Emily Wickersham: NCIS Exit Preceded Pregnancy by a Month
On the Off Duty: An NCIS Rewatch podcast, Emily Wickersham said she left NCIS and learned she was pregnant a month later, after eight years as Ellie Bishop.
Emily Wickersham has opened up about the timing of her departure from NCIS. Speaking on the Off Duty: An NCIS Rewatch podcast, the actress said she left the show and found out she was pregnant a month later.
Wickersham explained that she was ready to move on after playing the same character for eight years. She joined NCIS in season 11 and departed after eight seasons, with her character Ellie Bishop written out in season 18 after leaking NSA documents to work with CIA agent Odette Malone.
Since leaving NCIS in 2021, Wickersham has focused on her personal life. She had a baby boy with partner James Badge Dale, married him in September 2024, and had a second child a month later.
Fans of the franchise have also seen Bishop return: the character came back in NCIS season 23 during the 2025-2026 TV cycle. The podcast appearance, first reported by ScreenRant, marks one of Wickersham's most candid discussions of her exit.
Quick answers
Why did Emily Wickersham leave NCIS?
Wickersham said she was ready to move on after playing the same character for eight years, and she found out she was pregnant a month after her exit.
When did Emily Wickersham leave NCIS?
She left in 2021 after eight seasons, having joined in season 11.
Did Ellie Bishop return to NCIS?
Yes, Bishop returned in NCIS season 23 during the 2025-2026 TV cycle.