Wilmer Valderrama has become a mainstay of primetime TV dramas through his work on NCIS. Since 2016, the fan-favorite actor has played the role of Nick Torres, an integral part of the lead team of special agents. It’s hard to imagine the series without Nick, though Valderrama has thought about how he’d want Torres to exit the long-running series. Surprisingly, his plan channels “Denzel Washington in Training Day.”
In Antoine Fuqua’s Oscar-winning 2001 film, Denzel Washington plays crooked cop Alonzo Harris, who navigates crime-ridden neighborhoods in California alongside young officer Jake Hoyt, played by Ethan Hawke. Alonzo’s violent end, gunned down by mafia associates, is a memorable and tragic moment.
Valderrama told TV Insider that if Nick Torres has to go, his death should be similarly dramatic. “Like Denzel Washington in Training Day—just go out. I think not being the bad guy, of course, I’d like to die as a good guy. But defending my family somehow, just in a storm of bullets. I see a storm of bullets just washing over me, dying heroically with violins in the background and rain pouring.”
His NCIS co-star, Brian Dietzen (Jimmy Palmer), joked that “white doves” should be added to the scene, but Valderrama felt that would be “too Nicolas Cage.” Regardless of how CBS would feel about such an exit, going out while protecting loved ones would be a fitting end for the former undercover agent.
Valderrama’s love for Training Day, an excellent crime thriller showcasing Denzel Washington’s talents, is clear. Fuqua’s iconic “King Kong” scene and Washington’s Best Actor Oscar win highlight the film’s impact. Ironically, a TV show based on the movie was canceled by CBS after one season.
As for Nick Torres, it’s unlikely he’ll meet a fate similar to Alonzo Harris’ anytime soon. NCIS is still going strong and is set to return for Season 22 this fall. Valderrama is set to return, and unless he requests to leave the show, Torres isn’t going anywhere. However, if he did go out like Denzel Washington’s character, it would be a memorable moment in TV history.
Fans can catch up on NCIS by streaming past episodes on Paramount+. Training Day is also available to rent or buy on multiple digital platforms.
