‘NCIS’ Fans Loved Abby for 15 Years — Then Pauley Perrette Made a Decision Nobody Expected

For 15 seasons, Pauley Perrette made Abby Sciuto one of the most recognizable characters on NCIS. With her jet-black pigtails, gothic style and brilliant forensic mind, Abby quickly became a fan favorite.

Then, in 2018, Perrette said goodbye. She admitted the farewell was deeply emotional, telling Entertainment Tonight that she loved Abby and her devoted fans just as much as they loved the character.

Perrette briefly returned to television in the 2020 sitcom Broke, but eventually made an even bigger decision: she retired from acting altogether. In 2024, she made clear that she had no plans to return, explaining that she now wanted a life centered on authenticity rather than becoming someone else for the camera.

These days, Perrette has turned some of her attention toward producing documentaries and causes important to her. For longtime NCIS viewers hoping Abby might someday walk back into the lab, her decision makes that possibility look increasingly unlikely.