NCIS Bids Farewell to Its Last Original Star After 22 Years!

NCIS Closes a Chapter as Last Original Cast Connection Departs

After more than 20 years on the air, NCIS has officially closed the book on the last of its original cast connections. The iconic CBS procedural, now in its 22nd season, continues to evolve—but with recent developments, it has quietly said goodbye to another foundational figure.

Following the passing of David McCallum (Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard) in 2023, the only character remaining from the show’s early days was FBI Special Agent Tobias Fornell, played by Joe Spano. Fornell—Gibbs’ trusted ally and a longtime fan favorite—made his last appearance in the show’s milestone 1000th episode. His noticeable absence from recent episodes, including “Sticks and Stones,” which introduced a new FBI character, Deputy Director Wayne Sweeney (Erik Passoja), suggests that Fornell’s chapter in the NCIS story may have quietly come to an end.

With Fornell gone, Timothy McGee (Sean Murray) now stands as the longest-running active cast member, having joined the series in its debut season. Though the faces have changed over the years, NCIS continues to thrive, propelled by compelling new characters and ever-evolving storylines that carry forward the show’s enduring legacy.

Meanwhile, the NCIS universe continues to expand. A new spinoff, NCIS: Tony & Ziva, is in development and will reunite beloved original stars Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo. The series will follow Tony DiNozzo and Ziva David as they navigate life together following their off-screen reunion in Paris, reigniting the chemistry that once made them one of the show’s most captivating duos.

As the flagship series enters a new era, longtime fans may still see familiar faces return—perhaps not in the same form, but with the same heart that has defined NCIS for more than two decades.