Leroy Jethro Gibbs

Supervisory Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs is a fictional Chief investigator from the NCIS television series by CBS Television, portrayed by Mark Harmon.

History

An experienced former US Marine recon sniper who served in Operation Just Cause and Operation Desert Storm and reached the rank of Gunnery Sergeant, Agent Gibbs is a highly skilled investigator and interrogator endowed with infallible intuition. He uses these skills to his advantage while working on a case. He also tends to think out of the command structure if that helps him.

It should be noted that the Marine sniper history was introduced at the beginning of the third season (possibly either out of dramatic neccessity or a desire to make the character tougher). Although not specifically contradicting anything, Gibbs had earlier been identified as having been an MP.

Colleagues

Gibbs tends to be reticent, and reluctant to reveal his feelings. Only Ducky (Dr. Mallard) gets to call him "Jethro" on a regular basis, which suggests they have worked/known each other for a considerable time and there is a heightened sense of trust on both sides.

He is mostly called "Gibbs" by colleagues, "boss" by Tony and McGee. He is called "Gunny" by former USMC associates. He has been married three times to red haired women - all three marriages ended badly. One ex-wife stalks him on the anniversary of their split, another attacked him with a golf club and the other attacked him with a baseball bat. The mysterious red-headed woman who appears briefly to drop him off or pick him up at the end of a case (mostly during season one) is never identified.

Personality

Gibbs can be extremely charming in an understated way and has a wicked sense of humour. He is unforgiving of his or his colleagues mistakes and demands high standards of himself and his team.

Gibbs is fond of Abby and regularly bribes her with her favourite "Caf-Pow" beverage. He is so fond of her, in fact, that when a former date of her's stalks her, Gibbs threatens him by saying "The only reason you are still standing is because I didn't know about you until today!"

He is building a boat in his basement by hand; with no power tools. According to the series he did so after each time he has been divorced. It is also stated that he destroyed each one after it was done.

He has a coffee addiction and even has a personal rule about it: "Rule 23, never mess with a Marine's coffee if you want to live".

Gibbs is usually portrayed as a complex man of mystery and intrigue. He likes to use his marine training to give him an advantage over other people, such as when he silently appears behind people.

Whenever he needs to have a private talk with someone, he takes them to his "Conference Room," which is basically just the elevator with the emergency brake pulled.

Technology

Gibbs is pretty much useless with technology: he either can't or won't work a Palm pilot, and regularly trashes his mobile phones. Jethro needs corrective glasses for long sightedness, but is too stubborn to wear them. He can communicate in American Sign Language (ASL) with Abby but is out of step with popular culture.

Family

He has, or had, a daughter, Kelly, with his first wife, Shannon.

External links

• A page with the rules Gibbs quoted so far