Rocky Carroll

Rocky Carroll Headshot

Actor

Birth Date: July 8, 1963

Age: 61 years old

Birth Place: Cincinnati, Ohio

Since his film and TV career kicked off in the 1990s, Rocky Carroll has demonstrated his range and talent in a variety of roles and has proven equally adept scene-stealing supporting turns in sitcoms and lending quiet authority to hour-long dramas.

The Ohio native was a promising black American stage actor, when he first gained national prominence as the smooth-talking, carefree younger brother of Charles S. Dutton's titular character in "Roc" (Fox, 1991-94). Having moved to NYC after working for a season at the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Carroll honed his craft performing Shakespeare for high school students before being cast in his acclaimed breakthrough role in August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning play "The Piano Lesson," which also featured Dutton. Originating the part of Lymon at the Yale Rep in 1987, he was tapped to recreate it when the show moved to Broadway in 1989. Carroll picked up a Tony Award nomination for his efforts and landed his first feature role in "Born on the Fourth of July" (1989). When "Roc" was created for Dutton, the actor encouraged its producers to consider his co-stars from the play for other roles. Both Carroll and Carl Gordon were hired for the Fox sitcom and this abundance of stage-trained talent inspired the producers to film "Roc" live beginning with the 1992 season.

When "Roc" went off the air in 1994, Carroll attempted to parlay his success into a film career but his roles in "The Chase" (1994), "Crimson Tide" (1995) and "The Great White Hype" (1996) didn't really register with critics or audiences. The latter, though, introduced him to Peter Berg and Carroll was soon joining Berg on the small screen portraying emergency room surgeon Dr. Keith Wilkes in the CBS medical drama "Chicago Hope." Staying for that series for four seasons, Carroll demonstrated his dramatic chops and earned a new group of fans.

Switching gears for his next small screen venture, Carroll was cast as a pompous TV host who considers a new weatherman (Jim Gaffigan) a threat to his popularity in "Welcome to New York," a short-lived CBS sitcom that aired in 2000-2001. Although he earned praise for his comedic work, the performer chose a serious drama as a follow-up. In "The Agency" (CBS, 2001-03), Carroll was cast as the leader of a counter-terrorism team of CIA operatives.

