NCIS star Sean Murray reflects on filming with Mark Harmon for Leroy Jethro Gibbs’ very last scene in the long-running procedural series.
NCIS star Sean Murray has opened up about what it was like to film with Mark Harmon during his final scene when he left the procedural series in season 19. Harmon had portrayed team leader Leroy Jethro Gibbs since season 1, ending his time as a regular on the series in season 19, episode 4, “Great Wide Open.” His final scene involved one last goodbye with Timothy McGee, whom Murray has also been playing since the show began.
Speaking with TV Insider, Murray opened up about what it was like to film his final scene with Harmon before Gibbs left NCIS. Reflecting on the episode, the actor described how emotional it was to film both characters saying farewell. He also revealed the reaction of the crew as they filmed their last scene together. Check out what Murray had to say below:
That’s one of my favorite scenes I’ve done, the goodbye with Mark. As hard as that was, at the same time my character saying goodbye to Mark, we had an incredible time.
We actually went and did the real fly fishing in Alaska, and it was amazing. And actually doing that sequence is one of my best memories of this show. Also, when we were out in that water filming, knee-deep, fly fishing, we got a steady cam operator out there, and at one point, we’re doing the scene where we’re basically saying goodbye to each other. And I look around, all of our crew is crying, so I felt like we were doing something right.
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While it would make sense for a major episode to see him come back, his character also received a memorable farewell that could be jeopardized by his return in the main series.
Since leaving the show in season 19, Harmon has yet to return as Gibbs for a guest appearance. Despite his absence, the team is still being held together strongly thanks to Alden Parker (Gary Cole). The new Supervisory Special Agent has been leading the group ever since his long-running predecessor retired to Alaska. Since he hasn’t been gone from the show for so long, the former main character’s presence can still be felt in the team’s continued missions every week.
However, the character of Gibbs won’t be away for much longer. In January 2024, CBS announced the upcoming spinoff NCIS: Origins, set in 1991 and focusing on a younger version of the character portrayed by Austin Stowell (The Hating Game). While Harmon won’t be portraying the character again physically, he is taking on the role of narrator for the events that unfold. This may not be a return to the main series, but the new spinoff will allow more of his story to be told.
Given just how much of an emotional ending Gibbs received, it’s unclear if Harmon will return to NCIS in the future. While it would make sense for a major episode to see him come back, his character also received a memorable farewell that could be jeopardized by his return in the main series. Even so, the upcoming spinoff is proof that the entire franchise will be continuing both the character and the actors’ legacy for a long time to come.