Pauley Perrette , best known for her role on the hit CBS series NCIS , has opened up about why she has no plans to return to acting after retiring six years ago. The 55-year-old actress shifted her focus to working behind the camera as an executive producer, pursuing projects that emphasize the importance of truth in storytelling. Perrette starred as forensic scientist Abby Sciuto on NCIS for 15 seasons from 2003 to 2018. Her departure from the show followed claims of an assault and that she felt unsafe around co-star Mark Harmon, with Perrette explaining her decision to step away from the spotlight in a new interview with Hello!, saying:
“I’m not ungrateful for the benefits that it gave to me. But I’m a different person now and I want to be here for it – the good and the bad and the painful. I want to be me all the time, and it takes a good amount of courage for me to say that to myself but it’s authentically how I feel.”
Perrette began acting in the early 1990s, building her career with roles in TV shows like Frasier, The Drew Carey Show, and Cameron Crowe’s acclaimed film Almost Famous. In 2003, she joined NCIS and quickly became one of the most popular women on primetime television, leaving many fans stunned when she ultimately decided to leave the crime drama. Perrette is now producing documentaries and using her platform to be an ally for the LGBTQ+ community.
Pauley Perrette Is Producing Projects That Align With Her Values
Perrette’s NCIS exit was reportedly linked to concerns about safety on set involving Harmon’s dog. According to executive producer Charles Floyd Johnson, Harmon’s canine bit someone, which alarmed Perrette, an animal advocate. She reportedly felt the dog’s ongoing presence on set created an unsafe environment, prompting her decision to leave the show. In a 2019 tweet, Perrette wrote: “NO I AM NOT COMING BACK! EVER! (Please stop asking?) I am terrified of Harmon and him attacking me. I have nightmares about it. I have a new show that is SAFE AND HAPPY! You’ll love it! #HappyPlace Love y’all!”
Following her NCIS stint, Perrette briefly starred in the CBS sitcom Broke, which aired from April to June 2020 before being canceled. She officially announced her retirement from acting and has since focused on producing documentaries. Her latest project, Studio One Forever, explores the history of the iconic gay disco in Los Angeles. According to Hello!, in 2020, she told fans, “Actually I retired after NCIS but BROKE was important, beautiful.I did my last dance & am proud of it!”
Perrette transitioned from acting to producing educational content because she’s developed a passion for prioritizing subjects that closely align with her values. “It’s why I only watch documentaries, I want the truth. For me, going back to being an actor would be taking away from this life of true authenticity that I’m living 100% of the time,” she explained to Hello!.