Credits

Sherri

Guest
Talk
2022

Access Daily With Mario & Kit

Guest
Show
2022

NCIS: The Cases They Can't Forget

Narrator
News
2019

Magnum P.I.Stream

Director
Series
2018

DailyMailTV

Guest
Show
2017

STEVE on Watch

Guest
Talk
2017

48 Hours: NCIS

Narrator
News
2017

The Immortal Life of Henrietta LacksStream

Actor
Sonny Lacks
Movie
2017
69%

NCIS: New OrleansStream

Guest Star
Series
2014

The Arsenio Hall Show

Guest
Show
2013

The Real

Guest
Talk
2013

omg! Insider

Guest
Show
2013

CBS This Morning

Guest
Show
2012

The TalkStream

Guest
Talk
2010

Access Hollywood Live

Guest
Show
2010

Hollywood Uncensored

Guest
Show
2010

The 18th Annual Trumpet Awards Show

Guest
Show
2010

NCIS: Los AngelesStream

Guest Star
Series
2009

The Wendy Williams Show

Guest
Talk
2008

Yes ManStream

Actor
Wes
Movie
2008
46%

The IT CrowdStream

Actor
Denham
Series
2007
85%

The GameStream

Guest Star
Series
2006

Rachael Ray ShowStream

Guest
Talk
2006

InvasionStream

Guest Star
Series
2005
80%

Grey's AnatomyStream

Guest Star
Series
2005
84%

Boston LegalStream

Guest Star
A.D.A. John Shubert
Series
2004
86%

Kevin Hill

Guest Star
Show
2004

The Insider

Guest
Show
2004

NCISStream

Actor
NCIS Director Leon Vance
Series
2003

NCISStream

Director
Series
2003

NCISStream

Guest Star
NCIS Director Leon Vance
Series
2003

American Dreams

Guest Star
Series
2002
85%

The Agency

Actor
Carl Reese
Show
2001

Welcome to New York

Actor
Adrian Spencer
Show
2000

The West WingStream

Guest Star
Corey Sykes
Series
1999
81%

Family Law

Guest Star
Series
1999

Best Laid Plans

Actor
Bad Ass Dude
Movie
1999

The View

Guest
Talk
1997

Five Desperate Hours

Actor
Lt. Frank Early
Movie
1997

Early Edition

Guest Star
Series
1996

Access Hollywood

Guest
News
1996

High Incident

Guest Star
Show
1996

The Great White HypeStream

Actor
Artemus St. John Saint
Movie
1996
42%

Crimson TideStream

Actor
Lt. Darik Westergard
Movie
1995
89%

Grimizna plima

Actor
Movie
1995

Chicago Hope

Actor
Dr. Keith Wilkes
Series
1994

Chicago Hope

Guest Star
Dr. Keith Wilkes
Series
1994

The Chase

Actor
Byron Wilder
Movie
1994

Asesinatos en Serie

Actor
Movie
1992

Fathers and Sons

Actor
Flo
Movie
1992

Prelude to a Kiss

Actor
Tom
Movie
1992

RocStream

Actor
Joey Emerson
Series
1991

Born on the Fourth of JulyStream

Actor
Willie - VA Hospital
Movie
1989
84%

Entertainment Tonight

Guest
News
1981

Entertainment Tonight

Host
News
1981

News aboutRocky Carroll

Brian Dietzen on 'NCIS'
Fall Preview

How the ‘NCIS’ Team (Especially Palmer) Is Coping After Knight’s Departure

Rocky Carroll as Leon Vance and Katrina Law as Jessica Knight in the 'NCIS' Season 21 Finale
Preview

‘NCIS’ Scoop: Why Vance Makes Knight an Offer in ‘Personal’ Season 21 Finale

Rocky Carroll as Director Leon Vance in the 'NCIS' Season 21 Premiere

‘NCIS’: Rocky Carroll on ‘Hawai’i’ Cancellation & Franchise Future — Could He Appear on Tiva Spinoff?

Gary Cole, Rocky Carroll, Katrina Law, and Wilmer Valderrama in 'NCIS'
Preview

‘NCIS’: Scoop on Season 21 Finale Cliffhangers & Relationship Drama

Rocky Carroll — 'NCIS' aftershow
Spoiler Alert

‘NCIS: Case Closed’ Aftershow: How Rocky Carroll Found Out Vance’s 1,000th Episode Story (VIDEO)

Behind the scenes of 'NCIS' through the years

Go Behind the Scenes of ‘NCIS’ With Mark Harmon & the Cast (PHOTOS)

Katrina Law as Jessica Knight, Wilmer Valderrama as Nicholas 'Nick' Torres, Sean Murray as Timothy McGee, and Gary Cole as Alden Parker — 'NCIS' Franchise Episode 1000

‘NCIS’ Franchise 1,000th Episode Brings Back Vance’s Son & Past Enemy (PHOTOS)

Wilmer Valderrama, Brian Dietzen, Sean Murray, Katrina Law, and Gary Cole for 'NCIS'
Q&A

Will Gibbs Return? ‘NCIS’ Cast Answers Your Burning Questions

Rocky Carroll in 'NCIS'
Q&A

‘NCIS’: Rocky Carroll Reflects on Reaching 450 Episodes, Ponders Major Returns

Rocky Carroll on 'NCIS'
Q&A

‘NCIS’: Rocky Carroll Shares Scene That Made Him Realize ‘I’ve Been Upgraded as a Director’

Marem Hassler, Gary Cole, Rocky Carroll in 'NCIS'
Spoiler Alert

‘NCIS’: Rocky Carroll on Vance’s New Relationship, ‘Fireworks’ During 3-Show Crossover & More

Rocky Carroll as Vance, Gary Cole as Parker in NCIS
Exclusive

‘NCIS’ Season 19 Finale Sneak Peek: Parker’s Old Boss Holds a Grudge (VIDEO)

Rocky Carroll as Leon Vance in NCIS
Spoiler Alert

‘NCIS’: Vance Wrestles With the Job When His Daughter Works With the Team (RECAP)

Naomi Grace as Kayla Vance, Wilmer Valderrama as Nick Torres in NCIS

‘NCIS’ Promo: Vance’s Daughter Gets in Trouble While Working With the Team (VIDEO)

