Rocky Carroll Leaves, Director Leon Vance Death

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

NCIS is giving a farewell salute to a beloved character.

The crime procedural said goodbye to Director Leon Vance (played by Rocky Carroll) on the March 24 episode, 18 years after the leader’s debut in season five. During the 500th episode, Vance was killed in a shooting with a corrupt agent and welcomed to heaven by late Chief Medical Examiner Donald “Ducky” Mallard (played by Adam Campbell).

So, how does Carroll feel about leaving the show? Well, he’s had a few months to process his departure since filming the final scene last year.

“I’ve been able to wrap my mind around it and come to terms with it because I’ve known about this since November, when I was first told about what was going to happen,” he told Variety in an interview published March 24. “And the last scene, where Director Vance realizes that he’s been talking to basically the grim reaper, the angel of death, and walks toward the light, that was shot on Dec. 11.”

At this point, the 62-year-old feels he’s been able to “come full circle with it.”

“I really think it’s a great episode,” Carroll continued. “I’m not just saying this to be a team player, but if you’ve gotta send a character off, what a way to go.”