Pauley Perrette has confirmed she is leaving her long-running role in TV series NCIS at the end of its current season.
The actress, who plays fan favorite character Abby Sciuto, a forensic specialist, confirmed recent rumors that she was leaving by posting a note on Twitter on Wednesday (04Oct17).
“So, it is true that I am leaving NCIS after this season. There has been all kinds of false stories as to why (NO I DON’T HAVE A SKIN CARE LINE AND NO MY NETWORK AND SHOW ARE NOT MAD AT ME!)” she wrote, clarifying different rumors about her departure.
“It was a decision made last year. I hope everyone will love and enjoy EVERYTHING ABBY not only for the rest of this season but for everything she has given all of us for 16 years. All the love, all the laughter, all the inspiration…I love her as much as you do.”
Perrette, a series regular, has appeared in every episode of the police procedural since it began in 2003 and as well as a few episodes in spin-offs NCIS: Los Angeles and NCIS: New Orleans.
Her departure comes a couple of years after long-running castmember Michael Weatherly, who played Special Agent Tony DiNozzo, left after season 13.
The current season of the show, which is led by Mark Harmon, began last week and is set to conclude around May 2018.
