After appearing in 500 episodes of NCIS, Rocky Carroll has officially said farewell to Director Leon Vance—and the emotional exit left a lasting impression on the actor.
Carroll revealed that he hadn’t planned to leave the show when producers informed him of the storyline. Instead, the dramatic decision was part of a bold move to surprise audiences during the milestone episode.
While the news initially stunned him, Carroll said he soon realized the moment was fitting for such a long-running character. He even described the storyline as “a terrific story.”
Vance ultimately sacrifices his life while protecting the agency from a corrupt insider, marking one of the most dramatic turning points in recent NCIS history.
Fortunately for fans, Carroll confirmed the door remains open for possible flashback appearances in future seasons. 🔎