Everyone who watches this long-running show believes they are superb detectives and forensic experts capable of solving any cold case murder! NCIS (Naval Criminal Investigative Service) is one show that has given us many popular TV characters and thrilling stories, as the Major Case Response Team races against the clock to investigate terrifying murders. The drama series, which premiered in 2003, is returning for its 19th season! Previous seasons have been shocking and dramatic, with their fair share of celebrity guest stars and regular cast members who have come and gone since the show’s inception. SEE HOW THE MAIN CAST AND GUEST STARS HAVE CHANGED SINCE SEASON 1!
David Mccallum
Veteran actor David McCallum, who plays Dr. Donald ‘Ducky’ Mallard, has been a fan favorite since the show’s inception, and it’s tough to picture the show without him! Fans were relieved when he did not depart the show during its 18th season. The show’s Chief Medical Examiner and historian has been performing since the 1960s and has been a musician, voice over actor, and has appeared in the original show, The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
David Mccallum
Joe Spano
Joe Spano initially appeared on NCIS in the pilot episode, when he played FBI agent Tobias Fornell, who worked with the NCIS team. During season 15, he had left the FBI and was working as a private investigator. In season 19, he would return to the show and reprise his role, albeit for only one episode. He is well noted for his role as Lt. Henry Goldblume in the 1980s cop drama Hill Street Blues, as well as having tiny parts in Apollo 13, The X-Files, and NYPD Blue.
Joe Spano
Tamara Taylor
Tamara Taylor, who played Cassie Yates on NCIS, only featured in a few episodes but left an indelible impression on viewers owing to her exceptional acting abilities. She did, however, have a lot more screen time as Dr. Camille Saroyan in another popular TV drama, Bones. Tamara wanted to be an actor when she was in high school and eventually dropped out with her mother’s permission. She went on to star in 3lbs and The Titan on the Tracks, and her career was pretty much set!
Tamara Taylor
Lauren Holly
After Sasha Alexander left NCIS in the second season, the show’s producers hired Lauren Holly and cast her in the crucial role of Director Jenny Shepard. Lauren says that at the time her character was killed off in 2008, she was “bored” with her character’s arc. Fortunately, she had already created a reputation for herself and landed her own Canadian drama show, Motive. Holly has lately appeared as a guest on episodes such as Lucifer, the Good Witch, and Designated Survivor. Doesn’t she look a lot different than she did in NCIS?
Lauren Holly
Sarah Jane Morris
She is most known for her role as Julia Walker on the drama Brothers & Sisters, but she has a long list of projects and credits to her name, including Seven Pounds, Body of Prof, Coyote Ugly, Grey’s Anatomy, and Mad Men! Sarah has played Special Agent Erica Jane “EJ” Barrett on NCIS since 2011, but her future on the program was jeopardized when her recurring character was shot on-screen and presumed dead. After a few months, the producers brought her back, surprising the show’s fans, who were relieved to find her alive!
Sarah Jane Morris
Jaime Murray
Jaime Murray, an English actress, was cast in NCIS in 2009 to play Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent Julia “Jules” Foster-Yates, who, to be honest, irritated some of the regular team members on the force. That could be why her character was never reprised on the program! Jaime has since appeared in a number of high-profile projects, including Warehouse 13, The Originals, The Mentalist, Dexter, and Hustle. It appears that starring in NCIS was her lucky break, eh?
Jaime Murray
Troian Bellisario
Troian Bellisario, a beautiful actress, began her career at the age of three when she appeared in her father’s film, The Last Rites. She would go on to appear in projects such as First Monday, Quantum Leap, and, of course, a cameo appearance on NCIS, as her father, Donald Bellisario, was formerly affiliated with the show! Troian used to play Sarah McGee, the sister of another maim character on the show, Special Agent Timothy McGee. Troian would later go on to star in the hit drama Pretty Little Liars, which catapulted her career to new heights.
