Being on the air for 15 seasons for any show is incredibly impressive, but it's always a bit more remarkable for a live action show. The ability for an actor to come in every day and be on the same show for so long takes serious commitment, but not everything lasts forever. Plenty of long-running shows have had original actors leave, such is the case for NCIS. CBS' 15 seasons long crime procedural will see off one of its original stars, Pauley Perrette, later this year. The actress has played Abby Sciuto since the beginning and she recently filmed her last day on set, which she has shared with her fans.
A few months ago, Pauley Perrette made the announcement that she would be leaving NCIS at the end of Season 15. The decision was set in stone the prior year, and she assured fans that it wasn't because of any bad blood between her and the network or show. The producers of the show promised that her character Abby would be getting a "special send-off," resting any fears that her character may get killed off and would be denied a happy ending.
Fans of the show will still have to wait to learn what that special send-off is, but they can at least get an idea of what Pauley Perrette's last day on set was like. The actress shared behind-the-scenes photos of her final episode, taking pictures with co-stars Sean Murray, Brian Dietzen, Emily Wickersham, and Wilmer Valderrama. The photos are definitely nothing spoilery, but they are heartwarming, especially for longtime fans. Even Perrette can't help getting weepy.
Pauley Perrette has been a part of NCIS since the very beginning and her character has gone on to inspire some fans to pursue careers in science. She is the latest in a list of actors who have left NCIS over the show's long history. The navy-based criminal procedural has seen Cote de Pablo, Michael Weatherly, and Jennifer Esposito all leave the series to focus on other projects. Once Perrette leaves the show, Mark Harmon and David Mccallum will be the only two remaining original cast members.
Over the course of 15 seasons, Pauley Perrette has become a fan-favorite and one of the show's most instantly recognizable characters. Abby Sciuto is a forensic expert with a flair for goth fashion, which I guess was more popular 15 years ago. Her character was known for her comic relief and light personality, helping to brighten up the show and counteract the more serious nature of the procedural.
Pauley Perrette's final episode as Abby will air on Tuesday, May 8th, at 8 p.m. EST on CBS. In the meantime, head to the next page to see several of Perrette's NCIS co-stars showing her some love on social media.
Pauley Perrette's exit is obviously one of the most important cast changes in NCIS history, and the most shocking change before that came when longtime star Michael Weatherly left the drama, with CBS' Bull coming soon after. But back before he took off, he celebrated some of those final days with his buddy and co-star.
Back when Pauley Perrette first announced her impending exit, her former co-star Sasha Alexander (who played Kate Todd) showed some love.
And when co-star Rocky Carroll (who plays Leon Vance) got behind the camera to direct a Season 15 episode, star Emily Wickersham got a shot of Pauley Perrette rocking one of Abby's signature stylish dresses.
And most recently, star Sean Murray shared what could very well be one of the last NCIS set shots that any of the cast members get with Pauley Perrette. I'm not crying. You're crying!
Hopefully the NCIS cast and crew will go bananas sharing pics and videos when the finale airs in May. Until then, fans should enjoy all the time we have left with Abby.
