At 54, 'NCIS' Star Pauley Perrette Has Swapped Acting For Activism

Feb 14, 2022 by apost team

“NCIS” has been on the air for nearly two decades. The television series first aired back in 2003 and has increasingly grown in popularity over the years, resonating with plenty of fans all across the United States. The show has also inspired a handful of spin-off series, and its stars have gone on to lead great lives filled with successful career ventures.

Pauley Perrette is most known for her role as Abby Sciuto in “NCIS,” a part she portrayed from 2003 until 2018. Fans were devastated by her departure from the show, but Perrette has stood by her choice to leave. The actress previously acted in minor roles in a few other TV shows. She is also known for her work as a singer and musician, with some of her music appearing in “NCIS” as well as other creative projects.

Perrette was born on March 27, 1969, in New Orleans, Louisiana, and she was raised throughout the southern United States. She has lived in a plethora of places, including Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, New York, New Jersey and California. She studied criminal justice in Georgia and New York before she picked up a variety of jobs to make ends meet.

Perrette's childhood dream was to work with animals, be in a band or become an FBI agent. Fortunately for Perrette, she has been able to live out many of her dreams and help others while doing so. Today, Perrette is 54 years old and has proven that she is beautiful both inside and out, as she continues to use her platform to speak out about important issues. 

Perrette has time and again shown just how important helping others is to her. In May 2018, Valdosta State University – Perrette’s alma mater – announced that the actress established the Pauley Perrette Scholarship to help female students majoring in criminal justice.

In conversation with Punk Globe, Perrette said that she’s most proud of “doing good works, helping people, being a civil rights activist, serving my community” and “being an awesome pet owner.” She is also a supporter of many charitable organizations, including animal rescues, LGBTQIA+ rights groups and the American Red Cross. 

Perrette said in the interview that she became an actress by accident. She had been bartending and working in New York City clubs when she overheard someone say they made $3,000 doing a commercial; Perrette was intrigued.

“There was a director that took a liking to me and put me in a bunch of music videos and commercials,” she said. “That’s how it started.”

For 15 years, “NCIS” fans grew to know and love Perrette as forensic scientist Abby Sciuto, best known for her gothic style and her high enthusiasm and interest in her work. The role earned Perrette fame and recognition, making her one of the most popular actresses back in the early 2010s. She has also played Abby in a few episodes of “NCIS: Los Angeles” and “NCIS: New Orleans.”

Fans were heartbroken when Perrette announced her departure from the series back in 2018. The actress opened up about struggling to talk about all of the reasons why she chose to leave “NCIS,” but cited “multiple physical assaults” as the main factor in her decision. She tweeted: “Stay safe. Nothing is worth your safety. Tell someone.” 

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Perrette later expressed her gratitude for all of her fans who have shown her love and support. She said:

“I hope that the fans will remember everything that Abby has taught all of us over the course of this entire run. I have learned from my fans just such an incredible love and support. Abby fans are incredible, they really are the best. I can’t imagine a fan group being any better than that.”

Before her final episode aired, Perrette spoke with People about how she’s always been interested in learning about cases, with her interest first piquing during her childhood.

“I was way too young to be obsessed with these things, but I would cut out every article – I really don’t like bad guys,” Perrette said. 

She has also worked closely with the Los Angeles Police Department and with John Walsh from “America’s Most Wanted.”

“(John and I) have so much in common because we are both obsessed with catching bad guys,” she said. “That’s how it all started. I really don’t like criminals. Life on planet earth is hard enough.”

Today, Perrette is 54 years old and is continuing to prove just how beautiful she is both inside and out. While she explained in the past that her jet black hair and tattoos seen on “NCIS” were fake, her inner beauty has always been real. She is still involved with many charitable organizations and has continued to show an interest in helping others with her extensive knowledge of criminal justice. We can’t wait to see what else Perrette does in the future! 

What do you think about Pauley Perrette’s career and her life dedicated to helping others? Let us know, and be sure to pass this along to any “NCIS” fans you know!