Rocky Carroll breaks silence on Director Leon Vance’s shocking exit

Rocky Carroll, a mainstay of the "NCIS" cast since 2008, has spoken candidly about the dramatic death of his character, Director Leon Vance.

The shocking exit occurred during the series' landmark 500th episode, which aired this week. Carroll, 62, revealed that the decision to kill off the beloved director was made by showrunner Steve Binder to provide a high-stakes, "universe-turning" moment for the milestone broadcast.

The actor described receiving the news last November as an "out-of-body experience," clarifying that he had not requested to leave the long-running procedural.

In the emotional episode, Vance was fatally shot by an Army CID agent who was revealed to be a mole. Carroll admitted that while the news was a shock, he quickly appreciated the creative strength of the storyline.

"The director and the creative in me responded, 'Really, that is actually a great story,'" he told People on Wednesday.

Having portrayed Vance for eighteen seasons, Carroll likened his character's longevity to "living to be 105," expressing profound gratitude for his tenure on the CBS drama.

The final day of filming on 11 December was particularly poignant for the cast and crew. Carroll has a deep bond with the production team, having directed numerous episodes over the years.

However, fans of his work behind the camera will be pleased to know that his departure as an actor does not mark the end of his involvement with the show.

Carroll confirmed he has already returned to direct a subsequent episode and teased that Vance may reappear in future flashbacks.

Showrunner Steve Binder noted that the fictional team will continue to "honour" Vance's sacrifice as they move forward.