According to Daily Mail, Harmon's exit from the show was confirmed on the most recent episode after rumors were swirling about his future on "NCIS." It was suspected that the 70-year-old actor would be leaving the show during his 19th season, or at least taking a step back and only appearing in a handful of episodes. That seemed to have been confirmed by "NCIS" executive producer Steve Binder.
In a statement, Binder shared, "As an executive producer and dear friend, Mark continues to be an integral part of the fabric of the show. Our north star has always been staying true to our characters, and that truth has always guided the stories we tell and where those characters go," Binder added, "So regarding the future of Gibbs, as long-time fans of the show may have noticed over the years ... never count Leroy Jethro Gibbs out."
While the statement was a bit vague, Gibbs' actions on the episode were not. When working on a case in Alaska, he said, "I'm not going back, Tim" to Special Agent Timothy McGee. "I'm not going back home" (via People).
CBS Entertainment President Kelly Kahl told Deadline, "Mark's always been part of the show, Mark's always going to be part of the show," Kahl continued, "In terms of his on-air appearances, we're just going to have to see how it plays out going forward."
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