Who is Rocky Carroll? NCIS’ Director Vance bids goodbye to military procedural series; all about his career and net worth

The fans of NCIS are in for a complete surprise in the 500th episode of the military police procedural television series as Director Leon Vance, played by Rocky Carroll, will get killed, bringing down curtains on his nearly two decades-long journey with the show.

The 500th episode of NCIS, which aired on Tuesday (March 24, 2026), shows that the NCIS team was left in shock due to the surprising turn of events when the Department of Defense ordered the agency to shut down.

Director Vance (Carroll’s character), however, stood by his team as time ran out in their effort to prove the innocence of a petty officer accused of murder. As the episode approached the end, Vance cleared her name and restored NCIS, but he lost his life after being shot by a corrupt agent.

Why did Rocky Carroll exit NCIS?

Carroll’s exit was not because of behind-the-scenes drama or a sudden departure. Instead, it was a creative choice aimed at creating a lasting impact.

While speaking to Variety, Carroll explained that the decision to end Vance's story had been in the works for years. But producers hesitated because of how important the character had become. It is pertinent to note that executive producer Steven D. Binder probably chose Vance for this dramatic twist and stunning turn specifically because of his importance in the story.

Unlike many central figures in NCIS, whose storylines are often left open for potential comebacks, Vance’s arc was deliberately given a definitive and conclusive ending.


ALSO READ: Did Rocky Carroll quit NCIS? Here’s the real story behind Director Vance’s shocking exit in the 500th episode


"It was a very macabre compliment, but he said, 'Because of who you are, Rocky, and because of what you brought to the character, we've been talking about killing off Vance for the last 10 years. This idea didn't just come about in 2025. We've been thinking about killing this character or having this character meet some sort of untimely death for over a decade,” he told Variety.

“But we couldn't because it was you." And I think they figured, ‘Look, 23 seasons in, who knows how much more time we have?' If we don't do it now, there may not be a season that allows us to do something of this magnitude, because we're in overtime here,'” he further explained. Initially, Carroll questioned the decision, but the 500th episode required something bigger.

Who is Rocky Carroll? Career and Net Worth

Rocky Carroll is an actor with a really strong career in cinema, stage, and television packed with varied and impressive performances. Born on July 8, 1963, in Cincinnati, Ohio, as Roscoe Fulton Carroll, he attended the prestigious School for Creative and Performing Arts, graduating in 1981 at age 18.

Fuelled by his love and passion for acting, he went on to attend the Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University in St. Louis, according to IMDb. He also went on to earn a BFA. Later, he took a decision to move to New York to test his acting mettle and started out doing Shakespeare.

He graduated to television work after proving himself on the stage, appearing in such series as Chicago Hope (1994), Law & Order (1990), The Game (2006), Boston Legal (2004), and The West Wing (1999). His breakthrough role came in 2003 when he was cast as Assistant Director Leon Vance on NCIS.

According to reports, Rocky Carroll has an estimated net worth of $4 million, and online platform Looper reported that the actor earned $100,000 per episode of NCIS in 2010.