NCIS fans may soon learn more about their favorite man of mystery.

Veteran actress Gena Rowlands has landed a potentially recurring role on TV's top-rated show: she'll play Joann, the mother of Gibbs' first, late wife.

Executive producer Shane Brennan recently told Michael Ausiello that the character will reveal a lot about Gibbs and "unleash a wave of heartache, anger and blame in the process."

Rowlands has been nominated for two Academy Awards and was most recently seen on the small screen on an episode of Monk. She'll debut on NCIS in March.

Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.