The 21st season of CBS’ long-running American military police procedural “NCIS” is now under production. Pauley Perrette, who rose to fame for her role as Abigail “Abby” Sciuto, will not be returning to the series for the sixth consecutive season. Abby is a ballistics, digital forensics, and DNA analysis expert at NCIS headquarters who was first presented in the show’s debut episode and immediately rose to fame among viewers.
Recognizable by her alternative style, tattoos, brunette pigtails, and can-do attitude, the character exited the show at the end of Season 15 in May 2018. She has not appeared on the series since, and based on what Perrette has told fans, she has no intention of ever returning to “NCIS.” In June 2019, Perrette opened up on Twitter about the events that precipitated her departure from the show. She 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.”
Pauley Perrette left NCIS after an incident with a dog
Pauley Perrette revealed her intention to depart the program at the beginning of Season 15, which debuted in the fall of 2017. TheWrap reported that Perrette and Mark Harmon (who played Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs) had been having problems ever since Harmon’s dog bit a crew worker in 2016, necessitating stitches. The fact that the dog was permitted to return to the set infuriated Perrette, and the conflict between the two actors grew to the point where she made the decision to quit the program permanently.
Abby Sciuto last appeared onscreen on May 8, 2018, in Episode 22 of Season 15, entitled “Two Steps Back.” After suffering severe wounds incurred from an attack by a hitman, Abby recovers, tracks down the man who arranged the hit, and tricks him into confessing. Having secured his arrest, Abby resigns from NCIS and travels to England with the body of Clayton Reeves (Duane Henry) — the MI6 agent who died protecting her. Abby’s storyline ends with her starting a charity to memorialize Reeves and help the homeless. Abby’s character did not appear in the final two episodes of Season 15, although Perrette was included in the credits.
What Pauley Perrette has been up to since NCIS
Following her departure from “NCIS,” Pauley Perrette was hired for the CBS sitcom “Broke,” which ran from April 2 to June 25, 2020. The show centers on a trust fund child whose father disinherits him, forcing his wife and him to move in with her sister. Jackie, portrayed by Perrette, is a sister and self-assured single mother who works as a bartender to support her entrepreneurial ambitions. After 13 episodes, the show was discontinued after one season. Perrette made her acting retirement announcement one month after the show was canceled.
These days, Perrette spends her free time gardening, advocating for charities, and attending concerts. But even after saying goodbye to Hollywood, Perrette’s life has not been without its difficulties. In early September 2022, Perrette shared on Twitter that she survived a serious stroke the year before. She wrote that she was “still so grateful, still so full of faith, and still here!”