If you’ve spent any time watching NCIS, you know the drill. There’s a crime, Gibbs stares intensely at a computer screen, and eventually, a familiar, slightly weary-looking man in a suit wanders into the squad room. He usually looks like he hasn’t slept in three days. He definitely looks like he’s tired of Leroy Jethro Gibbs’ nonsense.
That’s Tobias Fornell.
The man behind the badge is Joe Spano. Honestly, calling him a "guest star" feels like a bit of an insult at this point. Spano has been there since the very first episode, "Yankee White," which aired way back in 2003. Think about that for a second. Presidents have come and gone, the iPhone didn't exist yet, and Joe Spano was already playing Fornell. He is the last remaining original cast member who hasn't been "permanent" but has never really left.
Who plays Fornell on NCIS? Meet Joe Spano
Joe Spano is one of those "Oh, that guy!" actors who has been in everything. But for NCIS fans, he’s basically royalty. He plays Tobias "T.C." Fornell, a Senior FBI Special Agent (well, former agent now, but we’ll get to that).
What makes Spano’s performance so good isn't just the law enforcement procedural stuff. It’s the chemistry. Specifically, the "we married the same woman and now we share a daughter and a mutual hatred of bureaucracy" chemistry he had with Mark Harmon.
Spano wasn't just a plot device to get the FBI involved. He became the emotional anchor for Gibbs. When everyone else was scared of Gibbs, Fornell was the guy who would break into his house, drink his bourbon, and tell him he was being an idiot. You can’t fake that kind of grit. Spano brings a lived-in, cynical warmth to the role that most procedural actors just can't hit.
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The Man Behind the FBI Badge
So, where do you know Joe Spano from if not NCIS? If you’re a fan of classic TV, you’ll remember him as Lt. Henry Goldblume on Hill Street Blues. He did seven seasons of that show in the 80s, even winning an Emmy for a guest spot on Midnight Caller later on.
He’s a San Francisco guy, born in 1946. Fun fact: he’s a founding member of the Berkeley Repertory Theatre. That stage background is probably why he can deliver Fornell’s dry, biting dialogue so well. He also popped up in huge movies like Apollo 13 (as a NASA director) and American Graffiti.
He’s 79 now. Let that sink in. He’s still turning up on set, still delivering lines with that trademark "I'm too old for this" rasp, and still outlasting almost everyone else in the credits.
Why Fornell is the show's most important recurring character
Most shows have recurring characters that show up, do a thing, and leave. Fornell is different. He has a legitimate arc.
- The Rivalry: In the beginning, he and Gibbs were legit enemies.
- The Bond: They realized they both married Diane (the legendary shared ex-wife).
- The Tragedy: Fornell lost his wife. Then he lost his daughter, Emily.
That storyline with Emily’s overdose in Season 18? That was brutal. Spano’s acting in those episodes was some of the best the show has ever produced. It wasn't "TV acting." It was raw, ugly grief. It changed Fornell from a quirky sidekick into a broken man trying to find a reason to keep going.
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Is Joe Spano still on NCIS in 2026?
The question everyone asks is whether Fornell is officially "gone" now that Gibbs has retired to Alaska.
The short answer: Sorta.
Fornell has moved into a "Private Investigator" role and popped up less frequently in recent seasons, like Season 21 and 22. In the landmark 1000th episode of the franchise, Spano made an appearance because, frankly, you can’t celebrate the history of NCIS without him. He represents the "old guard." Even with Gary Cole’s Alden Parker running the team now, Fornell remains the bridge to the past.
There was some talk about the show "writing him out" recently to make room for new FBI faces like Deputy Director Sweeney, but you can't really kill off a character like Fornell without a riot. He’s too baked into the DNA of the series.
Beyond the Screen: Joe Spano’s Legacy
Spano has been very vocal about his relationship with Mark Harmon over the years. They worked together way back when Harmon was doing St. Elsewhere and Spano was doing Hill Street Blues—they were literally filming on the same lot. That decades-long friendship is why the Gibbs/Fornell dynamic felt so real. They weren't just acting like old friends; they were old friends.
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If you’re looking for more Joe Spano content, he’s still active in the theater scene, particularly at the Rubicon Theatre in Ventura. He’s a "pure" actor—the kind who does the work because he loves the craft, not because he’s chasing a TikTok trend.
What to do next if you're a Fornell fan
If you want to revisit the best of Joe Spano on NCIS, you really need to go back and watch the "Diane" episodes.
- "Devil's Triangle" (Season 9, Episode 7): This is the peak of the Gibbs/Fornell/Diane triangle. It’s hilarious and shows exactly why Spano is a comedic genius as much as a dramatic one.
- "Daughters" (Season 16, Episode 24): The start of the heavy Emily storyline.
- "Winter Chill" (Season 18, Episode 9): Bring tissues. This is the episode where Emily dies, and Spano’s performance will wreck you.
Honestly, just keep an eye out for his name in the opening credits of the new episodes. Even if it’s just for one scene at a coffee shop or a quick phone call to the team, Joe Spano always makes the show better just by being there. He’s the grumpy, lovable uncle of the NCIS universe, and the show wouldn't be the same without him.
Check out the latest episodes on Paramount+ to see if he makes a surprise cameo this season—usually, the writers like to drop him in when we least expect it. It’s also worth following some of the cast's social media, like Michael Weatherly’s, as they often post nostalgic photos of reunions with Spano that remind us just how tight-knit this "original" crew really was.