NCIS marked its 500th episode with a major loss, killing off Director Leon Vance and closing out Rocky Carroll’s 18-season run on the long-running CBS series.
The milestone episode follows the agency facing a shutdown threat from the Department of Defense, with Vance stepping in to defend both the team and NCIS itself. After helping restore the agency, the episode ends with a twist as Vance is fatally shot by a corrupt agent — bringing a definitive end to one of the show’s most consistent characters.
Rocky Carroll’s run as Leon Vance
Carroll first appeared in Season 5 (2008) before becoming a series regular in Season 6, going on to become a central figure in the franchise.
- Seasons: 18
- Episode count: 350+ episodes (Seasons 5–23)
- Role: NCIS Director and longtime leader of the team
- Behind the camera: Directed multiple episodes
Across nearly two decades, Vance became a steady presence as the show evolved — often serving as the bridge between older and newer eras of the team. Vance’s death stands out because of how NCIS has historically handled departures.
Over the years, several major NCIS characters have exited the series:
- Mark Harmon (Gibbs) — 19 seasons
Exit: Chose to stay in Alaska after a case, stepping away from NCIS but left alive and open-ended - Michael Weatherly (Tony DiNozzo) — 13 seasons
Exit: Left NCIS to raise his daughter after Ziva was presumed dead - Cote de Pablo (Ziva David) — 8 seasons (initial run)
Exit: Left to protect Tony and their child; later returned, confirming she was alive - Pauley Perrette (Abby Sciuto) — 15 seasons
Exit: Left NCIS following a traumatic incident, choosing a new path - Emily Wickersham (Ellie Bishop) — 8 seasons
Exit: Left after staging her own downfall to go on an undercover mission - David McCallum (Ducky) — 20 seasons (main + recurring)
Exit: Transitioned to a smaller role before his passing; character later written out following his death
Most of these exits were written in a way that kept the characters alive, leaving the door open for a return rather than closing their stories completely. Vance’s ending shifts that approach, marking one of the few times the series has given a central character a permanent goodbye.
The bigger picture
At 500 episodes, NCIS remains one of the longest-running scripted series on television, built on its ability to refresh its cast while keeping its core format intact. Now in its 23rd season, NCIS continues with a newer core cast that includes: Sean Murray, Wilmer Valderrama, Katrina Law, Brian Dietzen, Diona Reasonover, and Gary Cole
Carroll’s exit closes a chapter that has been part of the show for nearly 20 years, as the series continues forward with a new lineup.
What’s next
While Leon Vance’s story has come to an end, Carroll will remain connected to the series through his work behind the camera as a director.
For NCIS, the mission continues — just without one of its longest-standing leaders.