Sometimes, TV shows eerily reflect real-life events, and NCIS appears to be one of them. The long-running series seems to have foreshadowed the off-screen feud between stars Pauley Perrette and Mark Harmon, which ultimately led to Pauley’s departure from the show.
Pauley, who portrayed the beloved Abby Sciuto from 2003 to 2018, left the series following a dispute over Mark Harmon bringing his dog to the set. According to executive producer Charles Floyd Johnson, the dog had previously bitten someone, sparking concerns from Pauley. However, when her complaints were ignored, she made the difficult decision to leave.
Interestingly, a 2008 episode of NCIS appears to mirror these events. In the Season 5 episode Dog Tags, Pauley’s character, Abby, clashes with Sean Murray’s Timothy McGee after McGee is bitten by a dog suspected of killing a Navy officer. Acting in self-defense, McGee wounds the dog, leading to Abby defending the animal at the risk of her career. The tension between the characters bears an uncanny resemblance to the real-life disagreement between Pauley and Mark over his dog.
Charles Floyd Johnson shared more details in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, stating, “The dog was Mark Harmon’s, and apparently, the dog bit someone. Pauley was a huge SPCA [Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals] advocate, and she felt the situation wasn’t safe for the set.” He added, “By the end of that year, she felt it wasn’t working for her anymore and decided to move on.”
The situation escalated further in 2019 when Pauley addressed the issue on X (formerly Twitter). In a strongly worded post, she made it clear she would never return to the show, writing, “NO, I AM NOT COMING BACK! EVER! (Please stop asking?)” She went on to accuse Mark Harmon of attacking her, adding, “I am terrified of Harmon and him attacking me. I have nightmares about it.” Pauley also expressed her happiness with her new project, saying, “I have a new show that is SAFE AND HAPPY! You’ll love it!”
While fans continue to reflect on Pauley’s NCIS legacy, the parallels between her departure and the events of Dog Tags leave many wondering if life truly does imitate art.
