Pauley Perrette
She turned a quirky forensic scientist into a beloved, crime-solving cultural fixture for over a decade on NCIS.
Born 1969 (age 57)·American actress·Birthday: March 27·Generation X
Biography
Pauley Perrette's path to television fame was anything but conventional. Before landing the role that would define her career, she worked as a bartender, a waitress, and even a researcher for the U.S. Department of Justice. Her big break came in 2003 when she was cast as Abby Sciuto, the goth forensic specialist on the CBS procedural NCIS. With her pigtails, lab coats over band t-shirts, and caffeine-fueled energy, Perrette crafted a character that became the emotional and scientific heart of the show. For fifteen seasons, she was a fixture, her chemistry with the cast and unique portrayal making Abby a fan favorite. Her departure from the series in 2018 was a major cultural moment, marking the end of an era. Beyond acting, Perrette is a vocal advocate for homeless and animal rights causes, and holds a degree in sociology and criminal science.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Pauley was born in 1969, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Pauley Was Born
The biggest hits of 1969
#1 Movie
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Best Picture
Midnight Cowboy
#1 TV Show
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Pauley's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1969Born
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1974Started school
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1982Became a teenager
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1985Could drive
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1987Could vote
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1990Turned 21
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1999Turned 30
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2009Turned 40
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 50
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 57 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Portrayed Abby Sciuto for 15 consecutive seasons on the hit series NCIS, from 2003 to 2018.
- Received multiple People's Choice Award nominations for Favorite TV Crime Drama Actress for her role on NCIS.
- Founded a production company, Pauley Perrette Productions, and produced several projects.
- Served as a national spokesperson for the Humane Society of the United States.
Did You Know?
She has a master's degree in criminal science from Valdosta State University.
She was attacked and seriously injured by a homeless man in 2015, an event that influenced her advocacy work.
She is a trained singer and released a music video for her song "Fear" in 2019.
She has multiple tattoos, including a large one of a dragon on her back.
“I believe in kindness, I believe in helping people, I believe in loving people.”
