Cote de Pablo leaving 'NCIS'

Credit: CBS

The NCIS crew is about to become just a little bit smaller.

Cote de Pablo, who plays Junior Special Agent Ziva David, is leaving the hit CBS series, which was TV's most watched show for the 2012-2013 television season.

The star's contract expired at the end of Season 10, though she will appear at the start of Season 11 to finish up Ziva’s story arc.

In a joint statement, CBS and producer CBS TV Studios said that the decision to leave was de Pablo’s. “We respect Cote’s decision, thank her for being an important part of the NCIS team, and for eight terrific years playing Ziva David,” the statement reads. “Cote and CBS share a great respect for the NCIS audience, and we look forward to working with her and the producers on appropriate closure in this chapter of Ziva’s story.”

For her part, de Pablo released a statement of her own today, referencing co-stars Mark Harmon, Michael Weatherly, Pauley Perrette, Sean Murray and Brian Dietzen, among others: “I’ve had 8 great years with NCIS and Ziva David. I have huge respect and affection for Mark, Gary, Michael, David, Rocky, Pauley, Brian, Sean, all of the team and CBS. I look forward to finishing Ziva’s story.”

The eleventh season of NCIS premieres September 24 on CBS.

Via: Deadline