Brian Dietzen as Jimmy Palmer, Diona Reasonover as Kasie Hines in NCIS
Spoiler Alert

‘NCIS’ Delivers Its Best Episode of the Season & Sets up a New Mystery (RECAP)

Sean Murray as Timothy McGee, Naomi Grace as Kayla Vance, Gary Cole as Alden Parker in NCIS

‘NCIS’: Vance’s Daughter Works a Case With the Team (PHOTOS)

Sean Murray, Rocky Carroll, Brian Dietzen, Mark Harmon in NCIS

How Is ‘NCIS’ Handling the Aftermath of Gibbs’ Exit? (POLL)

Wilmer Valderrama as Torres in NCIS
Spoiler Alert

‘NCIS’: Torres Painfully Faces Gibbs Leaving the Team — and Him (RECAP)

Sean Murray, Wilmer Valderrama, Gary Cole, Rocky Carroll, Katrina Law in NCIS
Spoiler Alert

‘NCIS’ Takes an Important Step Toward Becoming a Team Without Gibbs (RECAP)

Rocky Carroll as NCIS Director Leon Vance in NCIS
Spoiler Alert

How ‘NCIS’ Continues to Keep Gibbs Part of the Story (RECAP)

Wilmer Valderrama, Sean Murray, Katrina Law in NCIS

‘NCIS’: Sneak Peek at the Team’s Investigation in January Return (VIDEO)

Mark Harmon as Gibbs in NCIS

‘NCIS’: Is Parker Going to Arrest Gibbs? (VIDEO)

Mark Harmon as Gibbs in NCIS

‘NCIS’ Preview: Will Gibbs Get His Badge Back? (VIDEO)

Mark Harmon NCIS Season 18 Episode 13 Gibbs

Will Gibbs’ Next Move End His Career at ‘NCIS’? (VIDEO)

Mark Harmon Leroy Jethro Gibbs NCIS Season 18 Episode 11

‘NCIS’ Seems to Be Setting Gibbs Up to Go Part-Time If There’s a Season 19

NCIS COVID Compliance Season 18 Torres McGee Bishop

‘NCIS’ Preview: With Gibbs Suspended, His Team Is Reassigned (VIDEO)

Mark Harmon NCIS Season 18 Episode 10 Gibbs Arrested
Spoiler Alert

Is ‘NCIS’ Suspending Gibbs to Set Up Mark Harmon’s Exit From the Show?

Mark Harmon NCIS Season 18 Episode 10 Gibbs

‘NCIS’ Preview: Why Is Gibbs Arrested? (VIDEO)

NCIS Season 17 Episode 19 Blarney
Preview

‘NCIS’ Director Rocky Carroll Teases Jimmy & Kasie ‘Negotiate for Their Lives’

No Vacancy

Rocky Carroll Directs ‘NCIS’ Episode 7 ‘No Vacancy’ (PHOTOS)

NCIS Investigations  - Rocky Carroll
Q&A

Rocky Carroll on How ‘NCIS’ Compares to the True Crimes in ‘Cases They Can’t Forget’

The cast of the CBS series NCIS, scheduled to air on the CBS Television Network. Pictured: David McCallum, Brian Dietzen, Emily Wickersham, Wilmer Valderrama, Rocky Carroll, Mark Harmon, Maria Bello, Sean Murray, Duane Henry, Pauley Perrette. Photo: Kevin Lynch/CBS © 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Who Will Be the Next to Leave ‘NCIS’? A Look at Possible Season 16 Exits

NCIS
Preview

‘NCIS’ Premiere: A Time Jump, a Crossover & a ‘Period of Adjustment’ Post-Abby

111695_0845b

Will Another ‘NCIS’ Character Leave the Show? Season 15 Finale Hints at Exit

ncis-cast-gallery

‘NCIS’ Celebrates 350 Episodes — See How the Cast Has Changed (PHOTOS)

NCIS - Maria Bello, Rocky Carroll

Maria Bello Is ‘NCIS’s New Secret Weapon

Henrietta Lacks - Rocky Carroll
Preview

Rocky Carroll on Surprising ‘Henrietta Lacks’ and Working with Oprah Winfrey

Rocky Carroll narrates 48 Hours: NCIS

Heads up ‘NCIS’ Fans: CBS Announces ’48 Hours: NCIS’ Narrated by Rocky Carroll