Leon Vance says post-shock ‘NCIS’ episodes are ‘fleeting’
After the shock of March 24’s “All Good Things” episode, the “NCIS” crew tries to move on in “Fleeting” (March 31, ET/Aug. 31 PT on CBS).
“NCIS” spoiler alert! For the few who don’t know who died in the March 24th episode, we’ll explain below.
The “NCIS” Verse was unexpectedly caught up in a TV tragedy when director Leon Vance (Rocky Carroll) was shot and killed on March 24’s 500th episode, “All Good Things.”
Vance, a boxing enthusiast, is shocked by his own death, but his beloved colleague, the young Donald “Ducky” Mallard (Adam Campbell), comes from heaven to reassure Vance and send him into the light. Carroll, who continues to direct episodes of NCIS, was also stunned when he learned his character’s fate after season 18.
But over the course of 23 seasons on CBS, “NCIS” has had its share of heartbreaking deaths.
“There was always an element of not knowing what was going to happen on this show,” said Sean Murray, who survived as Special Agent Timothy McGee from Season 1. “The world of NCIS is still dangerous and the stakes are still very high.”
Here are six deaths on the NCIS TV show that have become even more heartbreaking over time.
Special Agent Caitlin Todd’s shocking Season 2 death sets the tone for ‘NCIS’
The death of Special Agent Caitlin “Kate” Todd (Sasha Alexander) in the 2005 Season 2 finale set the tone for the early days of “NCIS.” In the final seconds of the finale, Ali Haswari (Rudolph Martin) shoots Todd dead. This is the most shocking moment in the series for decades.
“This is a show where Sasha Alexander, the female lead for two seasons, gets shot and dies in close-up in the final episode,” Murray says. “This was before Game of Thrones started, and people were used to seeing clues disappear.”
It was Alexander’s decision to leave NCIS, where she starred for seven seasons as Coroner Maura Isles on TNT’s crime drama Rizzoli & Isles, and will be joining CBS’ FBI in 2019.
Gibbs’ mentor Mike Franks dies in season 8
Former NIS leader Mike Franks (Muse Watson) was the beloved mentor of Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon). Franks, who was called out of retirement in Mexico in season 3, had called Gibbs, a living NCIS legend, “Proby” since their training days. But in Season 8’s “Swan Song,” Franks gets stabbed in the rain while trying to catch the infamous Port-to-Port Killer (Kerr Smith). Even after his death, Franks appeared in Gibbs’ imagination, offering him wise advice.
It gets even more exciting in 2026: Young Franks (Kyle Schmidt) calls Gibbs (Austin Stowell) “Proby” as the origin story of their relationship is told on Tuesday’s “NCIS: Origins.”
Season 10 double tragedy leaves Jackie Vance (Paula Newsome) and Ziva’s father (Michael Nouri) dead
Season 10 featured a stunning double tragedy: the shooting deaths 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 shot the Vance family during a Shabbat meal, then killed himself with a cyanide cigarette. Ziva cried as she hugged her deceased father. Jackie is seriously injured and dies after surgery. To add insult to injury, Gibbs and his NCIS crew are suspected of being involved in a deadly conspiracy. Leon never fully recovers from his wife’s death.
It gets even more exciting in 2026: When Leon entered heaven in the final episode of season 23, it was his wife Jackie who was the first to welcome Leon into the light.
Gibbs’ ex-wife Diane Sterling dies in season 12
Gibbs’ second wife (and first ex-wife) Diane Starling (Melinda McGraw) moved on and was briefly married to DHS Special Agent Victor Starling (Tom Gallop) and FBI Special Agent Tobias Fornell (Joe Spano), with whom they had a daughter. Starling, a recurring IRS criminal investigator, was visiting Gibbs at a crime scene in season 12’s “Check,” when Gibbs was assassinated by a sniper. Grief-stricken, Fornel later ends up taking revenge on Sterling by defeating terrorist Sergei Mishnev (Alex Beardov).
It gets even more exciting in 2026: In “NCIS: Origins,” young Diane Gibbs (Kathleen Kenney) is in love with her young husband (Stowell).
NCIS Director Jennifer Shepherd (Lauren Holly) dies in season 5
Director Jennifer Shepherd (Lauren Holly), the first female boss on NCIS, has had frequent arguments with Gibbs (Harmon) since she was introduced in Season 3. But no one expected Shepard to die in a closed-door mission or in a shootout at a diner in the Season 5 finale, “Judgment Day (Part II).” Shepard uses the last of her strength to kill the last hitman, then succumbs to her injuries. Looking at the crime scene at the diner, Deputy Director Vance says Shepard put up a bad fight.
It gets even more exciting in 2026: Vance’s death shows that NCIS can be deadly even for directors living in offices.
Dear Ducky died in season 21
David McCallum, the Scottish actor beloved for his role as the eccentric Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard on NCIS, died in September 2023 at the age of 90. In February 2024, Ducky was honored in a memorial program co-written with Brian Dietzen, who played Ducky’s protégé Dr. Jimmy Palmer for 20 years. Jimmy enters the leader’s house and finds Ducky dead, sleeping peacefully. Special Agent Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly) also returns for the memorial service.
It gets even more exciting in 2026: Ducky, played by Campbell in NCIS: Origins, is still lonely and still there for his NCIS friends from over there.
