On an ensemble show like NCIS, a main character’s absence is felt for a long time, and that was definitely the case when Abby Sciuto left. Pauley Perrette began playing the Goth forensic scientist when NCIS season 1 premiered in 2003, and it was impossible to think that the team could survive without her. Whether drinking her favorite caffeine-heavy beverage Caf-Pow or engaging in quick banter with teammates like charming Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly), Abby is a memorable part of the popular series.
While Perette acted for a little while after leaving the CBS procedural and played Jackie on the sitcom Broke, her most well-known role is Abby on NCIS, and fans can never forget her hilarious scenes. Leory Jethro Gibbs’s (Mark Harmon) exit was bittersweet, and Abby’s departure is still sad. How did Abby leave NCIS, and what was her last episode?
Why Did Abby Leave NCIS?
Abby (Pauley Perrette) on NCIS
Abby left NCIS because Pauley Perrette allegedly wanted to exit the show after a feud with Mark Harmon. According to TV Line, the actress posted on X in June 2019:
“NO I AM NOT COMING BACK! EVER! (Please stop asking?) I am terrified of Harmon and him attacking me. I have nightmares about it.”
Perrette also posted photos of an NCIS crew member’s face, which was referring to when Harmon’s dog bit a crew member in October 2016. According to USA Today, Harmon hasn’t issued a public statement. CBS Television Studios put out the statement:
“Pauley Perrette had a terrific run on NCIS and we are all going to miss her. Over a year ago, Pauley came to us with a workplace concern. We took the matter seriously and worked with her to find a resolution. We are committed to a safe work environment on all our shows.”
In 2024, Perrette gave an interview to Hello Magazine and shared that she had retired from acting. It’s a shame to no longer see Abby putting puzzle pieces together or making blunt statements when working with her teammates. The show’s early seasons are some of the best seasons of NCIS, and that is due to well-written, funny, and smart characters like Abby. It’s easy to imagine Abby continuing to give her career her all in NCIS season 22, which is currently airing, and viewers would be glad to see her anytime. But since she isn’t acting anymore, Perrette isn’t going to come back to NCIS.
What Was Abby’s Final NCIS Episode?
Abby (Pauley Perrette) on NCIS
Abby’s last NCIS episode was season 15, episode 22, “Two Steps Back.” Abby is shot at the end of NCIS season 15, episode 21, “One Step Forward,” when she and Clayton Reeves (Duane Henry)
cross paths with a mugger. Then, in episode 22, Abby learns that Robert King (Peter Jason), who was once a Marine Corps Sgt. Major, hired the mugger to hurt her. King wanted to get back at Abby because she got him arrested after he attempted to convince her to create a biological weapon. While there are plenty of crime dramas to get invested in, the NCIS formula endures, and watching the wise characters solve cases in every episode never gets tiring or old.
Reeves dies, which is devastating for Abby, but she survives after having surgery. Abby finds King and everything is okay… except for the sad fact that Abby is moving away. Abby goes to London, England to open a charity Reeves dreamed of running and to bury him close to his mom.
In one of the most emotional scenes on the beloved crime drama, Abby tells her coworkers:
“You guys are my family and this is my home, but you have to go with your gut and my gut is telling me I have to go.”
Although NCIS still has an excellent cast of characters who are fun to watch, including Timothy McGee (Sean Murray), Abby is still missed.
