Across 22 seasons, “NCIS” has never shied away from k1lling off characters – sometimes to raise the stakes, sometimes purely for drama. Fans expect danger on a procedural like this, but now and then, the show takes out a character who seemed destined for more, leaving viewers frustrated, heartbroken, or just confused. These are five “NCIS” deaths that still don’t sit right with fans.
Special Agent Ned Dorneget had more story to tell
Introduced in Season 9, Agent Ned Dorneget – played by “Breaking Bad” alum Matt L. Jones – quickly became a fan favorite thanks to his awkward charm and dry wit. After only six episodes scattered across three seasons, he was abruptly k1lled off in Season 12’s “The Lost Boys,” dying in a bomb explosion in Cairo. Fans weren’t just upset by his limited screen time; they were disappointed that one of the show’s few LGBTQ+ characters met such an early end. Though his death fit the storyline, many felt Dorneget had far more potential.
Agent Paula Cassidy deserved better
A familiar face since Season 1, Paula Cassidy appeared sporadically over four seasons before meeting her end in the emotional Season 4 episode “Grace Period.” Her sacrifice to save Gibbs, DiNozzo, and Ziva makes for fantastic television, but it also ended the arc of a character who many viewers hoped would become a series regular. Unlike Dorneget, Cassidy’s death wasn’t due to the actress wanting out – it was simply for shock value, making the loss sting even more.
Jackie Vance’s sudden death felt needless
Jackie Vance, wife of longtime cast member Leon Vance, appeared in only four episodes before being k1lled in Season 10’s “Shabbat Shalom.” Fans questioned why a character with so little screen time – but so much potential – was suddenly written out. According to producers, Jackie’s death was meant to shake up Vance’s storyline. For many viewers, though, it felt like unnecessary tragedy stacked on top of the simultaneous death of Eli David.
Emily Fornell’s death hit hard
The death of Emily Fornell – daughter of Tobias Fornell and stepdaughter figure to Gibbs – in Season 18’s “Winter Chill” left fans devastated. Introduced as a child and later portrayed by Juliette Angelo, Emily had a long, evolving presence on the show. After struggling with addiction, she dies from an overdose, a storyline many fans felt was both heartbreaking and avoidable. Some argued the plot would have worked just as well without k1lling her off.
MI6 Agent Clayton Reeves was taken too soon
Clayton Reeves, introduced in Season 13 and promoted to main cast in Season 14, brought fresh energy to the team – making his Season 15 death in “Two Steps Back” all the more frustrating. Unlike other departures, Reeves wasn’t k1lled off because of actor conflicts or story necessity. Instead, after the writer who created him passed away, the remaining writers didn’t know how to continue his arc. Fans were disappointed to lose a character with so much charisma and promise, feeling his death was more about behind-the-scenes uncertainty than storytelling.
