Why Gibbs Didn’t Appear in NCIS’s Ducky Tribute Episode
David McCallum, who played Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard on NCIS, passed away in 2023 at age 90. To honor his legacy, Season 21’s episode “The Stories We Leave Behind” focused entirely on Ducky, with colleagues gathering to say goodbye. Yet one major figure was missing: Mark Harmon’s Leroy Jethro Gibbs.
Co-showrunner Steven D. Binder explained that after Harmon left NCIS in 2021, bringing him back for a brief cameo would have been unfair to the character. “When we bring him back, it has to be something special,” Binder told TV Line.
Instead, the tribute featured a surprise return from Michael Weatherly as Tony DiNozzo, who delivers heartfelt final words about Ducky and even mimics him for a touch of levity. Binder noted that DiNozzo was the perfect choice to interact with Jimmy Palmer, who shoulders much of the episode’s emotional weight.
Though Gibbs doesn’t appear in person, he’s still present in spirit: a letter from him to Jimmy and a Polaroid of Gibbs with Ducky and Jimmy ensures the retired Major Case Response Team lead remains connected, even from his quiet life in Alaska.