Mark Harmon is still in “NCIS” season 16 but there are rumors that he will be leaving when the installment ends. But will the 67-year-old actor really exit the show and give up playing Leroy Jethro Gibbs, the character he is known for after 15 years?
Radar Online reported that during “NCIS” season 14 then last year, Mark Harmon was spotted looking very thin and frail. This sparked rumors that he would step down from the police procedural drama due to his health condition. Although the report made people think that the aging actor is weak and cannot work anymore, it clarified that the actor’s drastic weight loss was not due to an illness but his tough rehabilitation following a knee surgery.
On the other hand, Closer Weekly reported that Mark Harmon will stay on the show but his character as Leroy Gibbs may change a bit since he cannot keep up with action scenes anymore. Perhaps, he will be given a new assignment that will allow him to stay in the department office most of the time instead of running after the criminals in the field.
Now, the rumor about Mark Harmon’s supposed plan of leaving the show surfaced again this month when Celebrity Insider published an article that says the actor is thinking of leaving “NCIS” after season 16. But this proved to be false since he just signed a large contract with CBS so he can appear in the 16th season and probably the season after that.
According to Entertainment Weekly, when the network announced that Mark Harmon was staying for “NCIS” season 16, fans were delighted. They knew that the drama would not be the same without Gibbs.
“This show speaks to viewers of all ages, in all parts of the country and around the world. We’re thrilled he is returning as the centerpiece of the show, and we could not be more excited for NCIS’ 16th season,” CBS Entertainment president Kelly Kahl said in a statement.
With the scale of his new contract, Mark Harmon will definitely not break it. He even said that he is happy to be back to the show.
“NCIS” season 16 airs every Tuesday at 8 p.m. on CBS.
