Fans of NCIS are once again wondering what the future holds for the long-running series as it heads into another renewal window.
If you didn’t know, the spinoffs are facing a fair share of shakeups: NCIS: Tony & Ziva is officially canceled after only one season on Paramount+, and the viewership numbers for Origins and Sydney are similarly sparking renewal concerns. Of course, fans are concerned about the flagship series as well.
NCIS has not yet been officially renewed by CBS for the 2026-2027 TV season, which would mark Season 24 of the show.
Because of that, there have been no formal announcements about which cast members are returning, leaving, or potentially joining the series.
Still, viewers are actively searching for updates about the cast as renewal decisions approach. We’re breaking down the current cast status for the flagship NCIS series.
Currently Appearing on NCIS
These actors are part of the main cast during the most recent season, with no exits announced so far.
Gary Cole as Supervisory Special Agent Alden Parker
Alden Parker had one of Season 22’s most harrowing arcs: his father was killed in the shocking finale, pushing him toward “vengeful rage.” He’s been part of the show since Season 19.
Sean Murray as Special Agent Timothy McGee
NCIS’s long-running tech genius and second-in-command has been a franchise staple since Season 1.
Wilmer Valderrama as Special Agent Nick Torres
Nick Torres continues to bring action and charisma to the Major Case Response Team, having been a part of the show since Season 14.
Katrina Law as Special Agent Jessica Knight
Jessica Knight soared in Season 22 with personal stakes and team reintegration. She’s been a part of the team since Season 19.
Brian Dietzen as Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Jimmy Palmer
Dr. Jimmy Palmer remains the heart of NCIS, with Season 22 shining a light on his evolving friendships and romantic tension, especially with Jessica Knight. He recurred for the first nine seasons before joining as a main cast member in Season 10.
Diona Reasonover as Forensic Specialist Kasie Hines
Kasie Hines remains NCIS’s forensic backbone and emotional anchor, having been part of the show since Season 15, and bumped up to series regular by Season 16.
Rocky Carroll as NCIS Director Leon Vance
Director Leon Vance continues to steer NCIS through turmoil while behind the scenes, the actor celebrates his 25th directing credit this season. He’s been a part of the show since Season 5, and bumped up to series regular since Season 6.
Because NCIS has not yet been renewed, all current cast members remain in an unconfirmed status heading into a potential 2026-2027 TV season.
Maria Bello – Left After Season 18
Maria Bello, who played Dr. Jacqueline “Jack” Sloane from Season 15, left the series after Season 18.
Emily Wickersham – Left After Season 18, But Returned as a Guest in 2025!
Emily Wickersham played the role of Eleanor “Ellie” Bishop from Season 11 to Season 18. She did make a guest appearance in Season 23 most recently in Episode 9 (“Heaven and Nature”), which premiered on December 16.
“[O]nce we started hearing that she might be interested, we were like, OK, well, we can start really seriously thinking about the things that we’ve been doing. And one of the things that’s going on with the show is we’re exploring some relationships between our characters and some interesting mixing and matching,” an NCIS boss told TV Insider.
Mark Harmon – Left After Season 19, But Returned as a Guest in 2025!
Mark Harmon left the series after 19 seasons, playing Leroy Jethro Gibbs. However, he did return in 2025 for a special guest appearance for the NCIS and NCIS: Origins crossover event.
David McCallum – Passed Away After Season 20
NCIS said goodbye to the late David McCallum in an emotional tribute episode in 2023 that saw the surprise return of one character and an update on another.
The actor passed away in September 2023 at the age of 90 after playing chief medical examiner Ducky for two decades on the beloved CBS procedural drama.
Stay tuned as we wait to hear when CBS makes an official decision about the future of NCIS.
We’ve also sadly lost several stars after they filmed for NCIS over the years.
