NCIS’ Rocky Carroll and More Stars Who Made Shocking TV Exits

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This story contains spoilers from the March 24 episode of NCIS.

NCIS fans would appreciate privacy at this difficult time. 

Leon Vance, the character played by Rocky Carroll, was killed off in the 500th episode of the crime drama, which aired on March 24th.

I was absolutely devastated when Carroll’s character was killed off! It was such a shock – she’d been a part of the show since season five back in 2008. The way it happened, a shooting involving a crooked agent, was just awful. But honestly, the most touching part was seeing her welcomed into heaven by a young Ducky Mallard, played by Adam Campbell. It was a really beautiful moment, even through all the sadness.

Although viewers were surprised by Vance’s passing, Carroll was pleased that the emotional farewell scene for his character wasn’t spoiled before the special episode aired.

The biggest challenge, especially with social media today, was keeping this information under wraps,” the 62-year-old explained in a recent interview with Variety. “Leaks can come from anywhere, so it’s great that this hasn’t gotten out and that most people outside of CBS and a small group still don’t know about it.

Although the surprising turn in his character’s story is a little sad, Carroll—who played the hero for 18 years—knew Vance’s death was coming and braced himself for it emotionally.

He explained that he’d had time to process the news, as he first learned about it back in November. He also revealed the details of a key scene – the moment when Director Vance realizes he’s been speaking to a figure representing death and walks towards the light – was filmed on December 11th.

Carroll isn’t the first popular TV actor to unexpectedly leave a show. Many actors have surprised and upset fans by leaving successful series, sometimes by their own decision and sometimes due to decisions made by the show’s creators or network.

Hollywood is used to seeing big cast shake-ups. Recent examples include Peter Krause’s exit from 9-1-1 in 2025 and Kevin Costner’s departure from Yellowstone while the show was incredibly popular.

Keep reading to see more of the most jaw-dropping exits in TV history.

In a March 2026 episode, the crime drama said farewell to Director Leon Vance, a character played by Rocky Carroll, after 18 seasons. The show marked the 500th episode with Vance’s death in a shootout with a dishonest agent, and a touching scene where he was reunited with the late Donald “Ducky” Mallard (played by Adam Campbell) in heaven.

Fans were surprised in 2025 to learn that Mehcad Brooks was leaving the NBC crime show before its 25th season.

Brooks, who joined the show in 2022, portrayed Detective Jalen Shaw for three seasons.

Jenna Lyons has confirmed she won’t be back for season 16 of The Real Housewives of New York City.

The rumors are true,” former J. Crew Creative Director Jenna Lyons posted on Instagram on November 21st. She explained that she was asked to join season 16 of The Real Housewives of New York City as a “friend of” a cast member, and because she wasn’t comfortable sharing her personal life on camera, they agreed this role was a good fit.

The fashion icon, who started on the Bravo show in 2022 for its fourteenth season, said she eventually decided she didn’t want to be just a supporting player.

After careful consideration, I’ve decided not to rejoin the show,” she explained. “I’d be the oldest and only openly gay woman participating, and I believe this creates a chance for fresh perspectives and a new energy to develop.

After nine seasons, the A-list realtor is done selling mega-mansions on the Netflix reality show.

In November, Chrishell shared on social media that she no longer needs the show for income. She explained that she’s fortunate to have other work and that continuing with the show was negatively affecting her well-being.

Jax Taylor has said he won’t be back for season three of The Valley. This decision comes after fans expressed concerns about his actions during the show’s second season.

In July 2025, the Bravo star, who is going through a difficult divorce with Brittany Cartwright, explained that his priorities are getting sober, improving his mental health, and being a good coparent. He believes taking this time is essential for his personal growth and, most importantly, for his son, Cruz.

Several cast members from Saturday Night Live recently announced they won’t be back for the show’s 51st season, with the news coming within just a few days of each other.

