Many stars have been welcomed into the fold of the NCIS universe throughout the franchise’s two decades, and some have opted to expand their roles beyond acting. With over 1,000 NCIS episodes and counting — and NCIS season 21 ending with more stories left to tell — cast members have had plenty of opportunities to step into other positions. The actors have been able to plug into the franchise’s six spin-off shows throughout the years, and many of them have also extended their role on the franchise’s flagship.
NCIS has compelling things ahead, with the main series renewed for NCIS season 22 and two expansion series in the works. Earlier this year, CBS and Paramount+ announced they would create two spin-off shows based around original Major Case Response Team members Leroy Jethro Gibbs, Anthony DiNozzo, and Ziva David, with the beginnings of NCIS: Origins and NCIS: Tony & Ziva, respectively. The new series provide exciting opportunities for veteran NCIS actors to participate in their production.
7. Brian Dietzen
Writing – NCIS
Brian Dietzen is a prime example of someone who got their start acting on NCIS but then expanded their role in the franchise beyond that. Dietzen joined the show to play Dr. Jimmy Palmer in the series’ first season. In fact, Jimmy is one of only two remaining characters who appeared in the first season of NCIS and are still on the show. What also makes Dietzen valuable to the show is that he has helped write it as well.
The actor’s progression is even more impressive considering that Dietzen began as a one-day guest star. So far, Dietzen has earned writing credits across three episodes of NCIS, one in each of the show’s three most recent seasons. He helped write season 19, episode 13, “The Helpers,” and season 20, episode 14, “Old Wounds.” Most notably, Dietzen co-wrote season 21, episode 2, “The Stories We Leave Behind,” which paid tribute to Dietzen’s predecessor, David McCallum, after McCallum died at 90. In all three episodes, Dietzen is credited with NCIS writer and executive producer Scott Williams.
The actor’s writing role in “The Helpers” was born out of astroke that Dietzen experienced just before the pandemic, which had the actor fearing the worst: that he may never act again. The episode tackles difficult conversations between a parent and their child about death. The episode also facilitates the conversation after Jimmy is exposed to a deadly bio-toxin while his daughter is at NCIS Headquarters, and it’s a fitting moment for his character, considering the inspiration behind his involvement. Dietzen’s role in the episode’s creation surely factored into the outstanding acting performance he delivered.
6. Daniela Ruah
Directing – NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles, NCIS: Hawai’i
Kensi Blye actor Daniela Ruah has evolved her role in the NCIS franchise to include directing credits. The actor got her start in the cast of NCIS: Los Angeles, being introduced alongside characters like G. Callen (Chris O’Donnell) and Sam Hanna (LL Cool J). Ruah’s involvement in the franchise would expand to directing episodes on her own Los Angeles-based series, the island-based NCIS: Hawai’i, and the flagship NCIS.
Ruah began directing in 2021, earning directing credit on NCIS: Los Angeles season 12, episode 11, “Russia, Russia, Russia;” season 13, episodes 7, “Lost Sailor Down,” 14, “Pandora’s Box,” and 19, “Live Free or Die Standing;” and season 14, episodes 5, “Flesh & Blood,” and 14, “Shame.” Following Los Angeles’ cancelation, Ruah also got to flex her directing skills in one episode of both NCIS and NCIS: Hawai’i in their most recent seasons. She directed NCIS season 21, episode 4, “Left Unsaid,” and NCIS: Hawai’i season 3, episode 7, “The Next Thousand,” which directly followed the NCIS 1000th episode.
5. Mark Harmon
Executive Producing And Narrating – NCIS, NCIS: New Orleans, NCIS: Origins
Aside from his acting, Mark Harmon’s role in the NCIS franchise is extensive, with the actor serving as producer or executive producer on over 350 episodes of the series, starting in 2008. The actor was a favorable production partner, considering Harmon served as the face of the franchise for nearly two decades, and his character remains synonymous with NCIS. Despite Harmon’s exit in NCIS season 19, he was listed as an executive producer for the series’ most recent season.
When the franchise launched its bayou-based spin-off, Harmon joined NCIS: New Orleans as an executive producer as well. The actor is listed as an executive producer for all 155 episodes of New Orleans across its seven seasons. With a history that is so deeply ingrained in the franchise, it’s no surprise that Harmon will return to help produce the NCIS: Origins show as well. Harmon has joined forces with his son, Sean Harmon, on the prequel series that will expand Gibbs’ backstory. He will also return to narrate the show.
