NCIS: New Orleans ran for seven seasons on CBS and lost a couple of original cast members along the way, including Zoe McLellan as Special Agent Meredith “Merri” Brody. The action crime drama was the second spinoff in the NCIS franchise and the third show overall. As its title indicates, NCIS: New Orleans follows a Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) team in New Orleans, Louisiana, led by Scott Bakula’s Supervisory Special Agent Dwayne Cassius Pride. McLellan’s Brody was a part of that team, but she left following the season 2 finale.
McLellan was a part of the original cast of NCIS: New Orleans, which is what made her exit surprising. Bakula, McLellan, Lucas Black, CCH Pounder, and Rob Kerkovich were the only series regulars in season 1, and most of them stayed with the show until the very end (except for McLellan and Black, who left after season 6). Nevertheless, the NCIS: New Orleans season 3 premiere marked the first episode without Brody. The actress sadly never returned to the series.
NCIS: New Orleans Decided To Write Out Zoe McLellan’s Meredith Brody
McLellan Left The CBS Series After Season 2
Zoe McLellan exiting NCIS: New Orleans going into season 3 was a creative decision made by the writers and producers (per TVLine). McLellan’s character, Brody, became compromised during the season 2 finale because of her relationship with Homeland Security Agent John Russo. Russo was corrupt as he was a mole with anti-military and zealot tendencies. Unfortunately, Brody’s affiliation with Russo left a black mark on her record, leading to her questioning herself and leaving the NCIS team in New Orleans.
After [Zoe] McLellan’s exit, the action crime drama cast Vanessa Ferlito as Special Agent Tammy Gregorio, Brody’s replacement on Pride’s squad in NCIS: New Orleans.
By all accounts, McLellan seemingly didn’t leave NCIS: New Orleans of her own volition. Instead, the actress had to depart from the NCIS TV show because her character’s story was leading her away from the New Orleans team. After McLellan’s exit, the action crime drama cast Vanessa Ferlito as Special Agent Tammy Gregorio, Brody’s replacement on Pride’s squad in NCIS: New Orleans.
What Happened To Zoe McLellan After NCIS: Orleans
McLellan Starred In Designated Survivor
A little over a year after parting ways with NCIS: New Orleans in 2016, Zoe McLellan was cast as Kendra Daynes in Designated Survivor season 2. Sadly, McLellan’s first series regular role after the CBS action crime drama only lasted for one season. The actress left Designated Survivor following season 2 as CBS canceled the show. Even though Netflix picked the political thriller up for a third season, McLellan didn’t reprise her role as Kendra.
Aside from Designated Survivor, McLellan also landed small recurring roles as Holly Cromwell in Suits and as Dr. Fran Conway in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. The actress also starred in a couple of TV films — Mean Queen and Is My Daughter Really Dead? — in the late 2010s. However, the former NCIS: New Orleans star McLellan hasn’t acted since 2019.