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Apart from being one of the longest-running shows on television,NCISalso boasted a great ensemble. From actor Mark Harmon leading the way as Leroy Gibbs to actor Michael Weatherly playing Tony DiNozzo, the show brought the crime drama genre in a whole new light. While both Harmon and Weatherly were key figures in the show for over a decade, things between them weren’t as smooth as many had expected.
It was uglier than Harmon’s feud with actress Pauley Perrette. From the get-go itself, Mark Harmon and Michael Weatherly clashed due to their polar opposite personalities. But during one scene inNCIS, this tension escalated to a whole new level.
All About the Feud Between NCIS Stars Mark Harmon and Michael Weatherly
Mark Harmonwas already a big name when he stepped into the shoes of agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs inNCISand had decades of acting experience to his name. On the other hand, forMichael Weatherlythe crime drama and his character Tony DiNozzo gave him the much-needed push in the industry, and he became an overnight star.
Both the actors were among the original cast, and despite their on-screen chemistry, they had a rocky start on the show. This was majorly because of their polar opposite personalities, as Weatherly himself added viaHello:
Mark Harmon and I were on different poles. I was Antarctica, he was the North Pole and we were just looking down there going, ‘What is up with your polarity? What’s going on? The water goes down the drain the other way for me.
The actor didn’t stop here and went on to detail why Harmon was not impressed with his light-hearted approach to serious things. Weatherly added:
And he was confused by my presence right from the get-go. When CNN Showbiz Today or one of those things asked what was the best part about doing the pilot when we were doing the upfronts, I said, ‘I got a rubber gun and I got a fake badge.
He continued:
Harmon looked at me like, ‘That is your CNN answer?’ [Laughs.] And I was like a little kid who had one too many bowls of Count Chocula.
This was nothing, their tensions reached a boiling point when during a scene inNCIS, Harmon slapped Weatherly on the back of his head. In this particular scene, theDark Angelactor is on a Navy ship, speaking to a female petty officer.
Mark Harmon viaPure Wowfelt that the actor was straying too far from the script; to bring him back he smacked him, purely based on instinct.
The NCIS Actor With the Most Episodes Record isn’t Mark Harmon, Michael Weatherly or Pauley Perrette
This slap though wasn’t scripted became one of the most well-received elements of the show, with fans naming it “Gibbs slap” to keep his team in line. While the actors had a rough start, they soon got to know more about each other and developed a good bond on set.
What Happened Between Actress Pauley Perrette and Mark Harmon?
Throughout its two decades run, several new actors have joined the cast ofNCIS. One such actress wasPauley Perrettewho quickly became a fan favorite as forensic scientist Abby Sciuto. She was famous for her gothic fashion sense, but fans were left shocked when Perrette announced her departure from the show after 15 years.
While the actress remained upbeat, and everything appeared smooth, soon some behind-the-scenes tensions came to light that might have caused her departure. In the weeks following her final episode, the actress started hinting on Twitter the reasons behind her decision to quitNCIS.
In one particular, tweet she mentioned that there had been“multiple physical assaults”during her time on the show, cryptically adding“he did it.”While she didn’t specifically name anyone, fans started digging deeper into the issue and brought back the Mark Harmon dog bite incident on set. According toThe Wrap,Harmon’s dog had bitten anNCIScrew member, and they had to get 15 stitches to treat the wound.
“He doesn’t have time for his family”: Mark Harmon Allegedly Almost Left NCIS 14 Seasons Ago Because of a Very Toxic Reason
Even after this incident, the actor kept on bringing his dog to the set, causing Pauley Perrette to voice her concern. She also took this issue to the network as well, which caused a major rift between the actors. The situation took a turn for the worse in 2019 when the actress made it clear that she wouldn’t be back inNCIS, not even as a guest star.She added:
NO I AM NOT COMING BACK! EVER! (Please stop asking?) I am terrified of Harmon and him attacking me. I have nightmares about it.
In adeleted tweet, the actress also claimed that she had been assaulted on set and lost her job because she spoke out. Neither Harmon nor CBS have commented on this, leaving fans to wonder if these accusations were true or not.
You can watchNCISon Hulu.
Sakshi Singh
Articles Published :1434
Sakshi Singh has written over 1,300 entertainment articles, mostly about Netflix shows and reality TV. She’s spent the last two years covering everything from surprise engagements to shocking eliminations and previously wrote for Essentially Sports in their Netflix Junkie division. A self-proclaimed reality TV addict, Sakshi has watched all 48 seasons of Survivor and never misses a new dating or competition series. She loves watching how strangers meet, fall in love, team up, or betray each other - it’s the mix of strategy and drama that keeps her hooked. When she’s not glued to a reality show, she’s usually watching a crime thriller or tracking the next big streaming hit.
