Original NCIS Cast Member Exits After 22 Years, Fans Shocked

NCIS, one of the longest-running and most beloved crime procedural series on television, started in 2003 and quickly established a distinctive style by following the professional lives of a team from the U.S. Navy’s Criminal Investigation Service. Its success has spawned an entire television universe, including several spin-offs set in different cities and two recent projects, NCIS: Origins, which delves into the early missions of its iconic character, Gibbs, and NCIS: Tony & Ziva, which will explore the escapades of the beloved duo.

However, the original show’s 22nd season has just presented us with an unexpected goodbye that marks the end of an era: the departure of Joe Spano, the last original actor remaining in the series. Indeed, he was the last actor from the show to appear right from the very first episode. For reference, Sean Murray (Timothy McGee) didn’t appear until the seventh episode.

Joe Spano, who played the unforgettable FBI Special Agent Tobias C. Fornell, is one of the most cherished characters in the series. Since his introduction, he has become a regular fixture, appearing in 58 episodes and in every season—a record (impossible to beat) that no other recurring character has achieved. Interestingly, Spano himself never wanted to become a main character and has declined more extensive participation for reasons that might surprise you: find out why here.

Spano’s exit represents not only the loss of a legendary character but also the last link the series had with its origins. He made his final appearance in the episode “Sticks & Stones” (22×04), suggesting that his presence is no longer necessary to the plot. Since his character officially left the FBI, his role had become increasingly sporadic, though he always returned when the team needed his help or expertise to solve a case. Now, it seems the character has concluded his story.

Showrunners Must Justify Any Future Returns

This farewell still leaves the door slightly ajar. Although Fornell is no longer part of the FBI and has been replaced by Todd Sweeney (Erik Passoja), a new character intended to act as a liaison between the FBI and the NCIS team, the possibility of his return isn’t completely off the table. The showrunners can reintroduce the character in a future episode, but they will now have to justify his involvement, and it must be crucial to the plot, especially now that there’s another permanent FBI representative in the narrative.

Unlike Fornell, whose friendly relationship with Gibbs (Mark Harmon) and the NCIS team grew over the years, Sweeney is a more institutional figure, and his personality and working methods are entirely different. This brings a breath of fresh air to the series as the characters will have to adjust to a new team dynamic that we haven’t seen in recent years.

Thus, NCIS bids farewell to its last original actor, closing an important chapter in its lengthy television history. Joe Spano’s departure marks the end of an era but also reflects NCIS’s ability to adapt and renew itself.

The 22nd season of NCIS is currently airing every Monday on CBS in the United States. While awaiting its release in France, you can catch the first 18 seasons of the show on Prime Video. The series is also broadcast on 6Ter and W9.