Pauley Perrette, known for her role as the quirky forensic scientist Abby Sciuto on NCIS, bears striking similarities to her character in real life. Beyond the screen, she shares Abby’s passion for helping others, which has become a significant focus for her.
After experiencing several distressing incidents, Perrette decided to leave the crime-solving world of television and explore the realm of comedy. Her new direction suits her well, and she has embraced her new look with confidence. Throughout her life, Pauley Perrette has accomplished many remarkable things. Despite initially being a talented actress, she skyrocketed to fame after landing the role of Abby Sciuto, a brilliant forensic scientist on NCIS, captivating millions of viewers worldwide.
Perrette’s journey from a southern upbringing to a prominent role in one of TV’s hottest shows has been quite remarkable. Growing up, she moved around various states in the south, including New Orleans, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia, where she attended high school. From a young age, Perrette developed a fascination with crime stories, considering herself “completely obsessed.” She dreamed of being in a rock ‘n’ roll band, working with animals, or becoming an FBI agent.
Her interest in criminals seemed to shape certain aspects of her life. Following high school, she pursued higher education, attending Valdosta State University in Georgia, where she studied Sociology, Psychology, and Criminal Science. Pauley’s dedication to learning and achieving academic excellence was evident during this time. She expressed a profound love for education and constantly strived to make straight A’s.
To support her education financially, Perrette had to juggle multiple jobs simultaneously. Her employment ranged from bartending in the club-kids scene to wearing a sandwich board on roller skates and distributing fliers for Taco Bell. She even worked on boats that sailed around Manhattan, preparing food in the galley. Acting was not her initial pursuit, but fate intervened when she overheard a girl talking about making over $3,000 in a commercial. Curiosity piqued, and Perrette’s accidental acting career began. She quickly realized that her background in studying human behavior, combined with her understanding of characters, proved beneficial for her acting endeavors.
In the early 90s, Perrette appeared in various television series, including Frasier, The Drew Carey Show, and Almost Famous. However, her breakthrough came when she landed the role of Abby Sciuto in NCIS. Although the show did not achieve immediate success, it gradually became the No. 1 drama television series in the US. Pauley Perrette’s portrayal of Abby made her a star, and she developed a deep affection for the character.
Perrette expressed immense pride in her work on NCIS, emphasizing the love and dedication shared by the cast and crew. Despite the success and popularity of the show, her personal life was not without challenges. She endured a toxic relationship with her ex-husband, Coyote Shivens, and even obtained a restraining order against him. Later, she became engaged to Michael Bosman but ultimately parted ways before tying the knot. Pauley Perrette’s love life took another turn when she started dating Thomas Arklie, a former British Marine and actor. The couple made a pact not to marry until same-sex marriage was legal. However, they eventually ended their engagement in 2019.
After 15 seasons on NCIS, Perrette announced her departure from the show in 2017. In a series of tweets, she hinted at “multiple physical assaults” as the reason for her exit. The strained relationship between Perrette and co-star Mark Harmon, stemming from a dog bite incident on set, contributed to her decision. Leaving a character she had portrayed for over a decade was a difficult process.
