I can’t believe Gibbs almost had a completely different name on NCIS

I still vividly remember Mark Harmon's Leroy Jethro Gibbs' exit from NCIS Season 19, and the CBS procedural was never the same for me.

While the other cast members are equally talented and have tried to maintain the show's quality even after Harmon's exit, Leroy Jethro Gibbs was synonymous with the show.

Mark Harmon's Gibbs was one of the show's main cast members when it premiered in 2003, and the weight of his performance and name made NCIS what it is today.

His impact on the show can even be felt after his exit, which also paved the way for his prequel spin-off series NCIS: Origins, starring Austin Stowell as young Gibbs.

While Mark Harmon decided to step away from his breakthrough role in NCIS Season 19, his contribution and performance will forever remain iconic. Not only was Harmon stellar in his portrayal as Supervisory Special Agent, but I just learned that the actor pushed for his character's name, Leroy Jethro Gibbs.

While Harmon's performance made the character who he is today (and the basis for Stowell's prequel series), the character's unique name also had a significant impact. I can't believe that the makers were about to go with another name for Harmon's character in the procedural.

More on this in our story.

---

Mark Harmon almost had a different name than Leroy Jethro Gibbs in NCIS

Even non-NCIS fans know the name Leroy Jethro Gibbs, thanks to Mark Harmon's stellar performance and the uniqueness of the name.

In a 2023 interview with Fox News Digital, Mark Harmon even revealed that the name of the character was one of the main reasons why he decided to star in the procedural:

"I was reading a lot of scripts, and I read this one, and the name Leroy Jethro Gibbs hit me.''

However, after some initial discussions, the name was changed, as Harmon recalled:

"And there was a moment there where in that couple of days I think it changed to Bob Robinson or something. … And I right away called up and said, ‘The name has got to change back.’ And then someone said, 'You can't play a guy named Leroy Jethro Gibbs.' I said, ‘Why not?’"

It is weird to imagine that Mark Harmon's Gibbs was almost called Bob because not only is the name very common, but it is already well established on the small screen with animated shows like Bob the Builder and Bob's Burgers.

On the other hand, Leroy Jethro Gibbs is not only unique but also carries the weight of a character like the team's Supervisory Special Agent.

While the reason behind this potential change in names was never revealed, it was assumed that the makers felt that Gibbs is too unique a name and its quirky connotations might not sit well with Harmon's sophisticated character in NCIS.

However, little did the makers know that Leroy Jethro Gibbs would eventually end up cementing the show's legacy and bring Mark Harmon on board as he further revealed:

"If that name had not been there, I don't think I would have been there."

I cannot imagine Gibbs as Bob because the name is too casual for a character like Mark Harmon's and does not have the chops to become iconic for 19 long years.

In addition, the name became even more significant when Season 10 revealed the 'Namesake' backstory behind it. The fifth episode revealed how Gibbs' namesake, Leroy Jethro "LJ" Moore (a co-worker of Gibbs' father), shaped his life.

A young Gibbs was inspired by LJ Moore's story about his time in WWII, where he saved three injured platoon members despite being shot himself. This inspired Gibbs to join the Marines and become the man we see in NCIS.

While Mark Harmon left the show after Season 19, his character, Leroy Jethro Gibbs, will forever remain iconic and synonymous with the show.

---

For the latest scoops on your favorite TV shows and movies, follow SoapCentral.

Also Read: Why did Leroy Jethro Gibbs leave NCIS?