For 15 seasons, Pauley Perrette’s Abby Sciuto became one of the most beloved characters in NCIS history. Fans loved her unique style, her brilliant mind and the warmth she brought to every episode.
But there’s one part of her NCIS story that even Mark Harmon can’t claim anymore.
After leaving the series in 2018, Perrette did something no one expected — she walked away from acting completely. While Harmon continued working in the NCIS universe as the narrator and executive producer of NCIS: Origins, Perrette made it clear she had chosen a very different life.
In a rare interview, she explained that she no longer wanted to spend her life becoming someone else for the camera. Instead, she said she wanted the freedom to simply be herself every day. It was a decision she described as deeply personal, not something she regretted.
Perrette’s final years on NCIS were also surrounded by controversy. She publicly said she would never return to the show after raising workplace concerns, and CBS said it took those concerns seriously and worked to address them. Since then, Perrette has remained firm that she has no plans to return to the series.
Today, while many former NCIS stars have returned for reunions, spinoffs or guest appearances, Pauley Perrette’s journey stands apart. Abby may still be one of television’s most unforgettable forensic scientists, but Perrette chose something even rarer in Hollywood — walking away on her own terms.