Brian Dietzen has been a staple of NCIS since its very first season, portraying fan-favorite Dr. Jimmy Palmer for more than two decades. While many actors would be satisfied with such a long-running role, Dietzen has expanded his contributions to the hit CBS drama by stepping into the writers’ room and penning four episodes of the series.
Surprisingly, his journey as a writer began after an honest conversation with executive producer Steven D. Binder. As veteran actor David McCallum started appearing less frequently on the show, Dietzen noticed that some of Jimmy Palmer’s dialogue no longer felt true to the character.
Speaking on the NCIS: Partners & Probies podcast, Dietzen recalled telling Binder that some of his lines sounded more like they belonged to an older Scottish man than to Jimmy Palmer. Binder’s response was blunt but motivating: “If you think you can do better, just do it.”
Taking the challenge seriously, Dietzen went home and wrote more than ten pages of scenes. The next day, he sent them to Binder, who was impressed enough to ask him a simple question: “Do you want to write an episode?”
That opportunity led to Dietzen writing his first NCIS episode, “The Helpers,” in Season 19. He later wrote episodes for Seasons 20, 21, and 23, including the emotional tribute to David McCallum’s beloved character, Ducky.
Today, Dietzen remains one of the few NCIS stars to contribute both on-screen and behind the scenes. With NCIS set to return for Season 24 following a dramatic cliffhanger, fans are already wondering whether he will once again bring his storytelling talents to the writers’ room.
While nothing has been confirmed, Dietzen’s successful transition from actor to writer has become one of the show’s most unexpected and inspiring success stories.
Be First to Comment