Cote de Pablo, who played the beloved Ziva David on NCIS, left the show in 2013 after eight seasons. Her departure shocked fans, and while CBS cited contract disagreements, de Pablo later revealed that the decision was personal. She felt Ziva’s storyline wasn’t being handled properly and wanted to maintain the character’s integrity. Though the show explained her exit as Ziva returning to Israel and later being presumed dead, fans never stopped hoping for her return.
Six years later, in 2019, de Pablo made a surprise comeback in the season 16 finale, revealing that Ziva had faked her death to protect her family. This unexpected twist delighted viewers, leading to a short but powerful arc in season 17. Though her return was brief, it gave closure to Ziva’s journey and reunited her with Gibbs (Mark Harmon) and Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly) off-screen, finally giving fans the resolution they had waited for.
