NCIS: What role did Dabney Coleman play in CBS' police procedural? Details explored

NCIS Season 1 : Image via Instagram
NCIS Season 1 (Image via Instagram/ncisverse)

In its 22-season run, NCIS has welcomed many new characters, including veteran actor Dabney Coleman, who played John Sydney.

NCIS is one of the longest police procedural dramas on CBS and the first installment of the NCIS Franchise. It follows the professional and personal lives of a group of Special Agents from the NCIS (Naval Criminal Investigative Services).

Starring Mark Harmon as Leroy Jethro Gibbs, Supervisory Special Agent and Special Agent in Charge, the show has introduced several characters since its debut in September 2003. One of the characters was John Sydney, played by the veteran actor Dabney Coleman.

In addition to Mark Harmon, the show stars Sasha Alexander as Caitlin Todd, Michael Weatherly as Senior Field Agent Anthony DiNozzo, and Sean Murray as Senior Field Agent Timothy McGee, along with Katrina Law and Diona Reasonover.

Coleman’s John Sydney is one of Gibbs’ old family friends who has come to seek the Special Agent’s help tracking down a military ID bracelet.

Continue to read to know more about Dabney Coleman’s character in NCIS.


Dabney Coleman plays John Sydney in NCIS

Dabney Coleman | Image via Getty
Dabney Coleman | Image via Getty

Dabney Coleman appeared in season 16’s episode 12, titled, The Last Link, which premiered on January 15, 2019. Dabney’s John Sydney is introduced as a retired Army Corporal in the United States Army and also an old family friend of Harmon’s Leroy Jethro Gibbs.

In the episode Dabney Coleman’s Sydney requests Harmon’s Gibbs to go on a road trip with him to look for a valuable military ID bracelet. The whole episode is a journey of reminiscing the past for Gibbs.

Dabney Coleman’s Sydney and Harmon’s Gibbs road trip gave a glimpse to the viewers of their shared memories and some of Leroy Gibbs’ past which helped his character development, making Coleman’s appearance special.

NCIS has a 7.8/10 rating on IMDb.


Other notable roles of Dabney Coleman

Dabney Coleman | Image via Getty
Dabney Coleman | Image via Getty

Dabney Coleman is a well-known actor in Hollywood. He has been a part of many films and TV shows in his long career spanning 6 decades. His most notable roles were in films which include 9 to 5 as Franklin M. Hart Jr., You’ve Got Mail as Nelson Fox, Cloak and Dagger as Jake Flack/ Hal Osborne, and Tootsie as Ron Carlisle.

Apart from guest starring in NCIS as John Sydney. he has also appeared in shows like Buffalo Bill as Bill Bittinger, Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman as Merle Jeeter, and played the character of Burton Fallin in The Guardian.

He voiced the character of Principal Peter Prickly in the popular animated series Recess. He also appeared in Yellowstone as Kevin Costner’s character John Dutton III’s father, John Dutton II making it his final role.


Catch season 22 of NCIS on CBS.

Edited by Sezal Srivastava
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