Beloved crime-fighting procedural NCIS has seen its fair share of casting changes since its 2003 debut. Its impressive longevity is only surpassed by Law & Order, and its characters have long since entered the public consciousness. Ask anyone if they know who Leroy Jethro Gibbs is; they’ll likely say they do. It is, quite simply, one of the most iconic procedurals of the century. Following Mark Harmon’s recent departure, only one original cast member remains on NCIS: Timothy McGee (Sean Murray). Like the show’s devoted fans, DiNozzon has weathered the series’ many staffing changes. He’s also seen a few different NCIS Directors.
One of the most impactful of these leaders was Director Jennifer “Jenny” Shepard (Lauren Holly). Her on-screen tenure as the agency’s leader began in 2005 and ended in 2007. However, her most famous moment on the show was also her last. Her violent death halfway through the Season 3 finale dealt a moral and physical blow to the team. However, recent developments suggest this may not be her last appearance in the NCIS universe.
NCIS: Origins Is the Franchise’s First U.S.-Based Spinoff
Beyond her role as an acting NCIS Director, Shepard has also appeared as a ghost or hallucination in various episodes.
During Shepard’s debut season, only seven of the 17 episodes did not include Holly’s character.
Shepard has been in or was mentioned in 53 NCIS episodes as of Season 12.
On October 11, 2024, CBS debuted its first US-based spin-off of NCIS, aptly titled NCIS: Origins. This new series follows a young Leroy Gibbs (Austin Stowell) as he rises through the titular agency’s ranks. According to its official summary, Origins begins with Gibbs’ arrival at Camp Pendleton in 1991. Per the dedicated NCIS fanbase’s speculative analyses, that means the show will likely span the early- to mid-1990s.
As a prequel, the show has an entirely new cast and setup. Its older setting forces its characters to use appropriately antiquated — or, perhaps, “classical” — investigative techniques. Likewise, its crimes are not as technologically advanced as those seen in the current NCIS series.
Nonetheless, there are a few familiar faces. Kyle Schmid plays a young Mike Franks, who first appeared in a flashback during “Hiatus Part 1.” Then, beyond Gibbs’ physical appearance, Origins features narration from Mark Harmon. Fans have even caught a glimpse of a young Tobias Fornell (Lucas Dixon). Of course, these appearances align with the established NCIS timeline. Gibbs has stated as much, and his flashbacks corroborate the narrative.
Now, NCIS has literal decades of lore — both canonically and in the real world. There’s a lot of information to absorb, and even the most devoted fans will likely forget some details. So, it’s worth a quick review.
According to NCIS’ established timeline, Gibbs’ wife and daughter became tragic collateral casualties of a cartel investigation. At this point, he was serving as a United States Marine, and was injured shortly after receiving this news and flown back to America. Understandably distraught and seeking vengeance, Gibbs left the military and joined the Naval Investigative Services (NIS) in August 1991.
