CBS crime drama NCIS has had countless memorable characters over its 22 seasons. The most iconic of these characters is Pauley Perrette as forensic pathologist Abby Sciuto, who was an integral part of the CBS television series. NCIS from the start. Perrette remained an important member of the main cast until her exit from the series in 2018. Despite her dark black hair, tattoos, goth style, and love of all things scary, Abby was a shining light of optimism and joy in a series about violence and murder. . Abby’s brilliance and unique style have made her one of television’s most popular characters. Fans were understandably shocked when Pauley Perrette decided to leave the show in 2018.
Abby Sciuto changed the portrayal of goths in film and television, showing that the subculture was more than a phase taken over by brooding teenagers, and showing young women that they could successfully pursue careers in science. Due to Abby’s cultural prominence, rumors abounded about Perrette’s departure. NCIS, with some online gossip even attributing her departure to a planned skincare and makeup line, which would later be categorically denounced as false by Perrette. While some details still remain a mystery, more information has been revealed about Perrette’s decision to hang up her lab coat.
Abby was a fan favorite from the start
Audiences fell in love with Abby Sciuto’s brilliant mind and eye-catching style
First appeared in the pilot episode of NCIS in 2003, Pauley Perrette’s character, law clerk Abby Sciuto, immediately stood out, her gothic-inspired wardrobe contrasting sharply with the pantsuits and military uniforms around her. A brilliant scientist, Abby often saw important details that others missed and used unconventional methods to make important discoveries. Before donning Abby’s iconic blouse, Perrette began her acting career on shows like The Drew Carey Show And Fraser, and used his experience in these comedy shows to add levity to this otherwise dark drama.
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Abby Sciuto represented a huge departure from how goth characters were typically portrayed in film and television. Abby loves death and darkness, but is extremely happy and optimistic instead of angry and moody like other TV goths. Creator Donald Bellisario wanted to challenge preconceived notions about alternative and artistic kids, believing that they were typically portrayed as “drug addicts, thieves, and criminals.” After the Columbine massacre in 1999, the killers were misidentified as Goths, leading to an increase in animosity towards Goths at the time. Perrette and Bellisario believe Abby has helped people see goths in a kinder light, “instead of thinking they’re thugs, maybe they think they’re scientists.”
Abby continues to be a gothic style icon
Mixing and matching styling elements from different aesthetics gave Abby a unique look
Abby Sciuto continues to be an icon of goth style, although Abby would never define herself as such, always avoiding simple labels. His style is a unique amalgamation of goth, emo, punk and other alternative subcultures. Combined with her lab coat and other forensic equipment and gadgets, her wardrobe is a great representation of the futuristic gothic visuals that were popular in film and television in the late 90s and early 2000s , seen in films like Queen of the Damned And Blade. The juxtaposition of his high-tech gear with the romantic and melancholy elements of his gothic style is the perfect visual representation of how his character defies expectations.
The most common motifs found in Abby’s style are images associated with death and decay, such as skulls and spiders, appropriate for a forensic pathologist who spends his day dissecting corpses. The most memorable item in Abby’s wardrobe was her penchant for platform shoes. Pauley Perrette loves Abby’s style, but was so tired of wearing platform shoes that for her next TV series Broken, his contract stipulated that Perrette’s character, Jackie, had to wear comfortable shoes.
Fans loved Gibbs and Abby’s relationship
Gibbs and Abby were perfect foils for each other
A popular item of NCIS was the father-daughter relationship between Leroy Jethro Gibbs, played by Mark Harmon, and Pauley Perrette’s Abby Sciuto. The two characters played off each other well. Gibbs’ rough exterior softened around Abby’s bubbliness, helping to humanize her character. Gibbs also championed Abby’s unconventional approach to forensic science and investigations, attesting to Abby’s genius when others doubted her.
A recurring gag of the series was that Gibbs was a brilliant investigator, but had no idea about science and technology, often saying “reboot it” whenever he had difficulty using a phone laptop or computer. This led to some hilarious scenes with science specialist Abby trying to ease Gibbs’ tech phobia. The story also helped attract a wider age range to the show, as many young people could relate to trying to teach an older relative how to use a cell phone.
Perrette fell out with Mark Harmon
Harmon’s actions on set led Perrette to consider NCIS a dangerous work environment
After fifteen years as iconic goth scientist Abby Sciuto, Pauley Perrette left NCIS in 2018. Abby Sciuto resigned from her position at NCIS after an assassination attempt. His farewell included face-to-face farewells with all of his colleagues, except for Gibbs, who only received a letter announcing his departure. There had been increased animosity between Perrette and Harmon after Harmon began bringing his dog to the set in 2016. The dog bit a crew member, requiring fifteen stitches. After the final episode aired, Perrette wrote a series of cryptic tweets alluding to behind-the-scenes problems and “multiple physical assaults.”
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Due to Abby’s popularity, speculation and theories about why Perrette left the show only increased, and fans often demanded her return to the show. The constant questions led Perrette to tweet again about her departure from NCIS in 2019, stating that she was “terrified that he and Harmon would attack me. I have nightmares about it.” Perrette continued to insist that she would never return to NCIS. Mark Harmon remained on the series until 2021 and continues to be involved with the series and its prequel. NCIS: Origins. Perrette is still on good terms with CBS and remains close to his others NCIS castmates.
Something to keep Perrette busy
After NCIS, Perrette still has work to do
Pauley Perrette moved on to several other projects after her departure NCIS. In 2020, Perrette starred as single mother Jackie on the CBS sitcom. Broken. Perrette found the sitcom about a working mother to be a refreshing change of pace from NCISdeclaring Broken is the favorite show she has worked on, despite its cancellation in May 2020. She felt safe and respected while working on Brokenappreciating that there are more women on the crew and in management positions.
Perrette’s farewell to NCIS was far from the end of his time with criminal justice and science. In 2018, she established scholarships to benefit students majoring in criminal justice at Valdosta State University in Georgia and John Jay College of Criminal Science in New York. Perrette is proud that the character of Abby Sciuto has inspired so many young women to pursue careers in science and mathematics. She didn’t want it to end with Abby leaving television. Perrette hopes that “if young people, thanks to this scholarship, really become little Abbys, then she will literally live forever, just like her influence, and in a real way.”
Perrette will never return to acting
Perrette finds happiness by choosing reality over fiction
Pauley Perrette retired from acting in 2020, but still remains involved in documentary production. In 2023, Perrette directs the documentary film Studio One Foreverabout the famous West Hollywood club and how it became an important part of the gay community. To explain her decision to leave acting, Perrette said she wanted to be herself all the time. Acting once provided her with an escape by allowing her to be someone else, but she no longer wants that, and that “returning to acting would be like taking away this life of true authenticity that I live” . 100% of the time.” Perrette only wants documentaries now because she only wants the truth.
Perrette suffered a serious stroke in 2021 that nearly killed her. Her experience increased her desire to live in the present and not escape into fictional characters. In addition to her documentary work, Perrette enjoys staying involved in causes close to her heart, such as animal rescue and LGBTQ rights.