The “NCIS”-verse was unexpectedly vaulted into TV tragedy with the shooting death of Director Leon Vance (Rocky Carroll) during the March 24 500th episode, “All Good Things.”
The boxing enthusiast Vance is so surreally shocked by his own death that his beloved colleague, the young Donald “Ducky” Mallard (Adam Campbell), visits from heaven to ease Vance into acceptance and send him toward the light. Carroll, who will continue to direct “NCIS” episodes, was also stunned when he learned about his character’s fate after 18 seasons.
Yet, during the CBS procedural’s ongoing 23-season run, “NCIS” has featured heartbreaking deaths before.
“There’s always been an element that you don’t know what’s going to happen on this show,” says Sean Murray, who has survived as Special Agent Timothy McGee since Season 1. “The ‘NCIS’ world is still dangerous with very high stakes.”
Special Agent Caitlin Todd’s shocking Season 2 death set the ‘NCIS’ tone
The 2005 Season 2 finale death of Special Agent Caitlin “Kate” Todd (Sasha Alexander) set an early tone for “NCIS.” In the last seconds of the finale, Ari Haswari (Rudolf Martin) shoots Todd dead — still the series’ most shocking moment over the decades.
“This is the show that Sasha Alexander, who was the female lead for two seasons, took a bullet and died in close-up in the finale,” says Murray. “That was before ‘Game of Thrones’ when people got used to seeing the leads go away.”
It was Alexander’s decision to leave “NCIS,” going on to star as medical examiner Maura Isles on the TNT crime drama “Rizzoli & Isles” for seven seasons and appearing on CBS’s “FBI” in 2019.
Gibbs’ mentor Mike Franks died in Season 8 action
Former NIS leader Mike Franks (Muse Watson) was Leroy Jethro Gibbs’ (Mark Harmon) beloved mentor. Called in from Mexico retirement in Season 3, Franks called NCIS living legend Gibbs “Probie” from the training days. But in Season 8’s “Swan Song,” Franks was stabbed in the rain trying to apprehend the notorious Port to Port Killer (Kerr Smith). Even in death, Franks appeared in Gibbs’ imagination to give wise counsel.
More poignant in 2026: Young Franks (Kyle Schmid) calls Gibbs (Austin Stowell) “Probie” as the origin story of their relationship is told Tuesdays on “NCIS: Origins.”
Jackie Vance (Paula Newsome) and Ziva’s dad (Michael Nouri) died in Season 10 double-tragedy
Season 10 featured a stunning double-tragedy with the shooting death of Director Vance’s wife, Jackie (Paula Newsome), and Mossad Director Eli David (Michael Nouri), the father (and last living family member) of Special Agent Ziva David (Cote de Pablo). An unknown assailant shoots up the Vances’ house during a Shabbat meal, before killing himself with a cyanide cigarette. Ziva breaks down sobbing, cradling her deceased father. Critically wounded, Jackie dies later in surgery. To add insult to emotional injury, Gibbs and his “NCIS” crew are suspected of being part of the deadly plot. Leon never fully recovers from his wife’s death.
More poignant in 2026: When entering heaven in his Season 23 final episode, the first person to greet Leon in the light is his wife, Jackie.
Gibbs’ ex-wife Diane Sterling died in Season 12
Gibbs’ second wife (and first ex), Diane Sterling (Melinda McGraw), had moved on, briefly married to DHS Special Agent Victor Sterling (Tom Gallop) and FBI Special Agent Tobias Fornell (Joe Spano), with whom she had a daughter. The recurring character Sterling, an IRS criminal investigator, was visiting Gibbs at a crime scene in Season 12’s “Check,” when she was assassinated by a sniper. Grief-stricken Fornell would later avenge Sterling by taking down the responsible terrorist Sergei Mishnev (Alex Veadov).
More poignant in 2026: Young Diane Gibbs (Kathleen Kenny) is in love with her young husband (Stowell) in “NCIS: Origins.”
NCIS Director Jennifer Shepard (Lauren Holly) died in Season 5
Director Jennifer Shepard (Lauren Holly), the first “NCIS” female boss, often locked horns with Gibbs (Harmon) after being introduced in Season 3. But no one suspected Shepard would die in an off-the-books mission and a diner shootout in the Season 5 finale, “Judgment Day (Part II).” Shepard uses her last ounce of strength to kill the final hitman before succumbing to her injuries. Looking at the diner crime scene, Assistant Director Vance says Shepard put up one hell of a fight.
More poignant in 2026: Vance’s death shows “NCIS” is even lethal for the office-dwelling directors.
Dear Ducky died in Season 21
Scottish actor David McCallum, beloved on “NCIS” as the eccentric chief medical examiner Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard, died in September 2023 at age 90. Ducky was saluted in a February 2024 tribute cowritten by Brian Dietzen, who portrayed Ducky’s protégé Dr. Jimmy Palmer for two decades. Jimmy walks into his mentor’s home and finds Ducky dead, peacefully in his sleep. Even Special Agent Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly) returns for the memorial service.
More poignant in 2026: Ducky, played on “NCIS: Origins” by Campbell, is still missed and still there for his “NCIS” colleagues from the beyond.