Why did Rocky Carroll leave 'NCIS'? Real reason behind Director Vance's unexpected fate in 500th Episode
This story contains spoilers.
'NCIS' marked its landmark 500th episode with a major character death, to the utter disbelief of fans. The police procedural series, which premiered in 2003, aired the milestone episode on Tuesday on CBS. Titled 'All Good Things,' the 13th chapter from Season 23 saw Rocky Carroll, who has played the NCIS director Leon Vance since Season 5 in 2008, being killed off while on duty. In Tuesday's episode, the NCIS agency was dismantled by the Department of Defense. NCIS was absorbed into the Army CID, but Vance worked tirelessly to restore the agency. While working on his final case, the NCIS Director attempts to defuse a bomb, but is shot by the corrupt CID Agent, Dolan Thompson. For a while, it seemed like Vance would survive the attack as he was wearing a bulletproof vest, but he bled to death moments later.
After the episode aired, Carroll told TV Insider that it was not his decision to exit the series. "It was basically presented to me that the studio and the network wanted to do something really spectacular, really big, and something that would really send shockwaves through the NCIS fan base and the community." Binder, the episode's writer, added that the best way to honor Vance's legacy was by showing him "giving his life so his agency could live."
The 62-year-old Carroll told TVLine on the same day that he was happy with his character's ending on 'NCIS.' "After 18 seasons, I couldn't have asked for more. I feel like my character really kind of came full circle. With the 500th episode, Steve Binder said his objective was, 'I want this to be a tribute and a love letter to your character.' And I think that's what we accomplished," he said of his departure from the series.
As his team and the audience at home mourn Vance's death, 'NCIS' gives him a memorable send-off with an emotional montage of his time at the agency. Moreover, Vance is ushered into the afterlife by a familiar face. Adam Campbell, who played the younger version of Dr. Donald 'Ducky' Mallard, helps ease Vance's concerns over leaving his children and the agency behind and entering the next phase. Despite the loss and leadership vacuum at NCIS, the team has to carry on its important work. Binder told TV Insider, "At the end of the episode, the team is just as focused on Vance’s sacrifice as they are on their loss. Vance died to protect them all. And they are going to honor that by putting one foot in front of the other, and just continuing on their mission to protect and safeguard their country." To find out how the team does exactly that, tune in to CBS on Tuesday nights at 8 p.m. ET.
