Hit NBC series NCIS says goodbye to the last group of original cast members after 22 seasons.
The show’s writers ushered out the final initial cast members by introducing their replacements. For over 20 years, the crime drama has been bringing in stellar ratings, which is why the Don Belissario and Don McGill series continues on since first airing in 2003. Throughout NCIS seasons, many characters have come and gone. Despite the departures, the CBS program head honchos have inserted new faces into the mix to keep the beloved storyline ongoing irrespective of predecessors who part ways with the series.
After NCIS star David McCallum died last year, subsequently leading to the death of his character Ducky Mallard being written in, almost no inaugural characters remain, according to Screen Rant.
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As of now, actor Timothy McGee has been the longest-standing NCIS star, but since the fourth episode of Season 22, he has been virtually written out.
Outside of the main cast, actor Joe Spano, who portrays the recurring character Tobias Fornell, has been with NCIS since the debut episode. He soon became a beloved figure since he was the face of the FBI in the NCIS world, making his last appearance in NCIS 1000th episode earlier this year.
Its unclear if Joe will ever return to NCIS. However, as of now, it seems unlikely. While there have been changes made to NCIS, there are more happening in the NCIS universe. In the works is the spinoff, NCIS: Tony and Ziva. Superfans of the series can recall the ongoing flirtatious friendship between agents Tony DiNozzo (played by Michael Weatherly) and Ziva David (Cote de Pablo) during the shows early days.
After the two left the original show, they came back together off-screen in Paris. Reprising their roles in the new NCIS series as Tony DiNozzo and Ziva David, the shows original stars, are Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo.
Weatherly had been in NCIS from the very first episode while de Pablo was introduced in the season three premiere following the murder of Agent Kate Todd (played by Sasha Alexander).
