NCIS Season 22 Finale: A Beloved Character Meets Their End

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NCIS fans are about to say goodbye to a belove character.

Wilmer Valderrama announced that a significant character from the CBS crime drama is set to meet their end in the final episode of season 22.

During a May 1 interview on CBS Mornings, the former star of That ’70s Show indicated that the May 5 finale would address the numerous questions left unanswered by the April 28 episode, as well as other lingering plot points.

Valderrama hinted that a character on the show will pass away, someone not just this week’s suspect. This unfortunate event involves a character we’re closely attached to, and it’s expected to be quite shocking and extremely saddening.

Yet, the 45-year-old assures us that an unexpected turn of events is planned for future seasons, promising even greater thrills ahead.

Valderamma elaborated, “This change will certainly stir things up within the team, and I believe it may even encourage us to think outside the box during season 23.” The main goal was to, “‘How can we shatter the tranquility of season 22 and establish the mood for season 23?’ This episode does that exceptionally well compared to many past years.

In the intriguing crime dramas where actors such as Gary Cole, Katrina Law, Sean Murray, and Jessica Knight, along with others, deliver captivating performances, Valderrama confessed that the cast enjoys having a good time during breaks from filming.

He pointed out that our series tackles some intense plotlines. Therefore, during breaks between scenes, it’s important to lighten up a bit. If we get too caught up in the gravity of it all, it wouldn’t feel like NCIS.

Valderrama previously teased the show’s 22nd season would be a rollercoaster of emotions for fans.

He shared with People last year that it wouldn’t just be a typical, offhand comment like, “Your favorite team is in trouble,” but something much more significant and emotionally impactful. This season, he predicted, will bring a tragic event.

Don’t miss the NCIS season 22 finale Monday, May 5, at 9 p.m. on CBS.

In the meantime, keep reading to see other TV stars’ shocking exits from their hit series.

It’s possible that viewers could have anticipated the end for Pedro Pascal’s character Joel Miller, given that his demise in April 2025 mirrored his death in The Last of Us Part II, a video game released in 2020 and on which the second season of The Last of Us is based. However, the shocking scene where his character was brutally impaled left viewers stunned nonetheless.

Meanwhile, Pascal, who met his onscreen demise in both ‘Game of Thrones’ and ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’, handled his frequent character deaths with good humor. In an interview with ‘Entertainment Weekly’, he quipped, “I get killed a lot. I enjoy dying.

Following what he referred to as “one exhilarating journey,” Peter Krause formally ended his portrayal of Bobby Nash, the Los Angeles Fire Department captain in 9-1-1, during an April 2025 episode of the procedural drama.

In a statement to the Hollywood Reporter, Krause expressed that Bobby Nash was created with sacrifice in mind. Just like real-life first responders who put their lives at risk daily for the safety of others, this character’s storyline pays tribute to them.

The controversial death of the troubled yet adored firefighter sparked a lot of discussion, as showrunner Tim Minear admitted to Variety. “However,” he continued, “after eight years, we felt it was necessary to make room for new stories with real consequences if we want to continue creating engaging content in the future.

Prior to the commencement of the third season for “The Sex Lives of College Girls,” it was revealed that Renee Rapp would no longer be a part of the show’s cast in the Max series.

She shared on social media in July 2023, “College friends took me to LA and connected me with some of my dearest acquaintances.” After 2 and a half years – they brought me this group of people and this supportive community into my life.

The show’s co-creator, Mindy Kaling, also verified that Rapp was leaving the show. On her Instagram Stories, she expressed her affection for Renee Rapp, saying, “We are going to miss Leighton Murray so much, but we’re excited to see our friend on tour!

Over a year ago, there were whispers that Kevin Costner was leaving the successful Paramount drama after four and a half seasons unexpectedly. However, it wasn’t until June 2024 that he officially confirmed he wouldn’t be returning to complete the series during its fifth and final season.

For nearly two decades, Ellen Pompeo portrayed Meredith Grey, and in February 2023, she donned her scrubs one last time as a regular cast member on the ABC drama, marking the end of an era.

On The Drew Barrymore Show in December 2022, Pompeo shared that she needed to try something fresh because at age 53, her mind is like a bowl of scrambled eggs and doing the same old things isn’t an option anymore. She can’t keep solving the New York Times crossword puzzle every day.

