Rocky Carroll talks Leon Vance's 'NCIS' 500th episode shocking fate

Key Points:

• In the 500th episode of "NCIS," which aired on March 24 and is streaming on Paramount+, Director Leon Vance, played by Rocky Carroll for 18 seasons, is fatally shot and dies, marking a significant moment in the long-running CBS crime procedural.
• The episode, titled "All Good Things," features Vance uncovering a betrayal within a rival CID agency's plot, defusing a bomb, and ultimately being shot by double agent Dolan Thompson; his death is revealed during a surreal reunion with a young version of the late Chief Medical Examiner Donald "Ducky" Mallard.
• Carroll described learning about Vance's death as an out-of-body experience but expressed peace with the character's departure after nearly two decades on the show, noting the rarity and honor of such a long tenure.
• Despite Vance's death, Carroll will continue his involvement with "NCIS" by directing future episodes, emphasizing that his exit from the show as an actor is not entirely final.
• The episode serves as both a dramatic milestone and a tribute to the show's history, with Carroll planning a private screening and Q&A to share the impactful moment with fellow actors and fans.