Pauley Perrette Today: NCIS Exit, Stroke Recovery, Retirement

For 15 seasons, Pauley Perrette was the heart of NCIS as forensic scientist Abby Sciuto — a role that made her a household name. But since leaving the show in 2018, she has stepped away from the spotlight entirely, surviving a major stroke and making it clear she will never return to acting.

Born: March 27, 1969 · Birthplace: New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. · Known for: Abby Sciuto on NCIS (2003–2018) · Years active: 1994–2020 · Estimated net worth: $16 million · Marital status: Divorced, no children

Ten rows in the key-facts table, one pattern: the woman behind the lab coat is more private than her character ever was.

What is Pauley Perrette doing today?

Pauley Perrette's retirement and current projects

Perrette made her retirement official in 2020, telling fans she was done with acting for good. In 2024, she reiterated that stance, saying she would never return to the profession (Yahoo Entertainment). Since leaving NCIS, she has focused on recovery, travel, and her rescue dogs — whom she often calls her “children.”

Pauley Perrette's social media presence

She remains active on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, where she posts about animal welfare, LGBTQ+ rights, and personal updates. She has not appeared in any new television or film projects since her departure.

The pattern here is clear: retirement for Perrette is a permanent state, not a break. She has not participated in any NCIS reunions or spin-offs, and her social media activity confirms she is living a private life outside Hollywood.

What happened between Mark Harmon and Pauley Perrette?

Alleged on-set feud between Mark Harmon and Pauley Perrette

The reported tension between Perrette and her co-star Mark Harmon became public in 2018 when Perrette tweeted about a “toxic work environment.” She did not name Harmon directly, but in June 2019 she posted that she was “terrified of Harmon and he has attacked me” (Vanity Fair). A widely cited incident involved Harmon’s dog biting a crew member on set in 2016, after which Perrette reportedly said she felt unsafe (CivTrial legal analysis).

Pauley Perrette's departure from NCIS

Perrette left NCIS in 2018 after 15 seasons. She later asked fans to stop pressuring her to return, saying the experience had been traumatic. No official statement from Harmon or CBS has ever resolved the dispute (Vanity Fair).

Why did Abby and Gibbs fall out on NCIS?

On-screen, Abby Sciuto and Leroy Jethro Gibbs shared a close father-daughter bond. Off-screen, Perrette’s reported falling out with Mark Harmon meant her character’s exit in season 15 was written as a career move — Abby left for a new job in London. The fictional departure was amicable, contrasting sharply with the real-life tension Perrette described.

Has Pauley Perrette recovered from her stroke?

Pauley Perrette stroke timeline

In September 2022, Perrette revealed via social media that she had suffered a “massive stroke” the previous year (USA Today). She described how she first realized something was wrong and credited quick medical attention with saving her life (Entertainment Tonight).

When did Pauley Perrette have her stroke?

Perrette disclosed the stroke occurred in 2021, though she did not specify the exact month. She made the information public in September 2022, roughly a year after the event.

Pauley Perrette's health update

Around the one-year mark, Perrette posted that she was “totally OK now” (Entertainment Tonight on Facebook). Since then, she has shared occasional wellness updates but keeps most health details private.

The implication: Perrette’s stroke was a life-altering event, but her public messaging suggests she has regained normal function and continues to live independently in Los Angeles.

Does Pauley Perrette have any children?

Pauley Perrette's family life

Perrette has no children. She was married twice: to musician Coyote Shivers from 2004 to 2006, and to Michael Bosman from 2010 to 2012. Both marriages ended in divorce. She has frequently spoken about her rescue dogs as her “children.”

Pauley Perrette's marriages

Neither marriage produced children, and Perrette has not remarried since her second divorce. She currently identifies as single and lives with her dogs in Los Angeles.

Why did Mark Harmon and Pauley Perrette not get along?

Workplace allegations

Perrette’s 2019 posts explicitly stated that she feared for her safety on the NCIS set. She alleged that Harmon’s behavior — including the dog-bite incident — created an environment she could not tolerate (CivTrial legal analysis). She also claimed that CBS did not adequately address her concerns.

Security concerns and safety complaints

Multiple entertainment outlets reported that Perrette’s complaints centered on physical safety, not creative differences. However, neither Harmon nor CBS issued a formal response. The tension is widely regarded as the primary reason for her exit in 2018.

What this means: the Harmon-Perrette dispute remains one-sided in the public record. While Perrette has been explicit about her fears, no independent investigation or joint statement has ever clarified the events.

Perrette walked away from Hollywood and then survived a stroke — yet her public presence remains disciplined and intentional. The implication: for her, retirement is not a pause but a full stop. For fans still asking when she’ll return, the answer has been consistent across three years: never, and that’s final.

For more celebrity health updates, read about Molly Meldrum: Health Battle, Wheelchair, Partner & Feud and Everybody Loves Raymond Cast: Real Relationships and Tragedies.