.Others were introduced in the main series throughout its 21-season run.Original characters include team members who stayed with the show long enough to be considered a mainstayand who are remembered inthe sharedNCISuniverselong after they departed the series.
Going intoNCISseason 22,only a few of the core characters will remain. Mainstays likeMcGee and Jimmy are more important than everheading into the upcoming season because their legacy dates back to the show’s debut.While most of these original characters probably won’t be featured inNCISseason 22, they are the foundation of what made the show such a success. While characters come and go, the best part of theNCIS’s ever-changing nature is creating characters that are hard to say goodbye to. Regardless of whether they feature again, many original MCRT members remain impossible to forget.
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1Jack
Jacqueline “Jack” Sloane
While Jack Sloane wasn’t with the team until later in the series,Maria Bello’s character was a mainstay while she was on the show.She joined the team early on in season 15, forming a close relationship with Gibbs. This made her character central to the narrative while serving as the team’s forensic psychologist. She provided the team with profiles detailing the people they were investigating, adding a richness to the case-of-the-week investigations that the show is known for.
Flashbacks ofSloane appeared in two episodes ofNCISseason 21,signaling her character’s enduring importance to theNCISfranchise. She appeared in a flashback in season 2, “The Stories We Leave Behind.” She also appeared in a flashback in the 1000th episode ofNCIS,confirming her status as one of the original MCRT characters that helped to develop the team. Mario Bello doesn’t have any bad blood withNCIS,signaling that her character could potentially return to the franchise.
2Ellie
Eleanor “Ellie” Bishop
Eleanor “Ellie” Bishop is a former NSA analyst who joins the MCRT in season 11afterCote de Pablo leftNCIS.Bishop was portrayed by Emily Wickersham, who was on the cast ofNCISfrom seasons 11 to 18. She first serves the team as a liaison officer and then is later promoted to the team as an NCIS probationary agent. AgentBishop was one of NCIS’s most intelligent members,with her analytical skills from the NSA setting her apart from many of her NCIS colleagues.
After eight seasons with the show,Bishop departed the MCRT to work with Odette Malone (Elayn J. Taylor)on an undercover operation. She had a spark with Special Agent Nick Torres (Wilmer Valderrama) following her divorce from ex-husband Jake Malloy (Jamie Bamber). Some viewers hope to see Bishop return to the flagship series to continue her relationship with Agent Torres, since it was one of theNCISrelationships fans could get behind.
3Ziva
Ziva David
One of the most memorable MCRT members is Ziva David, portrayed by Cote de Pablo.Ziva joined forces with the team at the beginning ofNCISseason 3,and her appearance was connected to the antagonist fromNCISseasons 1 and 2, Ari Haswari (Rudolf Martin). Ziva was introduced to fill a vacancy on the team after theshock death of NCIS Special Agent Caitlin Toddat the end of season 2.
Ultimately, Ziva would go on to kill her half-brother to defend Gibbs in “Kill Ari”, which is considered one ofthe best episodes inNCIS'21 seasons.Ziva officially joins the team later on in season 3, and stays with the show until her departure in season 11.Ziva is one of the most-loved MCRT characters of all time, and Cote de Pablo will reprise her rolein the upcoming Tony & Ziva spinoff:NCIS: Tony & Ziva.
4Kate
Caitlin “Kate” Todd
Caitlin Todd (Sasha Alexander) was an original MCRT member, joining the team inNCISseason 1,episode 1, “Yankee White.” Kate joined the team after being fired from the Secret Service. She collaborates with Gibbs and his team on an investigation aboard Air Force One, and her performance on the investigation impresses Gibbs enough to offer her a spot on his team.
Ultimately, while Kate was cut out for the NCIS job, Sasha Alexander needed to leave the show. After wanting to end her contract after two seasons, theshowrunners let Alexander off the hook by having her character shot in the head.Kate’s death was one of the most memorable ofevery major character who leftNCIS.Unfortunately, since Kate was killed, it won’t be possible for her to return in any upcoming season ofNCIS.
