I can tell you he's a classically trained actor who was nominated for a Tony Award for best actor before anyone had even heard of him on TV. I can tell you that he and Mark Harmon go back much further than their 12 years together on "NCIS." And I can tell you that his real name isn't Rocky.

Roscoe Carroll was born in Cincinnati in 1953 and attended the prestigious School for Creative and Performing Arts there with fellow Ohioan Sarah Jessica Parker ("Sex and the City"), before moving to St. Louis to get a bachelor of fine arts from Webster University. This all means he got his start as a stage actor and had a lot of success there before even considering a move to TV. He was nominated for a Tony for best actor in 1990 for his lead role in "The Piano Lesson."

But TV called, and that is, of course, where he's had most of his success. Outside his role as Vance on all three NCIS shows, he's probably best known for his role as Dr. Keith Wilkes on "Chicago Hope" from 1996 to 2000. That's where he first worked with future "NCIS" co-star Harmon -- they both joined the series late as part of a cast shakeup that followed the (temporary) departure of original star Mandy Patinkin. Another future "NCIS" star, Lauren Holly, joined even later, for the show's final season in 1999.

Another fun bit of trivia: Carroll and another former "NCIS" buddy, Michael Weatherly (who played DiNozzo), share the same birthday: July 8.  

Have a question? Email us at questions@tvtabloid.com. Please include your name and town. Personal replies will not be provided.