April 7, 2025 — For a show like NCIS, which thrives on its ensemble cast and long-term character development, the departure of any major character can leave a lasting impact. One such departure was that of Lauren Holly, who played NCIS Director Jenny Shepard for three seasons. Though her exit was planned, the actress has since opened up about the behind-the-scenes atmosphere that helped solidify her decision.
Holly joined NCIS in Season 3, taking over from Thomas Morrow (Alan Dale) as director. During her time on the show, Shepard stood out as a rare combination of ambition and empathy, earning the respect of both her fictional colleagues and the series’ global audience. Her character’s emotional and heroic sendoff in the Season 5 finale, “Judgment Day,” cemented her legacy as one of the show’s most memorable figures.
A Role That Outgrew Its Original Plan
Initially, Holly only signed on for what was supposed to be a six-episode arc. However, thanks to strong fan reception and a compelling dynamic with lead character Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon), her role expanded significantly. Ultimately, she stayed on for three full seasons. But by the end of Season 5, Holly felt her character had reached a creative plateau.
On her personal website, Holly explained that she had started feeling “bored” with her role, especially after the show’s original showrunner, Don Bellisario, departed. “Now that the work bug had bitten me again, I got bored with my part of the ‘Director,’” she wrote. “I enjoyed being on the show and began some wonderful friendships. I was saddened that Don Bellisario was forced out, and I missed him a lot.”
Holly’s comments suggest that while her departure was ultimately her own decision, creative dissatisfaction played a large role.
Behind-the-Scenes Tension May Have Played a Part
Though Holly’s exit was not publicly attributed to any internal drama, reports over the years have revealed that the NCIS set wasn’t always a peaceful place. In particular, the working relationship between Bellisario and series star Mark Harmon became strained due to what sources described as “chaotic” micromanagement on Bellisario’s part. Harmon, reportedly working 16-hour days at the time, found the environment unsustainable.
Eventually, CBS executives suggested Bellisario step back from the show. He chose to leave, and that shift in leadership likely changed the tone and direction of NCIS—something Holly noticed and didn’t particularly enjoy. Though she has never directly blamed the behind-the-scenes tensions for her departure, they may have contributed to her decision to pursue new opportunities.
Life After NCIS
Since leaving NCIS, Holly has kept an active presence in both film and television. She voiced characters in animated series like The Adventures of Chuck & Friends and appeared in several Hallmark Channel projects, including My Summer Prince, A Country Wedding, and the Hailey Dean Mystery series. She praised the network’s family-friendly values, saying in an interview, “I’m a mom, and they’re great for my boys to watch.”
Her post-NCIS work has spanned a wide range of genres. Holly landed recurring roles on crime dramas such as Rookie Blue, Covert Affairs, Motive, and Designated Survivor, as well as supernatural series like Lucifer and Good Witch. She also starred in the psychological horror film The Blackcoat’s Daughter.
More recently, she played Monique DuBois in Netflix’s Tiny Pretty Things and currently appears on The CW’s legal drama Family Law as Joanne Kowalski, a character she describes as “charming, complex, and unapologetically self-interested.”
A Career Built on Reinvention
Lauren Holly’s career post-NCIS highlights her desire to avoid being boxed in. Though her time on the procedural was relatively short, it made a significant impact. And by stepping away when she did, Holly has been able to explore a wider range of roles—exactly what she hoped for when she chose to move on.
Her exit serves as a reminder that while NCIS thrives on longevity, sometimes a timely departure can be the key to a richer, more fulfilling career.