Kate was featured inNCISseasons 1 and 2.
5Tony
Anthony “Tony” DiNozzo
Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly) is another one of the most memorable characters in the fabric of the MCRTover its 21-year history. Tony appeared onJag,and joinedNCISin season 1, episode 1. His character is foundational to the setup of the show, being one of the major characters who madeNCISwhat it is today. Tony would be a main feature on the show untilMichael Weatherly leftNCISin season 13.
Thanks in large part to his captivating will-they-won’t-they relationship with Ziva, Tony’s character is so popular that he will be returning to theNCISuniverse.He will appear alongside Cote de Pablo in the upcomingTony & Zivaspinoffthat will premiere on Paramount+. The spinoff will bringexciting firsts for theNCISfranchise,including its streaming format. What’s more, the serialized narrative chosen for their story canfix Tony and Ziva’s biggestNCISromance problems.
6Abby
Abigail “Abby” Sciuto
Abby Sciuto was a mainstay onNCISfor 15 yearsand one of the most original characters on the team. Abby was the Chief Forensic Scientist for the team until Pauley Perrette left the show at the end of season 15.Pauley Perrette leftNCISafter a clash with Mark Harmon, and her character was replaced by Kasie Hines (Diona Reasonover).
While Pauley Perrette has said that she will never return toNCIS,she is one of the legendary characters that viewers hope will return someday.
Abby was so essential toNCISthatCBS directly addressed the return of Abby Sciuto.While Pauley Perrette has said that she will never return toNCIS,she is one of the legendary characters that viewers hope will return someday.Her classic goth style and attitude made her one of the more outstanding characters from the series,and a nod was given to her character in Ducky’s tribute episode when she left a large black bouquet for the doctor.
7Ducky
Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard
Dr. Mallard was one of the most foundationalNCIScharacters.He was anNCISmainstay from the outsetand was featured on the show until the actor who played Ducky,David McCallum, died at 90.He was one of the longest-running characters on the show, appearing from seasons 1 to 20. While the character can’t appear in the show moving forward now that the actor has passed, his legacy will live on as one of the best cast members ofNCISand one of the longest-running appearances on the show.
The second episode ofNCISseason 21, “The Stories We Leave Behind,” paid tribute to McCallumand his character. The episode is the highest-ratedNCISepisode of all time, according toIMDb.Ducky’s character had evolved into an NCIS historian throughout the series, which is whyDucky had limited appearanceslater on. His role was handed over to his protégé, Dr. Jimmy Palmer (Brian Dietzen), when Ducky retired from his role as Medical Examiner.
8Gibbs
Leroy Jethro Gibbs
The most important and unforgettableNCISMCRT member of all time is Leroy Jethro Gibbs,portrayed by Mark Harmon. Gibbs was the face of the franchise for nearly two decades, only recently departing the series near the beginning of season 19. While theNCIS1000th episode confirmedNCIScould survive Gibbs’departure, many viewers hope to see him return to the original series. There areessentialNCISepisodes for Gibbs' characterthat make it clear why he was chosen to be so central toNCIS,and why casting Mark Harmon paid off for the franchise.
While Gibbs has yet to return to the series sinceMark Harmon’sNCISdeparture,Gibbs' presence will be felt in the upcoming fall TV schedule with the premiere ofNCIS: Origins.The expansion series will focus on Jethro Gibbs' early days as an NCIS agent in the 1990s when he was freshly assigned to Camp Pendleton. Thespinoff has cast Austin Stowell as young Gibbs,choosing not to continue with Sean Harmon’s portrayal of the character.While the series won’t feature either of the Harmons as Gibbs, they will both return to produce the series,with Mark Harmon narrating theNCISspinoff.
NCIS
Cast
NCIS is a television series that follows a team of special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Premiering in 2003, the show explores various cases involving Navy and Marine Corps personnel, ranging from murder and espionage to terrorism and stolen submarines.
