“He’s a vesuvius of a man”: Besides Alleged Mark Harmon Feud, Even a Well-Known Director Called NCIS Showrunner Don Bellisario “Volatile”

Behind every hit show is a mastermind, and NCIS had Don Bellisario — a creative powerhouse with a bit of a temper. Fans love to gossip about his rumored feud with Mark Harmon, but as it turns out, Bellisario’s fiery rep wasn’t just limited to the cast. 

Even a well-known director described him as “volatile,” like a human explosion waiting to happen. Sure, his intensity probably fueled some of the show’s greatest moments, but it also set off plenty of behind-the-scenes fireworks. 

Behind the scenes of NCIS: The volatile genius of Don Bellisario and the drama that almost stopped it all

When it comes to NCIS, it’s not just the cases that were tough; it’s the personalities behind the scenes too. Don Bellisario, the co-creator of the iconic police procedural, was a force to be reckoned with. And even director James Whitmore didn’t hold back, calling him ‘volatile’ and likening him to a Vesuvius of a man. 

Whitmore, who’d previously teamed up with Bellisario on Quantum Leap, didn’t exactly have warm and fuzzy memories of their first collaboration. After a rough pilot together, Whitmore straight-up told Bellisario (via Cheatsheet), 

Don’s a volatile character…Like a lot of creative people, he’s a Vesuvius of a man. We had done a bunch of Quantum Leaps together, and then I had done a pilot with him that had not gone well. I just said, ‘I don’t want to do this anymore.’ So, I stopped working with him. But he did JAG, which was very successful, and I did a couple of those.

The guy wasn’t afraid to speak his mind. But as fate would have it, Bellisario’s NCIS success called him back. Whitmore admitted,

He wanted me to come over [to NCIS]; against my better judgment, I said, ‘OK, I’ll work for Don again…I started with the eighth episode of season one. I got hooked immediately, and I kept coming back.

And, well, he got hooked immediately, joining the team for season one’s eighth episode and sticking around for the ride. Despite their rocky start, Bellisario’s volatile nature played a huge role in shaping NCIS into the powerhouse it became. 

A little fire and tension? Maybe just what the show needed to spark some serious success.

Mark harmon and Sean Harmon team up to bring the origin story of Gibbs to life in NCIS: Origins

Mark Harmon and his son Sean are bringing Gibbs’ backstory to life with NCIS: Origins. Set in 1991, the show dives into the early days of the tough-as-nails agent, played by Austin Stowell. This isn’t the Gibbs fans know; the one who’s always in control. No, this Gibbs is dealing with some serious personal losses and trying to find himself.

Sean’s stepping into an executive producer role and is pumped to work with his dad in a whole new way. And when it came to casting Austin, he was all in, saying the dude had the talent and professionalism to crush it. With that NCIS vibe intact but with a fresh twist, Origins is setting a new tone and digging deeper into the characters. 

Watch NCIS on Hulu & Apple TV.

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