By [ad_1]
It was Sasha Alexander’s own decision to leave NCIS after Season 2. Here’s why she wanted out.
As NCIS gears up for Season 19, only two characters – Gibbs and Ducky — are still around from the procedural’s original cast. However, both Mark Harmon and David McCallum are in line for minimal roles when NCIS returns this fall. As one of the longest running television shows of all time, it makes sense that NCIS has seen its fair share of cast turnover. However, the trend started kind of early, because the first original cast member to leave the show only made it through forty-nine episodes over two seasons. That cast member was Special Agent Caitlin Todd. Here’s who she was and why she left.
Who Was Caitlin Todd on NCIS
Caitlin “Kate” Todd, who was played by Sasha Alexander, was introduced in 2003 during NCIS’ first episode — “Yankee White” – when she was still a member of the president’s Secret Service detail. During the episode, the Naval officer tasked with carrying the “nuclear football” mysteriously dies while aboard Air Force One with the president. Although some people think the death was from natural causes, Gibbs and DiNozzo find otherwise. They enlist the help of Caitlin Todd and uncover a plot to assassinate the president.
Gibbs liked what he saw from Kate and offered her a job before the episode was over. It wasn’t long after that Kate quit her job, after disobeying fraternization rules and joined the NCIS team full time. She became the junior member of Gibbs’ team, and a popular part of the cast. Her more-conservative attitude contrasted with Tony’s often-forthcoming personality and made for a nice comedic effect. However, they easily found common ground when picking on the new “Probie” McGee. When she was killed by Ari Haswari in the finale of Season 2, it hit everyone hard because they had become quite a close team.
Why Sasha Alexander Left NCIS
As with many character’s deaths on television, Kate was not killed off because of the writers wanted her gone, nor was it because fans disliked her. Ultimately, it was Sasha Alexander’s decision to leave the show on her own terms, and it really came down to the grueling film schedule that NCIS demands.
In a 2012 interview with TV Guide, Alexander explained her reasoning for leaving. “People don’t realize that on a network show, you make 24 episodes a year. That’s 10 and a half months a year, 17 hours a day. It’s hard core,” she shared. That would be difficult for anyone, and even Mark Harmon has spoken on the taxing schedule the show has to keep. In a 2017 interview with The Talk, Harmon said that the “first day [of filming] was 21 hours.” The schedule has been slimmed down since the first season, but it’s still difficult – explaining why Harmon is taking a reduced role going into NCIS‘ nineteenth year of production.
Sasha Alexander simply got off of the train before Gibbs did, and she doesn’t regret her decision to leave the show. In the same interview, she said, “I really firmly believe in my heart that I would not be where I am today – happily married, with two kids, doing things creatively that I want – if I had stayed.” So, while it was difficult to see Agent Todd killed off in such a dramatic way, it seems like she made the best decision for herself in the long run.
NCIS stars Mark Harmon, Sean Murray, Wilmer Valderrama, Brian Dietzen, Diona Reasonover, Rocky Carroll, David McCallum, Katrina Law and Gary Cole. NCIS Season 19 will debut on September 20 at 9 p.m. ET.
About The Author
[ad_2]
