After leaving NCIS in 2005, Sasha Alexander has been open about why she walked away from the hit series-and why she has no regrets about it. But despite making peace with her decision, the actress admitted she was stunned by the brutal way her character, Agent Caitlin Todd, was written off.

Sasha Alexander Left NCIS Over Its Grueling Schedule

Introduced in the 2003 pilot Yankee White, Alexander’s Caitlin Todd quickly became a fan favorite as she transitioned from Secret Service agent to a core member of Gibbs’ Major Case Response Team. But as the show’s popularity grew, so did the demands on its cast.

Alexander eventually chose to leave, citing the intense workload and lack of work-life balance. Creator Donald Bellisario later revealed that her exit forced the writers to k1ll off Kate Todd in the season 2 finale. Although fans were devastated, Alexander told TV Guide she never regretted stepping away, saying the 17-hour days and 10½-month filming schedule were simply unsustainable. She added that leaving the show allowed her to build the personal life she wanted.

Shock Over Caitlin Todd’s Death

While Alexander was firm in her decision to depart, she was taken aback by the shocking way NCIS handled her character’s exit. In the season 2 episode “Twilight,” Kate Todd is abruptly assassinated-shot in the head by sniper and Mossad double agent Ari Haswari just moments after surviving a terr0rist standoff.

Alexander admitted the graphic, unexpected death surprised even her. Fans were left stunned as well, and the moment became one of the series’ most memorable and haunting cliffhangers.

Despite the dramatic sendoff, Alexander looks back without regret, grateful that leaving the show allowed her to focus on her family and pursue creative projects on her own terms.