Troian Bellisario
Joel Gretsch
Actor Joel Gretsch has appeared on several prominent television shows, and his resume is impressive enough to make even the most seasoned television performers jealous! He has appeared on Saved by the Bell, Melrose Place, Friends, CSI:Miami, Burn Notice, and JAG, but he also played Special Agent Stan Burley in NCIS from 2003 to 2015. Joel is one of the few television stars who is willing to take on minor jobs and shine in them. This is why he is still thriving in the entertainment sector!
Joel Gretsch
Kiara Muhammad
Kiara Muhammad is a former child entertainer who began her career by modeling for Reebok. She has spent the most of her career as a guest star on popular television shows such as Hannah Montana, Mike & Molly, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Hart of Dixie, and, of course, NCIS. Tiny Kiara played Kayla Vance in four episodes back in 2012, however she did not resume her role after that. She now voices well-known animated characters for youngsters in The Doc Files and Sofia the First.
Kiara Muhammad
Alicia Coppola
MTV is where actress Alicia Coppola got her start, hosting a game show called Remote Control. She quickly moved on to television and film roles in films such as Why Women Kill, National Treasure, and Black Widow. Alicia has a background in crime shows, having played a cannibal killer on CSI and a widow on Law & Order: Criminal Intent. She extended her trend by guest starring in NCIS and NCIS: Los Angeles as FBI agent Amy Rand, adding her knowledge to the NCIS team.
Alicia Coppola
Diane Neal
Diane Neal landed a terrific part in season 5 of Law & Order: SVU, and she would be making her debut as Deputy District Attorney Casey Novak. Her character would be resurrected in the sixth season. She was given a challenging plot for her involvement in NCIS and NCIS: New Orleans, when she joined the team after serving in Iraq and losing a loved one. Her character and Agent Leroy Gibbs (played by Mark Harmon) shared numerous parallels on the show.
Diane Neal
Jamie Lee Curtis
What hasn’t actress Jamie Lee Curtis appeared in? She has been in everything from cult comedies like Freaky Friday to Hollywood blockbusters like True Lies, and she has even played a scream queen in several Halloween films! That is why fans were ecstatic to see the BAFTA and Golden Globe winner as Dr. Samantha Ryan in five NCIS episodes, who drove the plot ahead. She immediately went back to becoming a Hollywood A-lister once her storyline on the program concluded!
Jamie Lee Curtis
Duane Henry
Duane Henry, a British actor, was first introduced to the NCIS universe as Henry Reeves, an MI6 agent, in the 13th season. He appeared to be fairly popular, as he was brought back for season 14, however he was written off again. Nothing personal, they simply killed off his character since the creators couldn’t figure out how to move his storyline ahead! With Duane, there was no harm, no foul, as he went on to star in Captain Marvel, W.E., and the Hallmark movie, A Gingerbread Romance.
Duane Henry
Meredith Eaton
Before being cast in NCIS as CDC researcher and lab technician Carol Wilson, the 4 foot tall actress had already appeared in a number of crime investigation shows such as Boston Legal, CSI, and Family Law. She has also appeared in Battle Creek, House, NYPD Blue, and the reboot of MacGyver. Meredith was a fan favorite on NCIS, and her recurrent role was carried over to NCIS: New Orleans. Meredith continues to perform and appear as a guest on television shows.
Meredith Eaton
Cote De Pablo
Ziva David, played by the stunning Chilean actress Cote de Pablo, was a notable character on NCIS. Ziva was a former Israeli Mossad agent who joined the show’s regular ensemble in season 3 and left in season 11, much to the chagrin of her fans and the show’s producers! She went on to star in The Dovekeepers, The 33, Seneca, and Prototype shortly after leaving the show. She returned to NCIS in 2019, reprising her role for a few episodes.
Cote De Pablo
Pauley Perrette
Throughout 15 seasons of NCIS, actress Pauley Perrette played forensic scientist Abby Sciuto, and she immediately became a fan favorite on the program, despite her menacing goth style! However, she unexpectedly departed the show. Pauley would subsequently say that she left the show due to harassment from the program’s lead, Mark Harmon! After she left the program, she destroyed her bridges with CBS and went to work on the sitcom Deadline, which was cancelled after one season. Pauley declared in 2020 that she was leaving Hollywood and retiring!
