Leroy Jethro Gibbs stands out as a quintessential character in the NCIS legacy, thanks to Mark Harmon’s extraordinary portrayal over 19 seasons of the original series. This character’s journey continues to evolve with the upcoming NCIS: Origins, set to debut in 2024, where Austin Stowell steps in as a younger Gibbs, thereby reinforcing the enduring impact of this iconic figure. Harmon himself returns in this prequel, lending both his voice and presence as the older Gibbs, providing continuity to the character’s rich narrative.
Fans can catch new episodes of NCIS Season 22 on CBS every Monday at 9 PM ET, followed immediately by NCIS: Origins Season 1 at 10 PM ET.
Gibbs made a dramatic exit in NCIS during the early episodes of Season 19, choosing to remain in the tranquil surroundings of Naktok Bay, Alaska, where he sought solace. Nonetheless, the franchise appears unwilling to part with their beloved character. The prequel series, launching in fall 2024, features Stowell as a younger Gibbs, who is depicted at the onset of his career in 1991.
Gibbs’ Age Throughout the NCIS Series
Gibbs Celebrates His Birthday on November 21, 1954
Debuting in 2003, it is likely that the events of the first season of NCIS occurred in the same year. Notably, Harmon first introduced the character of Gibbs in JAG in 2003 as well. With Gibbs’ birthday set on November 21, 1954, this timing implies that he was approximately 49 years old when NCIS commenced.
| Cast Member | Character |
|---|---|
| Austin Stowell | Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs |
| Mariel Molino | Special Agent Lala Dominguez |
| Kyle Schmid | Special Agent Mike Franks |
| Day Rodriguez | Special Agent Vera Strickland |
| Tyla Abercrumbie | Field Operation Support Officer Mary Jo Sullivan |
| Mark Harmon | Narrator/Older Gibbs |
Considering a timeline progression, if Gibbs aged in real-time, he would have been around 67 when he left the Naval Criminal Investigative Service and moved to Alaska in Season 19, Episode 4. Harmon’s last appearance in NCIS aired in the fall of 2021, marking Gibbs at nearly 67, while Stowell’s incarnation of the character is set over a decade earlier, giving Stowell a youthful age within the narrative.
Gibbs’ Age in NCIS: Origins
NCIS: Origins Kicks Off in 1991
CBS has announced that NCIS: Origins starts in 1991, indicating that Stowell’s portrayal of Gibbs is at the age of 37. This younger Gibbs is significantly closer in age to the character’s original portrayal when he first appeared in the 2003 series, making the character’s transition across eras more relatable. At this point in his life, Gibbs has recently experienced personal tragedies with the loss of his wife and daughter, and is just embarking on his career with the Naval Investigative Service at Camp Pendleton. His evolution showcases a stark contrast to the more seasoned Gibbs fans grew to know in the original series.
Comparative Ages of Mark Harmon and Austin Stowell
Both Actors Reflect Gibbs’ Age Appropriately
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In a striking deviation from typical casting norms, NCIS has cast actors who closely represent Gibbs’ age. Mark Harmon, born on September 2, 1951, is currently 73 years old, having been 52 at the start of his role as Gibbs, who was 49 at that time. Conversely, Austin Stowell, born December 24, 1984, is just two years older than Gibbs’ character during NCIS: Origins. As the series progresses, fans remain hopeful that CBS will continue to support the NCIS franchise, allowing Stowell to carry on Gibbs’ storied legacy for many more seasons.
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