Longfellow and Walker each spent three seasons on SNL while Wakim exited after just one season.

Following the departures of Longfellow, Walker, and Wakim from Saturday Night Live, Gardner and Nwodim, both popular cast members, also announced they wouldn’t be back for the show’s 51st season. Gardner had been with the show for eight seasons, and Nwodim for seven.

Sofia Mattsson finished her role as Sasha Gilmore on the soap opera after seven years in summer 2025. Her character moved to Paris as part of the storyline.

Tracy Ifeachor, who starred in the popular HBO Max series The Pitt, has left the show after its successful first season.

The actress shared on Instagram on July 10th how honored she was to play Dr. Heather Collins in what she called a truly special season of the show. She also thanked viewers for watching, supporting season one, and sharing their personal experiences with her.

Even though fans likely expected Joel Miller, played by Pedro Pascal, to die – his fate in April 2025 closely mirrored the events of The Last of Us Part II, the video game the second season of The Last of Us is based on – the shocking way his character was killed still came as a surprise.

I’ve always admired Pascal’s good humor, especially considering how often his characters meet untimely ends! He was killed off in both Game of Thrones and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but he just takes it in stride. He actually joked to Entertainment Weekly that he ‘likes to die’ – it’s a testament to his professional attitude, honestly.

Following what he called a “wild adventure,” Peter Krause finished his run as Captain Bobby Nash on the drama 9-1-1 in an episode airing in April 2025.

According to a statement to the Hollywood Reporter, the character Bobby Nash was intentionally created to be a heroic sacrifice. Creator Ryan Krause explained that first responders routinely put themselves in danger to save others, and Bobby Nash’s storyline is meant to pay tribute to their bravery.

The decision to kill off a popular, yet troubled, firefighter was definitely controversial, showrunner Tim Minear told Variety. He explained that after eight seasons, it was necessary to raise the stakes for future storylines, and that meant someone had to die.

Summer just got a little less fun.

In June 2025, Paige DeSorbo revealed she was leaving the Bravo series after being on the show for seven seasons.

The Giggly Squad podcast cohost announced on Instagram that after seven summers, she’s moving on. She expressed gratitude for the experiences, community, and opportunities she’s had, but said it’s time to end this part of her journey, acknowledging that everything has a beginning and an end—even mistakes.

The popular Netflix show will not feature the French actress in its fifth season, which is set to release in April 2025.

In an Instagram post on April 23rd, the actress announced she’s leaving Emily in Paris. Sharing photos with her former co-stars, she described her time on the show as an amazing experience full of growth, creativity, and cherished memories.

Before the third season of The Sex Lives of College Girls begins, Reneé Rapp has announced she will no longer be part of the show.

I moved to LA thanks to the show College Girls and met some amazing people,” she shared on social media in July 2023. “After two and a half years, it’s brought me all of you and this wonderful community.”

Mindy Kaling, one of the show’s creators, also announced that Reneé Rapp was leaving. She shared on Instagram that they’re sad to see Leighton Murray go, but excited to support Rapp’s upcoming music tour and career. Kaling expressed a lot of love for Rapp.

Following over a year of speculation, Kevin Costner confirmed in June 2024 that he won’t be back for the final season of the popular Paramount drama after leaving during its fourth and a half season.

In February 2023, Ellen Pompeo finished her run as Meredith Grey on the ABC drama after playing the role for 19 years.

Pompeo said on The Drew Barrymore Show in December 2022 that she needed to try new things. ‘I’m 53, and my brain feels a little scrambled,’ she explained. Although she’s already returned as a guest in May and continues to narrate the show, she felt she couldn’t keep doing the same thing every day, like completing The New York Times crossword puzzle.

But she’s not gone for good. Pompeo still pops in and out of Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital.

Henry Cavill, known for playing Superman and Batman, has announced he’s leaving the Netflix series The Witcher after its third season. Liam Hemsworth will take over the role of Geralt starting with season four and likely continuing in future seasons.

