One NCIS actor, Muse Watson, was unhappy about his character’s death in season 8, according to the show’s creators. Watson played Supervisory Special Agent Mike Franks and was upset when his character was killed off. He described leaving the show as “Losing An Old Friend” and felt his character deserved more.
Watson learned about his character’s death while filming a Christmas production in Branson, Missouri. The creators assured him that he might reappear as a ghost. Other former cast members, such as Michael Weatherly, Mark Harmon, and Cote de Pablo, left the show for various reasons, including creative dissatisfaction and new opportunities.