In simpler terms, “Henry Cavill”, who played a role in the movie “Batman vs. Superman”, has announced he’s leaving the Netflix series after its third season. “Liam Hemsworth” is set to take over the role of Geralt for season four and possibly future seasons as well.

In a post on Instagram in October 2022, Cavill expressed that his time as Geralt of Rivia has been a mix of challenges (monsters) and exciting experiences (adventures). Sadly, he will be relinquishing the medallion and swords for Season 4.

Originally, the cast member Jesse Lee Soffer handed in his badge in the year 2022, marking his departure from playing the cherished character of Detective Jay Halstead following a ten-season run. In simpler terms, Jesse Lee Soffer ended his role as Detective Jay Halstead after being part of the cast for ten seasons and bid farewell to the show in 2022.

Speaking following his last performance on the NBC procedural, Soffer expressed that crafting this hour-long drama week after week has been a heartfelt endeavor for everyone involved. He remains incredibly proud of his tenure as Detective Jay Halstead.

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

Back in August 2021, news broke out that Emily VanCamp put away her medical stethoscope permanently, as she had departed from the series “The Resident” on Fox.

Following three entertaining seasons portraying Macy, the eldest sister on the CW’s reboot of Charmed, Madeleine Mantock expressed her decision to leave before the start of season four in 2021. In a statement, she acknowledged the part as an immense honor and expressed her gratitude for collaborating with our exceptional producers, creatives, cast members, and crew.

As it transpired, Elizabeth Keen won’t get to uncover Raymond Reddington’s true identity since Megan Boone, who portrayed her on NBC’s The Blacklist, decided to part ways with the series at the end of season eight. Unfortunately for Liz, her character was terminated before she could lay eyes on the letter that held all the answers. Boone, in wrapping up Liz’s narrative arc in 2021, referred to it as an unforgettable “dream” on Instagram.

In season two of “Bridgerton,” one duke was missing, as Rege-Jean Page, the breakout sensation of Netflix’s popular drama series, chose not to reprise his role for the second installment that aired in 2021.

Later on, he clarified to Vanity Fair, “I agreed to take on a task, completed it, and then undertook some additional tasks.” He added, “In essence, that is the account of what happened. I had hoped it would be more exciting than that.

Ruby Rose initially appeared in the Arrowverse crossover event in 2018 and subsequently starred as Kate Kane (also known as Batwoman) in the CW drama for one season. This marked a historic milestone as it made her the first lesbian superhero to lead her own show, with Batwoman revealing her sexuality in a significant TV moment. However, two days following the season finale airing in 2020, Rose announced her departure from the role. The part was later taken over by Javicia Leslie as Ryan Wilder, who is set to assume control of the Batcave in season two.

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

America Ferrera chose to depart from Superstore at the conclusion of its fifth season in 2020, which left Cloud 9 without a manager and the show without its primary character. However, due to the pandemic, she appeared in the first two episodes of season six before the series was ultimately concluded. In the finale, she returned to give Amy and Jonah (Ben Feldman) the satisfying ending they deserved.

In the 2019 finale of the Syfy series “The Magicians”, Jason Ralph’s character Quentin accomplished his mission to rescue Eliot (Hale Appleman), but paid the ultimate price by giving up his life in the process. Despite the show’s tendency to bring back deceased characters, Ralph did not reappear for the fifth and final season of the series.

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

Felicity and I have been extremely close, but from the eighth onward, we’ll be taking our leave from you,” she wrote.

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

In 2018, Lauren Cohan bid farewell to The Walking Dead after prolonged contract discussions. She featured in a few episodes of season nine, but following a six-year time leap, her character Maggie Greene was conspicuously absent. Producers had hoped she would reappear for season 10, and when her brief stint on ABC’s Whiskey Cavalier ended, their wish came true. Cohan reappeared in the 16th episode of this season, which aired in October 2020.

Immediately following Cohan and Andrew Lincoln’s departure from the zombie drama, Gurira also chose to leave. She had joined the AMC series during season three as the character Michonne, armed with a katana. Her final appearance on the show was in a season 10 episode that was broadcast in March 2020.

