In the world of NCIS, few characters have gone through such an emotional rollercoaster as Leroy Jethro Gibbs, portrayed in the main series by Mark Harmon and in the prequel NCIS: Origins by Austin Stowell. Known for his strong character and dedication to work, the iconic special agent and former Marine sniper is also famous for his marital history. Throughout the CBS series, it is revealed that he has been married four times, but no relationship has left as deep a mark as his first marriage to Shannon (Darby Stanchfield).
Shannon was, without a doubt, the love of his life. The tragedy of her death, along with their daughter Kelly, at the hands of a cartel boss, left an indelible scar on Leroy Gibbs. This event not only changed his personal life but also influenced his career in the Marines and later in NCIS. Many fans believe that, if not for this tragedy, Gibbs and Shannon would have found a way to make their marriage work.
After losing Shannon, Gibbs didn’t stay single. While it was understandable that he sought companionship, his subsequent marriages failed to fill the void left by Shannon. His second marriage was to Diane Sterling (Melinda McGraw), who, after divorcing Gibbs, married FBI agent Tobias Fornell (Joe Spano).
Despite the strange dynamic, Gibbs developed a friendship with Fornell and maintained a close relationship with Fornell’s daughter, Emily (Juliette Angelo). According to NCIS lore, the relationship with Diane ended because, although she loved him, she could never compete with the memory of Shannon. Tragically, McGraw’s character was killed by terrorist Sergei Mishnev (Alex Veadov), and it was Fornell who ultimately avenged her death. This event added another layer of complexity to Gibbs’ emotional life, who was already dealing with his own demons.
Leroy Gibbs has had a story of love and loss in NCIS
Gibbs’ third marriage was to Stephanie Flynn (Kathleen York), whom he met while stationed in Moscow, Russia. Although they lived together for about a year, their relationship was brief. Stephanie decided to end the marriage, although she continued to call obsessively on their wedding anniversary. In a moment of need, she turned to Gibbs for help, leading to a symbolic closure when he returned her military tags.
Finally, Gibbs married Rebecca Chase (Jeri Ryan), whose infidelity ended their marriage. She tried to reconcile with Gibbs, but he wasn’t interested in reliving the past. This pattern of failed relationships underscores the character’s difficulty in overcoming the loss of Shannon and finding a lasting connection with someone else.