10 Best NCIS Franchise Characters, Ranked

Published Jul 24, 2026, 4:30 PM EDT Cher Thompson is a Senior Staff Writer at Screen Rant, where she covers everything from explosive reality TV moments to cast interviews about the twists and turns of scripted dramas. With a background in creative writing, marketing, and teaching, Cher knows how to spot both the storytelling genius and the guilty pleasures in pop culture. Her work blends wit with insight, making readers feel like they’re chatting with a friend who just happens to know way too much about TV. NCIS is one of the longest-running franchises in CBS history, and though the various shows have seen dozens of characters come and go, a select few have made a massive mark on the franchise's legacy. Originally airing as a backdoor pilot on CBS' 10-season series, JAG, NCIS premiered in 2003. The show has run since the early 2000s, and while there have been some major casting changes, it's likely been fewer than viewers would expect for such a long winding series. While the flagship series has its own world, the show's universe features several spinoffs, some airing and some defunct. With seven shows in the NCIS universe, its original spinoff was NCIS: Los Angeles, which aired from 2009 through 2023. NCIS: New Orleans came next, expanding the world further with a run from 2014 through 2021, and after its end, NCIS: Hawai'i aired from 2021 through 2024. In 2023, NCIS: Sydney came into the picture as the first universe spinoff that was created outside of the American market. The series is still airing, along with NCIS: Origins, a series documenting Gibbs' early years. The upcoming NCIS: New York will bring a different team to the franchise and all new characters. While there have been tons of characters introduced into the NCIS universe throughout the years, a few specific personalities stand out against the crowd for being a memorable part of the franchise. With some still part of their teams and others having departed, NCIS' best characters are a diverse group. 10 Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard NCIS Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard (David McCallum) was the longtime Chief Medical Examiner who worked with the MCRT throughout the first 20 seasons of NCIS. Ducky was known for solving cases through his meticulous forensic work, but he was always able to entertain his colleagues with a joke or some kindly life advice. Balancing wisdom, compassion, and intelligence, Ducky was a one of a kind character who left a lasting impact on NCIS throughout his time on the series. Unfortunately, McCallum's passing ended his time on the series, and NCIS gave a heartfelt tribute to the actor after his unexpected death. 9 Jane Tennant NCIS: Hawai'i As the Special Agent in Charge of the NCIS: Hawai'i field office, Jane Tennant (Vanessa Lachey) reached an exciting milestone for the long-running franchise. With Jane being the first leading SA for the franchise, it was immediately an interesting shift to see her different style of leadership, which relied heavily on trust and communication rather than intimidation that some other NCIS leaders had used in the past. Tennant quickly redefined what an NCIS team leader could be, and though her character didn't last too long, seeing her combine emotional intelligence with action was an incredible feat for the long-running franchise. 8 Dwayne Cassius Pride NCIS: New Orleans As the lead of the NCIS: New Orleans field office, Special Agent Dwayne Cassius Pride (Scott Bakula) had a deeply personal connection to his field office and his team alike. With NCIS: New Orleans specifically, the franchise made it clear that the series' connection to the city was a massive part of the story. Pride was a big part of that connection, and his character was an interesting mix of Southern charm and intense compassion with a sense of determination to keep his team safe. Pride's commitment to justice never wavered, which made him a great NCIS leader to watch. 7 Kensi Blye NCIS: Los Angeles Evolving from a junior field agent to an incredible investigator through the course of NCIS: Los Angeles' 14-season run, Kensi Blye (Daniela Ruah) was a huge part of the long-running series. Kensi devoted herself to the military before joining the LA team, and her sense for the dangerous undercover missions didn't waver as she grew into a better agent. Her partnership with Deeks was one of the most iconic relationships in NCIS history, and the pair's romance was a huge part of NCIS: Los Angeles' story. Kensi's exceptional skills combined with her sense of emotional vulnerability made her entirely unforgettable. 6 Timothy McGee NCIS CBS Beginning as a nervous probationary agent at NCIS' start, Timothy McGee (Sean Murray) has grown into one of the most capable agents over the course of the last 23 seasons. As one of the only original cast members still on NCIS, McGee is best known for his growth throughout the show's run. His authenticity throughout NCIS, especially in the way that McGee has gone from a bumbling probie to a complicated but confident agent who emotionally anchors the series, has allowed viewers to grow with the character over the years. McGee is a relatable, complicated figure in the NCIS universe. 5 Marty Deeks NCIS: Los Angeles MovieStillsDB Although he joined NCIS: Los Angeles season 1 as an LAPD detective in a recurring capacity, Marty Deeks (Eric Christian Olsen) quickly became an NCIS investigator and spent the rest of the series with the team. A funny, unconventional investigator, Deeks' sense of humor was a huge asset to his character, but also made him a great undercover operative. Deeks' relationship with Kensi has become one of the franchise's most storied connections, and with the pair eventually getting married, their romance made Deeks even more of an interesting character. Deeks was warm, funny, and always able to bring some levity. 4 Ziva David NCIS Image via CBS Ziva David (Cote de Pablo) joined NCIS with uncertainty, but quickly became a part of the team who felt like she'd been there all along. Ziva, a former Mossad officer, joined the team after Caitlin Todd's death in NCIS season 3, and her combat training and intelligence experience were huge assets, but her difficulty adapting to American life was notable. With conflicting loyalties because of her father, Mossad director Eli David, Ziva found herself partnered with Tony, which created one of the franchise's most memorable connections. The nuance of Ziva, which de Pablo cultivated expertly, makes her an iconic character. 3 Sam Hanna NCIS: Los Angeles MovieStillsDB A former Navy SEAL, Sam Hanna (LL Cool J) was one of the top agents on the NCIS: Los Angeles team. With countless high-risk undercover assignments under his belt, Sam's military background was a huge asset to his work with the team, as he was able to stay calm under pressure as he moved through intense situations. A devoted family man, the devastating death of Sam's wife Michelle changed his character and brought him even closer to his team, making the NCIS: Los Angeles group a family. Embodying loyalty, discipline, and resilience, Sam is one of the best NCIS characters. 2 Anthony DiNozzo Jr. NCIS MovieStillsDB As a long-serving member of the MCRT, Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly) was a huge part of the first stretch of NCIS. A jokester and a cinephile, Tony's playful personality was able to bring the rest of the team to life. Smart and savvy, Tony was a trusted, responsible agent. Sharing good relationships with Gibbs and McGee, Tony ultimately found his person in Ziva, who he was partnered with throughout their time on the series. Although he wound up leaving the series after season 13, Tony returned on the short-lived NCIS: Tony & Ziva, and will be returning for NCIS season 24. 1 Leroy Jethro Gibbs NCIS CBS/MovieStillsDB As the original leader of the MCRT, Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon) was the longest tenured lead of the series, guiding the NCIS ship throughout his time on the show. Gibbs spent nearly two decades with the team, and in that time he was able to cultivate great relationships with the rest of his team while solving a ton of cases because of his unwavering sense of discipline and ability to utilize his great instincts. Gibbs combined a quiet sense of authority with genuine compassion, and his time on NCIS made him one of the greatest characters of all time. TV Show(s) NCIS First TV Show NCIS Cast Mark Harmon, Michael Weatherly, Pauley Perrette, Cote de Pablo, Sean Murray, Rocky Carroll, Brian Dietzen, Wilmer Valderrama Created by Donald P. Bellisario, Don McGill Latest TV Show NCIS: Sydney Upcoming TV Shows NCIS: Origins, NCIS: Tony & Ziva