Pauley Perrette
Mark Harmon
The series’ lead is played by actor Mark Harmon, who plays Agent Leroy Gibbs. He character is constantly assisting his younger coworkers with their professional and personal lives. Because Mark has been on the show for so long, there have been rumors about his problematic personality, including driving showrunner Donald Bellisario to quit and inappropriate behavior with co-star Pauley Paurette, who eventually departed the show as well. The most recent rumor has it that he is leaving the program!
Mark Harmon
Daniela Sofia Korn Ruah
Daniela Sofia Korn Ruah, a stunning actress and model, began her career in the entertainment sector as a teen, playing in Portuguese soap operas! She was only 16 when she landed a substantial role in Jardins Proibidos, and she was soon training in London. Daniel was then cast as Special Agent Kensi Blye on NCIS: Los Angeles in 2009, and later starred in a crossover episode with Hawaii Five-O. She is no longer on the show’s cast list, but she is doing well for herself, co-hosting the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest in Lisbon.
Daniela Sofia Korn Ruah
Brian Dietzen
A year after NCIS premiered, numerous new faces were featured on the show, including actor Brian Dietzen, who was cast in the character of Dr. Jimmy Palmer. Since 2012, his adored character has been upgraded from recurring to regular cast member! And wow, has he endured, as he is still involved with the show today. He’s also appeared in the films Equus, Waiting for Godot, and From Justin to Kelly.
Brian Dietzen
Millie Bobby Brown
Millie Bobby Brown made her television debut in 2013 with the fantasy show Once Upon a Time in Wonderland, and was then cast in a spate of TV shows including Intruders, Modern, and her most renowned television role to date, Stranger Things. Millie is on her way to become a movie actor with Enola Holmes, but she also appeared as the daughter of a murder victim on NCIS. The brief appearance as a kid actress is a feather in the young performer’s crown!
Millie Bobby Brown
Jessica Steen
Jessica Steen, who came all the way from Canada, was thrilled to play Special Agent Paula Cassidy on the show for the first four seasons. Nevertheless, when her character was killed off in Season 4, it was the end of her part. Jessica returned to her homeland and appeared in Flashpoint, Republic of Doyle, and Heartland, a popular Canadian TV drama set in the plains. Steen acknowledges her stint on NCIS with providing her career the boost it needed at the moment.
Jessica Steen
Weronika Rosati
Despite her youth, Polish-born actress Weronika Rosati was cast in NCIS as Rivka David, the mother of Ziva and Tali David. Although she only appeared in one episode at first, with a lot of make-up on to make her look older, she would reappear in episodes about Ziva’s recollections. Weronika is a well-known actress in Poland, having appeared in David Lynch’s Inland Empire after making her film debut in Pitbull.
Weronika Rosati
Juliette Angelo
Juliette Angelo, who has been on NCIS multiple times as Emily Fornell, the daughter of ex-FBI Agent Tobias Fornell, has grown up in front of the camera. She hasn’t appeared on the show since 2016. She had previously appeared in the series Malibu County and Mad Men prior to her NCIS debut. She has also been on stage in How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Mary Poppins.
Juliette Angelo
Margo Harshman
Margo Harshman’s grandmother urged her to compete in beauty pageants as early as the age of two! She won her breakout part in The Elf Who Didn’t Believe after years of studying the piano, acting, dancing, and gymnastics. In 2013, she portrayed Delilah Fielding, a wheelchair-bound US Department of Defense intelligence analyst who was also married to the character of Special Agent Timothy McGee. Margo went on to appear in The Centre of the Universe and Run of the House after leaving the show.
Margo Harshman
Mary Mouser
Mary Mouser, a child performer, had the kind of early career that most performers wish for! She appeared in Scrubs, Monk, King of Queens, CSI, and One Life to Live as a child and adolescent. She was cast in the recurring role of Kelly Gibbs, the daughter of the lead character Gibbs, on NCIS. She’s gotten some meaty roles in programs like Body of Evidence, Frenemies, Netflix’s Cobra Kai, and Mind Field now that she’s all grown up.
