What We Know About Mark Harmon Leaving NCIS

It doesn't matter if you're an "NCIS" super fan or a casual viewer, when you think of the series, you are likely to picture Mark Harmon. Harmon has spent 18 seasons as the show's main character, agent Gibbs, but the actor has been on our screens for over 50 years (via Hello! Magazine). He's starred in films and soap operas before the naval drama he is most associated with. He even won People's Sexist Man Alive in 1986!

Regardless of how long his IMDB page is, fans everywhere have come to know and love Harmon as the leader of the "NCIS" team. He even took on the role of the executive producer behind the scenes (via Outsider). He has always stayed humble, despite his popularity and behind-the-scenes work on "NCIS." He shared, "Honest to God, I don't care who's No. 1 on the call sheet." He continued, "I don't care how big my trailer is. I'm here to be a job, do it well, and be a part of this whole team. I'm not here to stand out. On this show, there's always someone here longer and working harder than I am."

Now, after 18 seasons as the show's leading man, Harmon has decided to walk away from "NCIS."

According to Daily Mail, Harmon's exit from the show was confirmed on the most recent episode after rumors were swirling about his future on "NCIS." It was suspected that the 70-year-old actor would be leaving the show during his 19th season, or at least taking a step back and only appearing in a handful of episodes. That seemed to have been confirmed by "NCIS" executive producer Steve Binder.

In a statement, Binder shared, "As an executive producer and dear friend, Mark continues to be an integral part of the fabric of the show. Our north star has always been staying true to our characters, and that truth has always guided the stories we tell and where those characters go," Binder added, "So regarding the future of Gibbs, as long-time fans of the show may have noticed over the years ... never count Leroy Jethro Gibbs out."

While the statement was a bit vague, Gibbs' actions on the episode were not. When working on a case in Alaska, he said, "I'm not going back, Tim" to Special Agent Timothy McGee. "I'm not going back home" (via People).

CBS Entertainment President Kelly Kahl told Deadline, "Mark's always been part of the show, Mark's always going to be part of the show," Kahl continued, "In terms of his on-air appearances, we're just going to have to see how it plays out going forward."