Mark Harmon makes a special return live-action guest appearance as Leroy Jethro Gibbs on tonight’s episode of NCIS: Origins. The episode airs at the special time of 8PM ET/PT, swapping timeslots with the NCIS mothership for a crossover event. Here’s what CBS had to say about all of this in their press release for the episode:
Mark Harmon will make a special guest appearance as Leroy Jethro Gibbs, the iconic TV character he played for 18 seasons on NCIS, on prequel series NCIS: ORIGINS during the first crossover event between the two hit dramas, Tuesday, Nov. 11 on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on demand for Paramount+ Premium plan subscribers, or on demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs)*.
In the crossover event airing on Veterans Day, younger Gibbs (Austin Stowell) and team investigate the small-town death of a naval officer in the ‘90s on NCIS: ORIGINS – a case that’s unexpectedly re-opened in the present day on NCIS. The decades-spanning mystery finds the air order for the series switching for one night only, with NCIS: ORIGINS airing first at 8:00 PM, ET/PT, followed by NCIS at 9:00 PM, ET/PT.
Harmon, an executive producer of both series, narrates each episode of ORIGINS but has not appeared onscreen as Gibbs since a brief appearance in the series’ 2024 pilot.
“Four years ago, Gibbs disappeared to Alaska to live a life of solitude,” said co-showrunners and executive producers David J. North and Gina Lucita Monreal. “We know how much fans have missed seeing Mark and have wondered what Gibbs is up to today. Well, on Nov. 11, we’re so excited to announce that Mark Harmon will return as Leroy Jethro Gibbs in the ORIGINS hour of the NCIS crossover event. We don’t want to give too much away, but let’s just say Gibbs is no longer alone.”
“I’m very proud of the storytelling that David and Gina are doing on ORIGINS,” Harmon said. “They continue to push boundaries and dive deeper into the characters’ backstories. They came to me with an idea for Gibbs that I liked, and it seemed like a good time to check in with him. I hope fans enjoy it.”
NCIS: ORIGINS follows a young Leroy Jethro Gibbs in the early ‘90s, years prior to the events of NCIS, and is narrated by Harmon. Season two, which premiered Oct. 14 as part of the new all-NCIS Tuesday lineup on CBS, delves deeper into the unstoppable NCIS Camp Pendleton team, led by the legendary Mike Franks, as well as Gibbs’ early career as a special agent. Facing new threats, higher stakes and defining moments that shape their professional and personal lives, one fact is certain: This team always has each other’s backs.
NCIS: ORIGINS is produced by CBS Studios. David J. North, Gina Lucita Monreal, Mark Harmon and Sean Harmon serve as executive producers.
Then, at 9PM ET/PT, NCIS brings us the episode “Now and Then” which features guest star Roma Maffia as Retired NCIS Special Agent Vera Strickland. Here’s how they describe that one:
A prison break by an inmate who had just three weeks left on a sentence compels the team to reopen the case of a naval officer’s death that was originally investigated by Gibbs and Franks in the ‘90s, and enlist the help of retired special agent Vera Strickland (Roma Maffia). Also, the team has different views on what to include in a special Navy time capsule, on the thrilling conclusion to the decades-spanning crossover event on the CBS Original series NCIS, Tuesday, Nov. 11 (9:00-10:01 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on demand for Paramount+ Premium plan subscribers, or on demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs)*.
Photos from the crossover episodes “Funny How Time Slips Away” and “Now and Then” can be found below, including a shot from Mark Harmon’s return.
NCIS: Origins
Mark Harmon will make a special guest appearance as Leroy Jethro Gibbs, the iconic TV character he played for 18 seasons on NCIS, on prequel series NCIS: ORIGINS during the first crossover event between the two hit dramas, Tuesday, Nov. 11 on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on demand for Paramount+ Premium plan subscribers, or on demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs)*. Pictured: Mark Harmon as Leroy Jethro Gibbs. Photo: CBS ©2025 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Highest quality screengrab available.
