NCIS Star Sean Murray Speaks Out On Exit Rumors

NCIS Star Sean Murray Addresses Rumors He’s Leaving The Show

Sean Murray looking ahead as McGee in an episode of NCIS season 22

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NCIS star Sean Murray addresses rumors that he's exiting the show. In the role of Timothy McGee, Murray has been with the decades-spanning CBS procedural since the first season. Though he only appeared in eight episodes during that debut year, he would be upgraded to the NCIS main cast in season 2. Over time, he has emerged as a core character and one of the few remaining faces from the franchise's early run.

With the start of season 23, there has been a flurry of online discussion about whether McGee is beginning his exit arc and possibly eyeing a different career path. It wouldn't be the first time a major character has left NCIS, with the departure of lead actor Mark Harmon's Leroy Jethro Gibbs in October 2021 being a notable example.

In comments to TVLine, Murray addressed the rumors that he's leaving NCIS. He begins by acknowledging that rumors tend to circulate because characters can face unexpected twists. He goes on to note that one is completely safe on the shows, referring to the shocking death of Caitlin Todd in season 2 to illustrate how storylines can take an unexpected turn. Read his quote below:

“There's always an element of the gossip thing that comes up. Things can take big, unexpected turns with characters. I mean, things can happen. No one is ever quite safe on this show. We were also the show [where] one of the lead characters took a bullet and died at the end of season 2.”

Murray also hints at some surprises ahead for the remainder of NCIS season 23, previewing big moments in the episodes to come. In particular, the McGee actor mentions that the franchise has pulled off some unexpected turns throughout its run and teases that, as the current season moves along, there will be developments that fans of the series “are really going to enjoy” because it's different and unexpected:

“We've had some really surprising things happen... I can tell you there's stuff coming up this year that longtime fans of the show are really going to enjoy, because it's different for us and unexpected.”

McGee looking serious in an episode of NCIS

As it stands, it doesn't seem like any potential exit from McGee will be as violent as Caitlin Todd's death. The basis for the concern about McGee is that he's somehow stalled in his career. He has other interests, such as writing, which could take precedence in light of his frustrations with Gabriel LaRoche and missing out on new job opportunities overall. But as Murray himself notes, there could be surprises that viewers aren't considering.

Either way, after Mark Harmon's departure, McGee has appeared in the most NCIS episodes out of anyone. If he does eventually leave, it will have to be handled in a way that feels satisfying and true to the character's personality. Or it could be the case that by the end of season 23, it will be abundantly clear that McGee isn't planning to go anywhere.

NCIS season 23 airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.

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10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Like Follow Followed TV-14 Crime Drama Action Release Date September 23, 2003 Network CBS Showrunner Donald P. Bellisario Directors Dennis Smith, Terrence O'Hara, Tony Wharmby, James Whitmore Jr., Thomas J. Wright, Michael Zinberg, Arvin Brown, Rocky Carroll, Diana Valentine, Leslie Libman, Tawnia McKiernan, Colin Bucksey, William Webb, Bethany Rooney, Alrick Riley, Jeff Woolnough, Alan J. Levi, Lionel Coleman, Martha Mitchell, Peter Ellis, Michael Weatherly, Edward Ornelas, Stephen Cragg, Tom Wright Writers George Schenck, Frank Cardea, Jesse Stern, John C. Kelley, Jennifer Corbett, Christopher Silber, Reed Steiner, Nicole Mirante-Matthews, Jack Bernstein, Scott J. Jarrett, Matthew R. Jarrett, Kimberly-Rose Wolter, Don McGill, Gil Grant, Frank Military, Nell Scovell, Steven Kriozere, Brian Dietzen, Kate Torgovnick May, Jeff Vlaming, Sydney Mitchel, Katie White, Richard C. Arthur, Laurence Walsh Gibbs (Mark Harmon) and Ziva (Cote de Pablo) in NCIS

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Gibbs and Ziva standing together on NCIS

Wilmer Valderrama, Sean Murray, and Gary Cole posed near a computer from NCISCredit: CBS and THINKFilm via MovieStillsDB

Pauley Perrette as Abby Sciuto in NCIS©CBS / Courtesy MovieStillsDB

Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly), Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon), and Ziva David (Cote de Pablo) in NCIS©CBS / Courtesy MovieStillsDB

Gary Cole as Alden Parker and Katrina Law as Jessica Knight in NCIS

Tony (Michael Weatherly) and Ziva (Cote de Pablo) holding onto one another in a falling elevator in NCISImage via CBS

The team in NCIS season 22, episode 8, looking at a bodySonja Flemming / ©CBS / Courtesy Everett Collection Tony and Ziva in NCIS sharing a romantic dance

Tony and Ziva in NCIS

DiNozzo, Gibbs, & Todd in NCIS standing together and looking seriousCBSClose

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Sean Murray Timothy McGee
David McCallum Dr. Donald 'Ducky' Mallard

Franchise(s) NCIS Genres Crime, Drama, Action Creator(s) Don McGill, Donald P. Bellisario Powered by

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