As fall approaches, fans are gearing up for the return of NCIS — and the show’s biggest names are ready to rumble.
The season 22 finale left viewers with a lot of questions, one being who killed Aldean Parker’s (Gary Cole) father, Roman (Francis X. McCarthy)? The other big question is which NCIS team members will be back to solve the case?
“This isn’t just another murdered victim that this team runs across. This is one of our own,” Cole exclusively told Us Weekly in May after the episode aired. “It becomes that to some other team members.”
Cole confirmed his return for season 23, teasing that Parker’s hunt for the killer will most likely be a major plot point. (Roman was found dead inside Parker’s home after having drinks with someone, based on two wine glasses that were discovered next to the body.)
“I would assume that’s where they’re headed, [revenge],” the actor said. “The way the last moment was written was that [Parker] goes from this shock and grief to immediately vengeful.”
Scroll down to see which NCIS stars are — and aren’t — returning for season 23:
Sean Murray
OG star Murray, who plays the senior most Special Agent on the team, Timothy McGee, will be back for his 23rd season. He shared the exciting news via Instagram in July by uploading a photo of McGee’s computer that read, “NCIS SEASON 23 10/14,” which served as a premiere date announcement as well.
Wilmer Valderrama
Valderrama, who has played Special Agent Nick Torres since season 14 in 2016, confirmed his return in May while teasing what’s to come this season.
“You’re going to see a team that’s going to be willing to go rogue,” Valderrama exclusively told Us at the 2025 CBS Fest, referring to the death that left the team mourning last season.
He explained, “When someone hurts, Torres hurts. And Torres is a little more unhinged than most.”
In July, Valderrama shared a behind-the-scenes video from set, confirming their official return for the season. He included a glimpse at his monogramed chair, his getting ready routine and the inside of the bullpen at the fictional NCIS offices.
Katrina Law
Law joined the cast in 2021 during season 18 as Special Agent Jessica Knight. While Jess’ possible rekindled romance with Jimmy Palmer (Brian Dietzen) has not been confirmed, the actress revealed in May that she is back for the next season.
“Our team’s going to come together in a way for Parker that you’ve never seen this particular group of characters come together,” Law exclusively told Us in May, once again commenting on the elephant in the room: the question of who killed Roman. “And I’m really interested to see what we are willing to do for one of our own and how far we’re willing to go for the love of one of our own.”
Once back on set in July, Law shared a group selfie to show what other stars are coming back. “NCIS SEASON 23!!!!! Let’s gooooooooo!!!! 🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷,” she captioned the Instagram photo from set on July 16.
Gary Cole
Cole’s Special Agent Alden Parker took over the role of NCIS team leader from Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon) during season 19 in 2021. The actor exclusively told Us in May that season 23 would have his character front and center after the death of his father, confirming his return in the process.
Cole noted at the time that the murder is “an act of violation” that will lead Parker to deal with “rage and vengefulness and guilt and shame.”
Brian Dietzen
Dietzen joined the series during season 1 as Donald “Ducky” Mallard’s (David McCallum) assistant in the medical examiner’s office, Jimmy Palmer. He has since become the Chief Medical Examiner. Dietzen marked his return for season 23 by sharing a photo of his character’s iconic glasses on set.
“I’m putting these on my face now,” he teased in July via Instagram. “Hello Jimmy Palmer. Hello NCIS. Hello season 23. And hello Tuesday nights at 8/9c on CBS! We are so back.”
Diona Reasonover
Reasonover began playing forensic scientist Kasie Hines at the end of season 15 following Abigail Sciuto’s (Pauley Perrette) exit. While the actress did not post any videos or photos from set in July, she is expected to reprise her role and help the NCIS team in the lab.
Rocky Carroll
Carroll has been playing NCIS Director Leon Vance since season 5 in 2008. While he isn’t usually in every episode, Carroll will be back to oversee Parker and his squad. Carroll confirmed his participation for season 23 by appearing in a promotional video shared via the show’s official Instagram page in July.
Mark Harmon
Fans last saw Harmon as Leroy Jethro Gibbs during season 19 in 2022. While his return is always a possibility — especially in a flashback capacity — CBS has not revealed any plans for Harmon to appear this season.
Nancy Travis
Travis is joining the season 23 cast of NCIS as Parker’s sister, Navy Vice Admiral Harriet Parker, following the death of their father, showrunner Steven D. Binder told TVLine on August 21.
“The Alden Parker that we know and see now is not what Alden Parker was as a child,” Binder teased. “We’ve gotten into his history a bit — he was a troubled kid, he was in a juvie home, he stole things — and that’s the dynamic that his sister grew up with. He was the ‘bad’ kid and she was the good kid.”
Harriet’s presence will help Parker’s team and viewers get to know who he was before NCIS.
“They’re going to relive that between the two of them,” Binder continued. “She’s this super squared-away Navy admiral, and then you’ve got Alden Parker, who’s got this ‘bad kid’ seed. Those two are going to come to a head, and what’s funny about that is it’s one thing to have it happen over Thanksgiving dinner, it’s a whole other thing to happen in the middle of a global crisis! The bickering is, I might say, very NCIS.”
