NCIS Kills Off Director Vance in 500th Episode

0:00NCIS dropped a major bombshow in its 500th episode by killing off director Leon Vance, a key character since 2008. The twist caught even actor Rocky Carroll by surprise, as he learned about his character's exit just two episodes before filming wrapped up late last year. Filming happened at the end of November and into early December, and Carroll said the plot wasn't set at the season's start. Executive producer Steven D. Binder explained they aimed to shake up fans in the TV world with the landmark story. After 23 years on the show, Carroll felt he'd covered every angle multiple times, but he called the full storyline terrific once laid out. It wasn't his decision to leave, yet he embraced the dramatic send-off. The episode honored Vance with a heartfelt montage featuring past stars like Gibbs, Tony, Ziva, Ducky, and the current team. Binder noted it was tough but fitting, as Vance sacrificed himself to save the agency. Moving forward, the team will grieve his loss while staying laser-focused on their mission, just as Vance would have wanted.

1:03Catch NCIS Tuesdays at APM Eastern on CBS. That wraps Durham news today, brought to you with AI.