In an October 2022 Instagram post, Henry Cavill announced that his time playing Geralt of Rivia was coming to an end. He stated he wouldn’t be returning for Season 4, saying he was putting down his Witcher medallion and swords.

Jesse Lee Soffer, an original cast member, left the show in 2022 after playing Detective Jay Halstead for 10 seasons.

Everyone involved with the show has poured their heart and soul into making each week’s episode, and it’s been a truly rewarding experience,” said Jesse Soffer in a statement following his last episode on October 5th. “I’m incredibly proud of my years playing Detective Jay Halstead.

After five seasons, Damian Lewis departed Showtime’s Billions in Oct. 2021.

In August 2021, Emily VanCamp left the TV show The Resident on Fox, marking the end of her role as a doctor on the series.

Madeleine Mantock, who played Macy on the CW’s Charmed reboot, decided to leave the show after three seasons. She announced her departure in 2021 before season four began, calling the role a great opportunity and expressing her appreciation for the show’s producers, writers, cast, and crew. She said she had a wonderful time working with everyone.

Elizabeth Keen will never learn the truth about who Raymond Reddington really is. Megan Boone, the actress who played Liz on NBC’s The Blacklist, decided to leave the show after eight seasons. Her character was killed off before she could read a letter containing the big reveal. Boone shared on Instagram in 2021 that working on the show had been “a dream.”

The second season of Bridgerton didn’t include Rege-Jean Page, who became a fan favorite in the first season of the popular Netflix drama. Fans were disappointed when it was announced he wouldn’t be returning in 2021.

He told Vanity Fair that he simply did the work he’d agreed to, and then took on additional assignments. He admitted he wished there was a more exciting story behind it all.

Ruby Rose first appeared as Batwoman (Kate Kane) in a 2018 Arrowverse event and then led the CW’s Batwoman series for one season. This was a landmark moment, as she became the first openly lesbian superhero to star in her own show. However, she announced her departure from the series just two days after the season one finale in 2020. In season two, Javicia Leslie took over the role, playing a new character named Ryan Wilder who became the new Batwoman.

Later on in season two, Kate got a bit of a face swap and returned played by Wallis Day.

America Ferrera left the show Superstore after its fifth season in 2020, which meant Cloud 9 lost its manager and the series lost a main character. Because of the pandemic, she made a brief appearance in the first two episodes of season six. When season six was decided to be the show’s last, she came back for the final episode to give her character, Amy, and Jonah (Ben Feldman) a satisfying conclusion.

In the final episode of the fourth season of the Syfy series The Magicians, Jason Ralph’s character, Quentin, successfully rescued Eliot (played by Hale Appleman), but died in the process. Although the show regularly features character deaths—it is called The Magicians—Ralph did not reprise his role in the show’s fifth and final season.

Ahead of the final season, Arrow‘s Emily Bett Rickards announced her exit in a poem of sorts.

Felicity and I are very close, but after seasons one through seven, we’ll be leaving the show,” she wrote.

She did, however, return for a guest appearance in the show’s 2020 series finale.

Lauren Cohan initially left The Walking Dead in 2018 after difficult contract talks. While she appeared in a few episodes of season nine, her character, Maggie Greene, disappeared after a time jump of six years. The show’s producers wanted her to come back, and when her new TV series Whiskey Cavalier was canceled, she did. Cohan returned to The Walking Dead in October 2020, appearing in the 16th episode of season ten.

Following Danai Gurira’s co-star Cohan and Andrew Lincoln’s departures from the show, Gurira also left the series. She first appeared in season three as the skilled swordswoman Michonne and her final episode aired in March 2020, marking the end of her run on the AMC drama.

Nicollette Sheridan played the memorable Alexis Carrington, appearing throughout the first season and as a main cast member in the second. In 2019, she decided to leave the CW series before its third season to care for her mother, who was ill.

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2026-03-25 17:48