4. Sean Harmon
Executive Producing – NCIS: Origins
Sean Harmon will expand his role in the NCIS franchise by working alongside his father in the production of NCIS: Origins. Harmon joined the quintessential NCIS series in a pivotal role for the franchise: portraying the younger version of his father, Mark Harmon’s character, Jethro Gibbs. Sean portrayed the to-be NCIS agent at pivotal times in his life, appearing in flashbacks to explain how Gibbs met his first wife, Shannon, along with other defining life milestones.
It’s fitting that Harmon will join NCIS: Origins to meld its production because Sean established the role of young Gibbs. While Harmon is the right age to continue to portray the young Marine in the series, Austin Stowell has been cast as young Gibbs. While the backstory-based series is one of two upcoming expansion shows that the franchise will spin off from main MCRT characters, NCIS: Origins is taking a major risk that the other series is not. Since Sean Harmon will not reprise his role as young Gibbs, his role as executive producer will be all the more important.
3. Rocky Carroll
Directing – NCIS
Rocky Carroll has also expanded his role in the production of NCIS. It’s a fitting evolution for the actor who ties the NCIS franchise record for popping up in the most shows. Carroll has appeared in his role as NCIS Director Leon Vance in NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles, NCIS: New Orleans, and NCIS: Hawai’i. However, the actor’s role in the franchise extends beyond his portrayal of the NCIS director. Rocky Carroll has directed 23 episodes of NCIS since 2015.
Carroll has directed at least one episode per season since NCIS season 5. Most recently, Carroll directed NCIS season 21, episode 3, “Lifeline,” which saw Kasie Hines (Diona Reasonover) get abducted to help former NCIS agent Eric Webb (Chris McKenna) prevent an explosion. The episode was a deep-dive into the team’s forensic scientist, who gets personal about her dating history with a former agent. The skillful development of Reasonover’s character at the hands of Carroll’s direction was a standout of the season.
2. Cote de Pablo
Executive Producing – NCIS: Tony & Ziva
It may come as no surprise that Ziva David actor Cote de Pablo is expanding her role in the NCIS franchise, especially considering the buzz about the actor returning for NCIS: Tony & Ziva. De Pablo will return to the NCIS franchise to reprise her role as the Mossad-turned-NCIS agent. She will also supply valuable input into the show’s creation as an executive producer.
Perhaps no one is better suited to give input on Ziva’s role, and de Pablo has already been a powerful force in shaping the character into a strong, Israeli-Jewish woman that audiences could look up to. In fact, de Pablo’s exit from NCIS came about when she became dissatisfied with her character’s story. De Pablo’s return now suggests that the actor is confident that she can make Ziva a powerful force of representation yet again, and her executive producer role will ensure that Cote is in the driver’s seat.
Cote de Pablo also expanded her role in the franchise during her stay on the original series. In NCIS season 6, episode 1, “Last Man Standing,” she performed Tom Waits’ “Temptation.” Her performance on the series upheld a surprising NCIS franchise trend, and it gave her credits within the franchise that reached beyond her acting. While her performance is interrupted at the beginning of the episode, a full version of the song was recorded by de Pablo and is featured on “NCIS: The Official Soundtrack,” released in 2009.
1. Michael Weatherly
Directing And Executive Producing – NCIS, NCIS: Tony & Ziva
As Cote de Pablo is expanding her role in the NCIS franchise, it’s not too surprising that Anthony DiNozzo’s actor, Michael Weatherly, is too. Weatherly’s character became synonymous with Ziva David when he left NCIS to answer the call of parenthood, leaving the MCRT behind to raise the daughter he shares with Ziva. Weatherly will return to the NCIS franchise alongside de Pablo to continue Tony and Ziva’s romance. His return will also comprise an executive producer role for NCIS: Tony & Ziva, putting him in the position to advise how to develop the former field agent’s story.
Weatherly also previously expanded his role in the NCIS franchise in the flagship series, with his credits for the show including directing. Michael Weatherly stepped up from his usual acting role and was in the director’s chair for NCIS season 8, episode 17, “One Last Score,” and season 10, episode 18, “Seek.” His previous experience means viewers could see him the director’s chair again for NCIS: Tony & Ziva.