Mary Mouser
Pancho Demmings
Pancho Demmings was a member of the original cast list from season one, and he portrayed the recurrent character of Gerald Jackson on the program before leaving abruptly. He was Ducky’s assistant medical examiner before his character was shot and injured by a villain and then vanished. Pancho did not go on the record to explain why he left the program, but he did obtain better roles on shows like CSI, Bones, 24 and General Hospital.
Pancho Demmings
Maria Bello
Mario Bello is a well-known face in television and film, having been in Coyote Ugly, Grown Ups 1 & 2, and ER. She also joined the cast of NCIS in 2017, where she played Dr. Jacqueline “Jack” Sloane. Yet, after four years, she quit the show in 2021, saying goodbye to Gibbs and his team. Despite the fact that she had no acting projects after leaving NCIS, Bello was busy penning the script for the film, The Woman King, as this was her big screenwriting debut!
Maria Bello
Rocky Carroll
Rocky Carroll is an American actor and director best known for his roles as Joey Emerson on Roc, Dr. Keith Wilkes in Chicago Hope, and the top boss in NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles, and NCIS: New Orleans. Rocky has already appeared in almost 300 episodes of NCIS as the organization’s Director, Leon Vance. Despite the fact that he is the place’s leader, he has gradually become a member of the team. Carroll claims that he assumed he’d only be on the show for two seasons, but he’s now on his 15th!
Rocky Carroll
Stephanie Mello
Stephanie Mello was previously seen in the film Co-incidence and the teen sitcom Growing Pains before joining the cast of NCIS. Cynthia Sumner, an MTAC Tech debuted in the third season of NCIS, was played by Mello. She moved through the ranks to become Director Shepard’s assistant, and her relationship with Gibbs was strained. Mello’s character mysteriously vanished after season 5, and she never explained why she departed the program so abruptly. She has now moved on to minor roles in other TV shows and is rarely seen.
Stephanie Mello
Catherine Bell
Catherine Bell, a British-American actress, dropped out of college in her sophomore year to pursue modeling opportunities in Japan, and when she returned to the United States, she set her sights on becoming an actress. She landed roles on JAG, Law & Order, and Army Wives. Lieutenant Colonel Sarah MacKenzie’s role served her well, as she landed greater assignments. She later appeared in the film The Good Witch, as well as all future films and television episodes in the franchise.
Catherine Bell
Abigail Breslin
Numerous big celebs have made cameo appearances in an episode or two of NCIS, and fans have forgotten who they are! One such star was Abigail Breslin, a tiny little child performer who was one of the cutest around! Before she became famous for her part in 2006’s Little Miss Sunshine, 9-year-old Abigail was featured in NCIS as Sandy, a visually impaired child. Her career has taken off since then, with roles in blockbusters such as Signs, My Sister’s Keeper, and the two Zombieland films.
Abigail Breslin
Susanna Thompson
Susanna Thomson made her acting debut in the drama The Book of Daniel in 2006, and the following year, she appeared as Army Lieutenant Colonel Hollis Mann, one of Agent Gibbs’ love interests, on NCIS. Her major break came later, when she was cast in four separate roles in the science fiction show Star Trek and the film Star Trek: Voyager. In the television series Law and Order, she portrayed psychiatrist Dr. Greta Heints.
Susanna Thompson
Marisol Nichols
Merisol’s guest appearance on one episode of NCIS may be considered a “celebrity” gig because she had already built a reputation for herself, having been on Beverly Hills, 90210, Vegas Vacation, and Scream II. She appeared on NCIS as ATF Special Agent Zoe Keates, the girlfriend of NCIS team member Anthony D. DiNozzo. You may have seen her recently on GCB, MTV’s Teen Wolf, and in actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth’s music video for the song ‘I Want Somebody.’
