Wilmer Valderrama isn’t planning to leave NCIS anytime soon, but the thought has crossed his mind. As he prepares to start filming for the drama’s 22nd season, he spoke about his future on the show during a panel at the 2024 Monte-Carlo Television Festival in Monaco. When asked how he envisioned his character, Agent Nick Torres, potentially being killed off, he had an explosive idea.
“Like Denzel Washington in Training Day — just go out,” Valderrama said, referencing the 2001 film where Denzel’s character, Alonso Harris, died in a hail of machine gunfire. “I think not being the bad guy [like Harris was], of course, I’d like to die as a good guy. But defending my family somehow, just in a storm of bullets, I just see a storm of bullets just washing over me, just dying heroically with violins in the background and the rain pouring.”
Valderrama joined NCIS in 2016, debuting in the premiere episode of season 14. His character quickly became a favorite among longtime viewers, with storylines ranging from Nick going undercover in prison to revealing heartbreaking moments about his family’s past. He has also emphasized the strong bond among the cast, which contributes significantly to the show’s success.
“We have a blast on set!” he told People in April. “The funny thing is that the darker the case, the funnier the set. We laugh our asses off. And it doesn’t hurt that the world comes along and enjoys it with us.”
Valderrama appreciates being part of the NCIS legacy, as he expressed in an Instagram video ahead of the show’s 1000th episode in April 2024.
“What a privilege to share the screen with all these amazing people, and a greater honor to be part of such an iconic legacy for #NCIS,” he captioned the clip. “Thank you to everyone that laid a brick in such a monumental moment for the number 1 TV franchise in the world!”