Today, on September 25, we celebrate "NCIS" Day, marking an impressive two decades of the beloved CBS crime procedural series. As we reflect on the epic success of "NCIS," it's impossible not to acknowledge the remarkable journey of one of its key figures, Rocky Carroll. 

Over the years, Carroll has seamlessly transitioned from a talented actor to a skilled director within the "NCIS" universe, leaving a mark on the show's legacy. His evolution within the series is a testament to his dedication, versatility, and deep connection to the world of "NCIS." In this special feature, we delve into Rocky Carroll's captivating journey in the series.

BET: Twenty years ago this week, "NCIS" premiered. How does it feel to be part of the show's iconic legacy?

Rocky Carroll: Most shows don't go that long and my running joke is most careers in Hollywood don't last 20 years. [Laughs] It's incredible, actors spend most of their careers going from job to job or looking for jobs. It's 15 years going into my 16th year, but one of the most exciting things that has happened to me is I started the first eight seasons in front of the camera. And then organically worked my way behind the camera and basically learned the language of directing for television on the job. My interest in directing grew over time, and I was given the opportunity. Now, I'm behind the camera on one of the most popular shows in television history.

BET: What have you learned most about being behind the lens?

Rocky Carroll: The thing that I can honestly say that I've learned the most is that I've still got a lot to learn. There are certain things in life, no matter how long you do it, you never feel like you master it. That's the exciting thing about the profession that I've chosen to begin with acting, and especially directing -- my whole life has been geared toward performing and being in front of the camera. Now, I've learned this new language. I'm learning the nuances. There are so many things to focus on. There are so many things that require your attention, so many little things -- as an actor, you show up, know your lines, hit your mark, play your character, and that's it. As a director, you're responsible for every element. Each time I direct, I feel like my vision broadens. It opens up just a little bit more. I'm able to envision things in the nuances of directing. In each episode, literally, there's a moment where I say -- so that's how that works!

BET:  You came up in the theater community in Ohio. When did you first fall in love with filmmaking?

Rocky Carroll:  Yeah, I was a stage actor. My college years, my conservatory training, my first years as a professional actor were in regional theaters around America. I was on Broadway in 1990. Up until that point, I had only been in front of the camera once in my professional career, and that was in the 1989 Tom Cruise film "Born on the Fourth of July." As a stage actor, that was the first time I had crossed over into doing film. When I came to Los Angeles in 1990, I found myself as a member of the cast of the sitcom "Roc." That was the first time on a regular basis that I was in front of the camera. At first, it was a real trial by fire for me because I was a stage actor,  I was used to how the stage worked, and I did not understand acting for the camera. Fortunately for me, throughout the early 1990s and in the early 2000s, I was able to go from project to project. I began to develop and understand how you can tell a story with the camera -- that was a thing I started to understand, the multiple ways that you can tell the story with the camera. I began to appreciate that over time, especially in the 1990s and the early 2000s, as I got more experienced in front of the camera.

BET: What do you think it is about "NCIS" that has resonated with audiences for over two decades?

Rocky Carroll:  I've always said if I knew the real answer to that, I would bottle it and sell it because it's a formula that works -- but I think the formula preceded "NCIS." When I was a kid, back in the late '60s and early '70s, every network had a Western. What I always say about "NCIS" is we've become the modern-day Westerns -- where there is a main character who is the moral compass of the story, a character who has an innate sense of right and wrong. At the end of the day, good will eventually win out. That's the formula that has always worked; it worked in Westerns. It's a simple equation of right and wrong that you have one character who represents what's right. I think that and the crime-solving aspect of "NCIS" and the relationships between the characters; there's this organic sense of humor, a real bond between the characters, but just that sense of good guys versus bad guys. It's a proven formula, it worked in the Westerns and I think that's what "NCIS" has become now.

BET: We are all the directors of our own lives. What does the director's cut of your life and your journey look like thus far in Hollywood?

Rocky Carroll:  The director's cut, the studios would probably want me to cut it down for time. [Laughs] I'm going to stay in the mode of Francis Ford Coppola, even if it's long, even if there are a lot of layers to it, I think the audience will stick with it. The director's cut, it looks pretty good. I don't want to leave a lot of footage on the cutting room floor. Right now, it's too hard to decide what to cut and what to leave in because I feel like I'm getting a lot of good footage.

To celebrate 20 years "NCIS," CBS has declared today "NCIS" Day. Starting at 8 pm ET/PT tonight, CBS is airing back-to-back-to-back episodes of "NCIS."  Check your local listings.