NCIS is returning to the 2026 TV schedule in a matter of weeks and, while there’s a lot to look forward to, there is still one thing on everyone’s mind. The Season 23 finale ended on a cliffhanger that left viewers questioning whether or not Wilmer Valderrama’s Nick Torres is still alive. It would be harsh to kill him off after the series shockingly killed Rocky Carroll’s Leon Vance in the 500th episode earlier this year. The episode was tough to watch, and Carroll watched it in a room full of people -- and had one concern as he did so.
Director Vance sacrificed himself in order to save NCIS. It was heartbreaking and emotional, and it even included a reunion with young Ducky before Vance was ushered through the white light to be reunited with his late wife. Of course, given it was the 500th episode, it was bound to be surprising, and you don’t get any more surprising than a character death. However, Carroll was unsure how everything would turn out, as he told The Hollywood Reporter:
