‘Are You Kidding?’: NCIS Writer Reflects On Being Told To Kill Off One Of The Show’s Biggest Recurring Characters Before Leaving The Series

Image from Cinemablend

• Jesse Stern, a longtime NCIS writer, was ordered to kill off fan-favorite character Mike Franks, played by Muse Watson, right before leaving the show.
• Franks, the mentor to lead character Leroy Jethro Gibbs, had appeared in 20 episodes across the first 15 seasons, though in later seasons only as a ghost after being killed off.