Pauley Perrette Leaving 'NCIS,' Abby Sciuto to Get Special Send-Off

Pauley Perrette will be leaving the venerable CBS procedural "NCIS" after 15 seasons, the actress confirmed yesterday. The series' executive producers announced that fans can expect to see a "special" send-off for her "NCIS" character Abby Sciuto on the show this season.

Rumors of Perrette's impending departure had been circulating online last week following the "NCIS" season 15 premiere on September 26. The actress posted on Twitter to clear up some misconceptions, reports the LA Times.

Perrette confirmed that she was leaving "NCIS" but denied some of the rumored reasons for her departure. She said it was not true that the network was displeased with her, as some had speculated. Perrette added that the decision for her exit had been made last year.

Deadline reports that "NCIS" executive producers George Schenck and Frank Cardea issued a statement a few hours after Perrette broke the news. "We've known for some time this would be Pauley's final season on "NCIS" and have been working toward a special send-off," they said. Schenk and Cardea added that they found it hard to let her go, but they respect her decision to move on after the end of the current season.

Perrette has played the character Abby Sciuto since the debut of "NCIS" in 2003. The series follows a team of agents who work for the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. The team is led by Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs, played by actor Mark Harmon.

Abby Sciuto is the team's resident forensic specialist and computer hacker. She is known for her quirky fashion sense and "cheerful goth" demeanor.

Perrette is the second major cast departure to affect "NCIS" in the past two years. In 2016, the show said goodbye to Michael Weatherly, who played Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo for 13 seasons. Weatherly moved to another CBS program, "Bull," that premiered in September 2016.