NCIS Shocker Last Original Cast Member Says Goodbye After 22 Years!

After more than 20 years on the air, NCIS has quietly closed a major chapter. The iconic crime drama has officially said goodbye to its final original cast connection. Following the 2023 death of David McCallum (Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard), only one character remained from the very first episode: FBI Agent Tobias Fornell, played by Joe Spano.

Fornell, a longtime ally of Gibbs (Mark Harmon), made his last appearance during the show’s milestone 1000th episode. However, he’s been noticeably absent since—especially in the recent episode “Sticks and Stones,” which introduced a new FBI figure, Deputy Director Wayne Sweeney (Erik Passoja). This quiet shift strongly suggests that Fornell’s run has come to an end, marking the departure of the final original cast tie.

Sean Murray’s Timothy McGee, who joined in season one, now stands as the longest-running active character. While the show has seen countless changes, it continues to evolve, with new faces stepping in to carry the torch into its 22nd season.

Meanwhile, the NCIS universe is expanding yet again. A new spinoff, NCIS: Tony and Ziva, is in development—bringing back fan-favorites Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo. The series will follow DiNozzo and Ziva’s life in Paris after their off-screen reunion, giving fans a fresh glimpse into their post-NCIS journey.

Though the original team is gone, NCIS shows no signs of slowing down—only shifting into a new era.