For 15 years, Pauley Perrette was the face of forensic science on TV as Abby Sciuto on NCIS—then she walked away without looking back. Since retiring in 2020, she’s stayed out of the spotlight, surfacing only for rare public appearances and social media posts, as reported in June 2026.
Full name: Pauley Perrette ·
Born: March 27, 1969 ·
Occupation: Actress, singer (retired) ·
Known for: Abby Sciuto in NCIS (2003–2018) ·
Years active: 1994–2020
Quick snapshot
- Born March 27, 1969 in New Orleans (Wikipedia (encyclopedia reference))
- Played Abby Sciuto on NCIS for 15 seasons (TVLine (entertainment news outlet))
- Retired from acting in 2020 after her CBS sitcom Broke ended (The Hollywood Reporter (entertainment industry publication))
- Whether she suffered a stroke—no credible source confirms it (Yahoo Entertainment (news aggregator))
- Exact details of the on-set conflict with Mark Harmon remain disputed (Vanity Fair (culture and entertainment magazine))
- 2003: Cast as Abby Sciuto (TVLine (entertainment news outlet))
- May 2018: Final NCIS episode with Perrette (TVLine (entertainment news outlet))
- 2020: Retired from acting (Yahoo Entertainment (news aggregator))
- June 2026: Rare public appearance reported (Yahoo Entertainment (news aggregator))
- No plans to return to acting—she told Hello! she will “never again” return (HELLO! (celebrity and lifestyle magazine))
- Focusing on documentary production including Studio One Forever (The Hollywood Reporter (entertainment industry publication))
Seven facts about Perrette’s life, one pattern: she built a career in the public eye and then chose near-total privacy.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Pauley Perrette |
| Date of birth | March 27, 1969 |
| Birthplace | New Orleans, Louisiana, USA |
| Known for | Abby Sciuto on NCIS |
| Years active | 1994–2020 |
| Spouse | Coyote Shivers (2000–2003), Michael Bosman (engaged, never married) |
| Children | None |
What is Pauley Perrette doing now?
Pauley Perrette retirement activities
- She retired from acting in 2020 after her CBS sitcom Broke was canceled (Yahoo Entertainment (news aggregator)).
- In a 2024 interview with Hello!, she said she would “never again” return to acting (HELLO! (celebrity and lifestyle magazine)).
- She has shifted to documentary production, working on projects like Studio One Forever (The Hollywood Reporter (entertainment industry publication)).
Recent public appearances
- In June 2026, Yahoo reported a rare public appearance, but details remain sparse (Yahoo Entertainment (news aggregator)).
- She maintains an Instagram account but posts infrequently.
The implication: Perrette’s acting career is definitively over. She chose a quieter life, with documentary work as her only public-facing activity.
Why did Pauley Perrette quit NCIS?
Reasons for leaving
- Perrette left NCIS in 2018 after 15 seasons (TVLine (entertainment news outlet)).
- She cited a “toxic work environment” and fear for her safety in a series of tweets (Vanity Fair (culture and entertainment magazine)).
- She had previously reported multiple physical assaults on set (Fox News (news network)).
Conflict with Mark Harmon?
- Perrette alleged that Harmon brought a dog to set that had bitten a crew member (Vanity Fair (culture and entertainment magazine)).
- Harmon denied the allegations, and CBS President Kelly Kahl said the situation was “resolved” in 2019 (Fox News (news network)).
- They did not speak after her departure, and Harmon continued on NCIS until 2021 (The Independent (UK news outlet)).
The pattern: both sides gave public statements, but no third-party investigation was ever released, leaving the full truth unconfirmed.
Has Pauley Perrette recovered from her stroke?
Stroke timeline
- No public confirmation of a stroke has been found in credible sources (Yahoo Entertainment (news aggregator)).
- Rumors circulated in 2022, but Perrette never addressed them directly.
Recovery status
- Questions about her health remain unanswered. She has not given interviews about any medical condition.
Fans who worry about Perrette’s well-being are left with nothing but speculation. Without a statement from her or a verified medical report, the stroke claim remains unsubstantiated.
The catch: Without a statement from Perrette, the stroke remains unconfirmed.
What happened between Mark Harmon and Pauley?
On-set tensions
- Perrette publicly said in a 2019 tweet that she was “terrified of Harmon” and had nightmares about him attacking her (Vanity Fair (culture and entertainment magazine)).
- She alleged that Harmon brought a dog to set that had bitten a crew member, which she considered a safety violation (Vanity Fair (culture and entertainment magazine)).
Public statements
- Harmon never publicly addressed the allegations in detail, but CBS issued a statement saying the network had “taken steps to address” the situation (Fox News (news network)).
- Entertainment Tonight reported in 2017 that Harmon promised NCIS would “honor” Perrette’s character when she left (Entertainment Tonight (entertainment news program)).
The catch: the only detailed account of the conflict comes from Perrette’s tweets. Harmon’s silence and the network’s vague resolution leave the story asymmetrical.
Did Pauley Perrette have any children?
Marriage history
- She was married to musician Coyote Shivers from 2000 to 2003 (Wikipedia (encyclopedia reference)).
- She was engaged to Michael Bosman but they never married.
Adoption
- She has no biological children and has not adopted. She has spoken about being a “dog mom” but not about raising kids.
The implication: Perrette’s personal life remains private and child-free, with no indication she pursued parenthood.
Timeline
- — Pauley Perrette born in New Orleans.
- — Began acting career.
- — Cast as Abby Sciuto on NCIS.
- — Final episode of NCIS with Perrette; she leaves the show.
- — Retired from acting after Broke ends.
- — Rumored stroke (unconfirmed).
- — Rare public appearance reported by Yahoo.
The timeline shows a clear pattern: a public career followed by a sharp turn to privacy.
What’s confirmed vs. what’s unclear
Confirmed facts
- Born March 27, 1969 (Wikipedia (encyclopedia reference))
- Played Abby Sciuto on NCIS from 2003 to 2018 (TVLine (entertainment news outlet))
- Left NCIS in 2018 under disputed circumstances (TVLine (entertainment news outlet))
- Retired from acting in 2020 (Yahoo Entertainment (news aggregator))
- Married twice, no children (Wikipedia (encyclopedia reference))
What’s unclear
- Exact reasons for conflict with Mark Harmon
- Stroke occurrence and recovery
- Relationship with Michael Weatherly (both left NCIS around the same time)
- Pauley Perrette’s net worth is not publicly confirmed
- Her future projects, if any, are not announced
The contrast between confirmed facts and unresolved questions highlights the limits of public knowledge about Perrette’s life.
Quotes
“I will never again return to acting.”
— Pauley Perrette, speaking to HELLO! (celebrity and lifestyle magazine), 2024
“I have nightmares about him attacking me.”
— Pauley Perrette, via Vanity Fair (culture and entertainment magazine), 2019
“The situation has been resolved.”
— CBS President Kelly Kahl, via Fox News (news network), 2019
For the millions of NCIS fans who grew up with Abby Sciuto, the reality is clear: Pauley Perrette chose a quiet life away from the camera. Whether the full story of her departure will ever emerge is uncertain, but her legacy as one of TV’s most beloved forensic scientists remains intact.
goodhousekeeping.com, hellomagazine.com, imdb.com, presstrail.uk
For a comprehensive look at Pauley Perrettes NCIS departure and feud, this article covers the events leading up to her retirement and the tensions with her co-star.
Frequently asked questions
What is Pauley Perrette’s net worth?
Estimates vary, but she reportedly earned a substantial salary during NCIS. Exact figures are not publicly confirmed.
How old is Pauley Perrette?
She was born on March 27, 1969, making her 56 years old as of 2025.
Is Pauley Perrette married?
She was married to Coyote Shivers (2000–2003) and later engaged to Michael Bosman, but they never married.
Did Pauley Perrette adopt children?
No, she has no biological or adopted children.
What is Pauley Perrette’s educational background?
She attended but did not graduate from Valdosta State University; she later studied at the University of New Orleans.
What is Pauley Perrette’s Instagram handle?
Her Instagram username is @pauleyperrette.
Is Pauley Perrette still acting?
No, she retired from acting in 2020 and has stated she will never return.
George Thompson is Senior Reporter at UrbanMixr.uk, covering breaking culture, lifestyle and general news stories across the UK.