In both season one and as a regular character in season two, Nicollette Sheridan played the legendary role of Alexis Carrington. Before the start of season three in 2019, she shared her intention to leave the CW reboot to devote time to her ailing mother.

George Eads parted ways with the CBS remake in 2019, during the third season, having shared his wish to depart and focus on his loved ones.

The TV show “Lethal Weapon” featuring Fox has had its fair share of cast departures. Actor Clayne Crawford was let go from the series following the second season, and in October 2018, Damon Wayans, his co-star, declared his intentions to leave the popular drama after completing the initial 13 episodes of the third season. He stated, “I will be quitting the show in December once we finish the initial 13, so I don’t know what they have planned, but that is my plan.” Wayans, a 58-year-old diabetic working long hours, expressed feeling too old for the demanding schedule, echoing his character’s line, “too old for this.

They hadn’t needed to develop a new plan because the series got terminated after its third season had concluded.

During the ninth season of Shameless, Cameron Monaghan’s character was put behind bars. In actuality, Monaghan was eager to pursue fresh opportunities after spending nine years on the series. However, unexpectedly, he agreed to come back for season 10 and was there when the show resumed for its 11th and last season in December 2020.

After nine seasons as Fiona Gallagher, Emmy Rossum announced plans to leave Shameless in 2018.

In a statement, executive producer John Wells expressed that Emmy Rossum will always be considered part of the Shameless family. He praised her significant contributions to the show’s success, from her captivating portrayal of Fiona to her leadership on set and directing multiple episodes. They are currently working diligently to craft a fitting season nine finale for Shameless that appropriately sends off Fiona while paying tribute to Emmy’s exceptional work.

While it is always difficult when an ensemble member chooses to leave the fictional household, their door will remain open for Fiona to return or move back in at any time. John looks forward to continuing the stories of this unpredictable family on Shameless and everyone involved will miss Emmy and her remarkable portrayal of Fiona.

Chelsea Peretti initially joined “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” when it first aired on NBC, but she chose not to stay for the entire series. In 2018, the actress revealed her intention to depart from the comedy, though she expressed a desire to return someday. Interestingly, she modeled her farewell statement after Emily Rossum’s departure letter from “Shameless.” Peretti gave birth to a son with husband Jordan Peele in 2017. During season five, her character was on maternity leave and missed several episodes.

As a diehard fan, I couldn’t help but echo the words of Andrew Lincoln when he bid adieu to the gritty world of The Walking Dead during season nine. “These folks became the closest thing to a surrogate family I could ever ask for,” Lincoln shared at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2018. But as much as it pains me, I have a real family waiting at home, and it’s time for me to return.

After 15 years, Pauley Perrette chose to take off her lab coat and part ways with NCIS in 2018. She explained that the decision was made because she had an overwhelming belief in God and the universe, which led her to feel it was the right time for a change. After careful contemplation, she opted to share the news on Twitter as she didn’t want it to be sensationalized. In her view, Abby’s departure from the show was more than just a TV plot twist.

Willa Holland, a key character on The CW’s Arrow, was planning to leave the show for some time according to its boss, Marc Guggenheim, as revealed in 2018. She requested to have fewer episodes and eventually asked to be written out during season six. Interestingly, her departure occurred at the same time as Roy (Colton Haynes’ character) returned, and they departed together to eliminate dangerous Lazarus Pits that Thea’s father had discovered before his death.

Actress Grace Park, known for her role on Battlestar Galactica, departed from Hawaii Five-0 prior to its eighth season in 2017. Her departure and that of her costar Daniel Dae Kim occurred following unsuccessful negotiations aimed at achieving equal pay with their fellow cast members.

Later on, Park expressed gratitude for the insights gained, yet emphasized his decision was guided by upholding personal values. He added, “I understand that everyone is striving to do their best, given their unique perspectives and experiences.

Similar to Park, Kim parted ways with the CBS drama during the gap between seasons seven and eight. In a Facebook post, Kim explained that the decision to depart was challenging, and he expressed his readiness to return, but ultimately, “CBS and I couldn’t reach an agreement on the terms of a new contract.

The NBC drama’s fourth season concluded with Sophia Bush’s character considering a job offer from the FBI in New York, which would have taken her away from Chicago, the show’s main setting. In December 2018, the actress revealed that she left the series due to persistent abusive treatment.

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2025-05-01 22:48