Rocky Carroll pulls double duty

Actor to appear in 'NCIS,' 'NCIS' spinoff

By MICHAEL SCHNEIDER

Rocky Carroll will play the same character in CBS’ 'NCIS' and 'NCIS: Los Angeles.'

In a rare case of primetime double duty, thesp Rocky Carroll will simultaneously appear on both "NCIS" and frosh spinoff "NCIS: Los Angeles" next season.

Carroll is signed up to star fulltime in the "NCIS" mothership. But he's also onboard as a recurring cast member on "NCIS: Los Angeles" as the same character.

Carroll plays the Naval Criminal Investigative Service director Leon Vance, whose oversight -- just like that of the real-life NCIS director -- includes multiple jurisdictions.

As a result, the Mark Harmon-led team on "NCIS" will be seen reporting to Carroll, and ditto the LL Cool J-Chris O'Donnell team on "NCIS: Los Angeles."

Carroll joined "NCIS" fulltime last year after his character, who had been assistant director of the NCIS, was promoted in the wake of the death of his predecessor (Lauren Holly).

CBS TV Studios is behind "NCIS" and "NCIS: Los Angeles," which will air back-to-back this fall on Tuesday nights.