The long-running CBS hit action drama "NCIS" has killed off Rocky Carroll's Director Leon Vance during its 500th episode, marking a significant moment in the show's history. The character, who had been playing Vance for 18 seasons, was killed in a cold-blooded betrayal in which he was revealed to be part of a smuggling ring, leading to the death of Vance. Executive producer Steven D. Binder stated that the show wanted to honor Carroll's legacy on the show as best possible. The episode ended with the team discovering that the shutdown of NCIS was built on falsified numbers by a corrupt official and reinstating the agency. Despite the loss, Binder said that the team will continue working even without Vance.