What happened to Michael Franks on NCIS? How did he die?

NCIS: Origins is almost here. The prequel series has unveiled its first batch of production stills, and it's fascinating to see the franchise turn back the clock to the early 1990s. We not only see Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Austin Stowell) in action, but we see Michael Franks (Kyle Schmid).

Gibbs needs no introduction. He's the most famous and beloved character in NCIS history. Franks, on the other hand, is a peripheral character. He was part of the original show, but by no means was he a regular. He appeared sporadically between seasons 3-8, and served as a sort of mentor for Gibbs when things got particularly tough.

Michael Franks helped Gibbs become a Special Agent

Franks, who was originally portrayed by actor Muse Watson, was the man who helped Gibbs become an NCIS Special Agent in the first place. He showed the aspiring officer the ropes, which meant that his inclusion in NCIS: Origins was an absolute necessity.

The Franks we knew in the original NCIS, however, was someone who had become disillusioned. He was older, and he lived in isolation in Mexico. He resigned from NCIS in 1996, and counted Gibbs as one of his few true friends.

Franks continued to appear on NCIS after his death

Sadly, things came to a tragic end for the character in season 8. Franks was fatally stabbed by Jonas Cobb (Kerr Smith), a serial killer, during the Season 8 episode, "Swan Song." He was already suffering from a cancer diagnosis, and decided to go out on his own terms (which were, approriately, dramatic). Franks' death hit Gibbs hard.

That being said, the character continued to appear to Gibbs in ghost form. Gibbs felt residual guilt from Franks' death, and the character's "ghost" would be a semi-regular presence in NCIS seasons 8-13. If Franks' importance to Gibbs wasn't already clear, then this narrative decision clinched it.

The chance to see a younger Michael Franks is going to be one of the highlights of NCIS: Origins. Not only will there be more time flesh out his character, but we will get a chance to see what new actor will do with the material. Are you?