Rocky Carroll

Roscoe "Rocky" Carroll (born July 8, 1963) is an American actor and director. He is known for his roles as Joey Emerson on the Fox comedy-drama Roc (1991–94), as Dr. Keith Wilkes on the CBS medical drama Chicago Hope, and as NCIS Director Leon Vance on the CBS drama NCIS and its spin-offs Los Angeles and New Orleans. He also played a supporting role in the 1995 thriller film Crimson Tide.

Early life and education Carroll was born Roscoe Carroll in Cincinnati, Ohio, on July 8, 1963. His acting career is rooted in the theater. In 1981, Carroll graduated from the famed School for Creative and Performing Arts (SCPA) in Cincinnati Ohio, in the Cincinnati Public School District. Determined to further his knowledge of acting, he attended The Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University in St. Louis, where he graduated with a B.F.A. degree. Carroll would later receive an honorary degree from his alma mater in 2009. After graduating, Carroll decided to test the waters by moving to New York City, the heart of the theater community. There, he introduced many young children to the works of William Shakespeare by participating in Joe Papp's "Shakespeare on Broadway" series.

Career As part of Joe Papp's acclaimed New York Shakespeare Festival, Carroll helped to open doors for actors of color, by taking on non-traditional roles that were rarely portrayed by Black actors in Shakespeare dramas. In 1987, Carroll was introduced to the works of August Wilson. The up-and-coming and talented young actor was allowed to recreate his role for the Broadway production of Wilson's critically acclaimed story The Piano Lesson. The play not only earned a Pulitzer Prize for Drama, but Carroll earned a Tony and Drama Desk nomination.

He is known for portraying ne'er-do-well musician Joey Emerson on the FOX comedy-drama Roc. He also had a starring role as Dr. Keith Wilkes in the TV series Chicago Hope. Carroll has guest starred in several other TV programs including The Agency, Boston Legal, Family Law, The West Wing, Law & Order, The Game, ER and Grey's Anatomy. Carroll has had roles in many Hollywood films such as Born on the Fourth of July, The Ladies Man, Crimson Tide, The Great White Hype, Prelude to a Kiss, The Chase, Best Laid Plans and Yes Man.

In the fifth season of the CBS drama NCIS, Carroll was featured in a recurring role as Assistant Director Leon Vance. In doing so, he had been reunited with his Chicago Hope castmates Mark Harmon and Lauren Holly. After the death of NCIS director Jenny Shepard (played by Holly), his character became the new director of NCIS and replaced Holly in the main cast. He has also guest-starred as Vance in the NCIS spin-offs Los Angeles and New Orleans.

In addition to being a series regular on NCIS, Carroll has also directed episodes of NCIS, starting in 2015, making his directorial debut with the Season 12 episode, "We Build, We Fight".

Carroll departed NCIS in March 2026 after 19 seasons, with the series's 500th episode (All Good Things - Season 23 Episode 13) serving as his final appearance, although he'll continue his directorial duties there.

Personal life Carroll married Gabrielle Bullock in 1996. They have one daughter.

Filmography Film YearTitle Role Notes 1989 Born on the Fourth of July Willie 1992 Prelude to a Kiss Tom 1994 The Chase Byron Wilder 1995 Crimson Tide Lieutenant Darik Westerguard 1996 The Great White Hype Artemus St. John Saint 1999 Best Laid Plans Bad Ass Dude 2000 The Ladies Man Cyrus Cunningham 2008 Yes Man Wesley T. "Wes" Parker 2014 Justice League: War Silas Stone Voice, direct-to-video 2018 The Death of Superman Silas Stone, Perry White Voice, direct-to-video 2019 Reign of the Supermen Perry White Voice, direct-to-video

Television Year Title Role Notes 1989 Money, Power, Murder Dwan Television movie 1990 Law & Order Dr. Davids Episode: "Prescription for Death" 1991 American Experience James Gooding Voice, episode: "The Massachusetts 54th Colored Infantry" 1991–1994 Roc Joey Emerson 72 episodes 1994–1996 Gargoyles Derek Maza, Talon, Glasses Voice, 9 episodes 1995 Fantastic Four Triton (Marvel Comics) Voice, 2 episodes 1996–2000 Chicago Hope Dr. Keith Wilkes 96 episodes 1997 Five Desperate Hours Lieutenant Frank Early Television movie 1998 Hercules Hylas Voice, episode: "Hercules and the Poseidon's Cup Adventure" 2000–2001 Welcome to New York Adrian Spencer 15 episodes 2001 The West Wing Corey Sykes Episode: "The Drop In" 2001 Family Law U.S. Attorney Skidmore 2 episodes 2001–2003 The Agency Carl Reese 45 episodes 2004 ER Mr. Walker Episode: "The Student" 2004 Father of the Pride Chaz Voice, episode: "One Man's Meat Is Another Man's Girlfriend" 2004 Boston Legal Assistant District Attorney John Shubert Episode: "Hired Guns" 2004–2005 American Dreams Reverend Kingston Davis 2 episodes 2005 Kevin Hill Tony Banks Episode: "Occupational Hazard" 2005–2006 Invasion Healy 4 episodes 2006–2007 The Game Kenny "Coach T" Taylor 4 episodes 2007 Grey's Anatomy James Miller Episode: "Haunt You Every Day" 2008–2026 NCISLeon Vance Recurring role (Season 5), Main role (Season 6–Season 23), 390+ episodes 2009–2014 NCIS: Los Angeles 10 episodes 2011 Glenn Martin, DDS Various Voice, episode: "Date with Destiny" 2014 Blue Robert 2 episodes 2014 NCIS: New Orleans Leon Vance 3 episodes 2017 The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks Sonny Lacks Television film 2022 NCIS: Hawaiʻi Leon Vance Episode: "T'N'T"

Video games YearTitle Role Notes 1993 Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers Willy Walker 2004 Spider-Man 2 Additional voices

Director Year Title Note(s) 2015– NCIS 30+ episodes 2020 Magnum P.I. Episode: "May the Best One Win"

Awards and nominations