Marisol Nichols
Jacqueline Obradors
When Jacqueline Obradors made a brief appearance on NCIS, she was already well-known in the industry for her performances in Six Days, Seven Nights, NYPD Blue, and A Man Apart, as well as her voice work in Atlantis: The Lost Empire. Paloma Reynosa, an unusual ring commander of a drug cartel, was played by her! She kept the NCIS team on their toes and kept them ahead of them until Paloma was murdered by her own brother!
Jacqueline Obradors
Claudia Black
Claudia Black, like many other Australian artists, began her career in the Australian serial opera Home and Away. She rose to prominence after appearing in several seasons of Farscape and Stargate SG-1. She later appeared as a guest on NCIS in an episode as a bike-riding, tattooed narcotics dealer. She is now working on voice over projects for video games such as the popular Call of Duty game as well as animated series such as Rick and Morty.
Claudia Black
Darby Stanchfield
Darby Stanchfield made her television debut with the show Diagnoses: Murder after honing her acting skills on the stage, and she has appeared in the films The Portrait of Dorian Gray and Waitress. Eventually she was cast as Shannon Gibbs, Jethro Gibbs’ deceased wife, who appeared in his memories on NCIS. Her time on the show was brief, and she rose to prominence as Abby Whelan in the political drama Scandal. She then appeared in Gladiator Wanted and The Noise.
Darby Stanchfield
Sarah Clarke
Sarah Clarke was a television veteran when she first appeared on NCIS, having established herself as Nina Myers on the action show 24. She was also Bella Swan’s mother in the 2008 film Twilight! NCIS would tease her return with a guest appearance, but her character, FBI Special Agent Tess Monroe, would only appear in recurrent roles. You’ve probably seen her on Trust Me, Covert Affairs, and the Amazon drama Bosch since then.
Sarah Clarke
Laura San Giacomo
Laura San Giacomo appeared as Dr. Grace Confalone on NCIS several times, but she remained a minor character in the NCIS universe. In the show, she became Gibbs’ confidante and someone he sought to for counsel. Although we rarely see Laura in movies or TV series these days, her two most popular efforts are Beautiful Woman (where she played Julia Roberts’ best friend) and Just Shoot Me! We hope to see her on NCIS or elsewhere soon!
Laura San Giacomo
Penny Johnson Jerald
Penny Johnson Jerald resumed her recurring role of Department Official Joanne Torrence in one of NCIS’s landmark episodes, the 150th episode, alongside many other stars. Penny has also appeared in four seasons of Castle as captain Victoria Gates, in addition to her appearances in October Road, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, 24, The 4400, The Larry Sanders Show, and The Orville. Celeste’s Dream, a 2020 film, was her most recent appearance.
Penny Johnson Jerald
Lily Tomlin
Lily Tomlin is a veteran actress, comedian, writer, and producer who has worked in the entertainment industry since the 1960s. The Emmy, SAG, and Grammy Award-winning actress co-starred with Jane Fonda in Tea with Mussolini, Grandma, and the Netflix series Grace and Frankie. Fans rejoiced when Lily appeared in the 9th season of NCIS in 2011 as Penelope Langston, the grandmother of NCIS Agent Timothy McGee. She has not returned to the show since.
Lily Tomlin
Louise Lombard
It’s easy to develop attracted to television series and their characters, and one such character on NCIS was Lauren Hunter, played by actress Louise Lombard. Her quick and flaming death on the show devastated viewers’ hearts, even though she was only shown for two episodes, because they were invested in her! They will, however, be able to see her in the 2020 film After We Collided. Her past work includes Hidalgo, Casualty, CSI, The Mentalist, and How to Get Away with Murder.
Louise Lombard
Clare Carey
Clare Carey began her career as an actress in the late 1980s and has since made numerous guest appearances on popular shows such as Point Pleasant, Coach, Jericho, and So Little Time. She has appeared on the NCIS cast list on and off, playing the part of Ann Gibbs. She certainly played her cards correctly when she was recast as Anne Boudreau in NCIS: New Orleans. On the personal front, Clare is still acting and has a wonderful family with her husband Seth Seaberg and their two children.
Clare Carey
Mary Stuart Masterson
Before joining NCIS in 2017, Mary Stuart Masterson was already a well-known and accomplished actress. She had previously appeared in the shows Blindspot and Nine, as well as the films Skin, Odds Are, and Green Fried Tomatoes. On NCIS, she played Maryland Congresswoman Jenna Flemming, a chairwoman of the show’s House Counterterrorism Subcommittee. As she grows more impressed with Gibbs, she proposes to appoint him the new Director of NCIS, and we all know how that turned out!
Mary Stuart Masterson
Michelle Pierce
Michelle Pierce scored parts on Days of Our Lives, CSI: NY, Desperate Housewives, and Criminal Minds shortly after graduating from UCLA. Michelle was cast as NCIS lead Jimmy Palmer’s wife, Breena, and had all the makings of a permanent part after only a few appearances. But, in a heartbreaking tale, Breena was brutally killed off after receiving COVID-19, leaving Jimmy to care for his daughter alone. Michelle will undoubtedly appear in more upcoming television shows.
Michelle Pierce
Catherine Dent
Catherine Dent was renowned for her role as Danielle “Danny” Sofer on the television program The Shield before she was considered for a role in NCIS. She rose to prominence as a guest star in a number of other television shows, including Arrow, Outcast, and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., among many others. Dent only appeared in two episodes of NCIS as Officer Danny Sofer, but he left an indelible impression on the show’s viewers.
Catherine Dent
Zoe Mclellan
Teaming up with the ensemble of JAG, actress Zoe McLellan played Petty Officer Jennifer Coates, a recurrent character who would become a regular during the final season. She appeared in NCIS as Special Agent Meredith Brody after appearing on The Mentalist and House. She then landed a starring part on NCIS: New Orleans for the first two seasons before leaving after the third season. Zoe had a successful career and appeared on episodes such as Star Trek: Voyager, Dungeons and Dragons, and Designated Survivor.
Zoe Mclellan
Jaime Ray Newman
We’ve all seen and loved Jaime Ray Newman on episodes like General Hospital, Veronica Mars, Eastwick, Skin, and Stargate Atlantis. Jaime was fresh off the boat from her brief cameo on CSI: NY (for which she received a lot of praise) when she was cast in NCIS as a Navy Lieutenant Commander working as a Navy Yard chaplain. She assisted the crew in their investigation of a military aviation disaster that occurred under unusual circumstances. Following her time on NCIS, she appeared as a guest star on the supernatural television drama Grimm.
Jaime Ray Newman
Melinda Mcgraw
Melinda McGraw’s first notable role was in The Commish, which was followed by a role as Agent Scully’s sister in the popular sci-fi show The X-Files. She appeared on NCIS in the ninth and twelfth seasons, teaming up with her two ex-husbands – NCIS team members Tobias and Gibbs – to track down her third husband! She would later appear on the series Crisis and State of Affairs after playing that recurrent role. Her film credits, however, are even more impressive, as she has appeared in blockbusters such as The Dark Knight and The Pursuit of Happiness.
Melinda Mcgraw
Cch Pounder
Loretta Wade, the team’s coroner, was played by CCH Pounder, who supplies critical information to the NCIS team for forensics and autopsies. On-screen, the Harvard graduate moved to New Orleans after medical school and went on to star in NCIS: New Orleans after starring in NCIS as a lead. Pounder has appeared in various shows and movies, including Avatar 2, Women in Prison, Sons of Anarchy, The Shield, and E.R., in addition to NCIS: New Orleans.
Cch Pounder
Paula Newsome
We’ve previously met Director Leon Vance on NCIS, and for ten joyful years, he always went home to his happy family. Jackie Vance, his wife’s role, was performed by actress Paula Newsome, and her character was killed off in the tenth season because he was too comfortable at home! Paula went on to appear in How to Get Away with Murder, Cougar Town, and Castle after leaving NCIS. She landed the considerably meatier role of CeCe on Chicago Med for two seasons.
Paula Newsome