Brian Dietzen started his acting career in the early 2000s, and it didn’t take him long to get his biggest role: Jimmy Palmer on NCIS. Dietzsen has already appeared in more than 330 episodes of the popular television series, and there will undoubtedly be more.
Along with acting, the native of Barrington, Illinois, has produced and directed a number of episodes. But even as Brian rose to prominence, he was also struggling with some gravely alarming health issues.
You can find out everything about Brian right here, including how he got his job on NCIS, how his personal life appears, and more!
Acting certainly appears to be a great profession on paper. You get to work with incredibly imaginative people, take on a variety of tasks, and feel the excitement of being on set, frequently in various locations all over the world.
To put it simply, actors get to play a variety of characters, including those they may have imagined themselves as as children. We are all well aware of the difficulties that can arise in the acting business. Like those in any other line of work, successful people must work very hard to achieve their goals.
often more difficult than most. Before one obtains the position they truly desire in the entertainment industry, it may take years, if not decades. Being in the right place at the right time is obviously more important than an actor’s acting abilities in this situation.
Others, however, might find their ideal job sooner rather than later. Just ask Brian Dietzen, who after just a few years in the field, landed the most crucial assignment of his career. Jimmy Palmer, the medical examiner’s assistant, is a role that Dietzen has played since 2003.
Despite having a serious health condition that could have ended everything, he is still active today. Here is all the information you need to know about the well-known NCIS actor.
On November 14, 1977, Brian Dietzen was born in Barrington, Illinois. He was already a young child when he decided he wanted to grow up to be an actor.
Dietzen’s father advised him to “find what you love, and then figure out how to get paid for it.”.
Dietzen participated in school plays while still in elementary school. He performed in Christmas plays when he was in the second grade, and his enthusiasm grew all the way up to high school. It was clear right away that Brian had found his true purpose in life.
Dietzen sang in several punk rock bands during his high school and college years. He later studied acting at the University of Colorado Boulder. received the UROP grant for Outstanding Achievements in the Creative Arts after receiving a BFA in acting and beginning to perform with the Colorado Shakespeare Festival.
In addition to performing, Brian Dietzen also developed a love for writing.
It’s sort of an extension of acting. It’s developing a script, moving forward, and expressing some kind of artistic vision. Even when I was a student at CU Boulder, Brian Dietzen said, “I loved reading scripts.
“I loved learning about the masters, the classics, and other stuff like that. And after relocating here, I began collaborating on writing projects with my friend Abby Miller. Together, we created a feature musical. ”.
“We quickly realized that producing that feature would cost millions of dollars, so we decided to try our hand at writing something on a much more manageable topic, and we came up with Congratulations,” he continued. ”.
Before its 2012 debut, Congratulations was chosen by more than a dozen film festivals. Additionally, it won Best Feature awards from the United Film Festival and New Filmmakers. Dietzen, however, had already made a name for himself on a different show by that point.
Dietzen got his first big break after eventually relocating to Los Angeles thanks to his part as a drummer in the show My Guide to Becoming a Rockstar. Sadly, the show was short-lived, and Dietzen later appeared in the 2003 film From Justin to Kelly with Kelly Clarkson.
The majority of Brian’s early roles were in supporting or minor roles in lower-budget productions, which is common for many actors. Then, a cameo in 2004 turned into his most significant role to date.
Brian portrayed Jimmy Palmer, a medical examiner’s assistant, in the hit television series NCIS. His close friend and coworker David McCallum played Donald Mallard on the show.
We now know that Dietzen was supposed to appear in more than one episode. Although he has been a part of the show for a long time, he insisted that his first day on set was one of his most cherished memories.
“My first scene here is one of the significant, memorable days. In addition, I was asked to perform a scene with David McCallum one day, he told CBS.
And I entered, nervously working on a tape recorder as we had a nice, juicy scene with David.
I had a great time with him while we were playing”.
He continued, “It was very, very fun.”. “I also recall thinking that this was a lot of fun for my reel. Goodbye. Fortunately, they brought me back; I still work here, and that was awesome, but that was one of my most memorable moments. ”.
After appearing in a cameo in an NCIS episode, Dietzen at first didn’t plan on returning. The actor’s contract called for him to show up as a guest, but it didn’t take long for them to want him back to do more.
It’s possible that his approach to the NCIS project played a role in this. Dietzen acknowledged making some “really bold” choices for his audition, which paid well, in an interview with author Paul Semel from 2014.
They enjoyed it so much that it became a ten-year job. I would have had to audition for the network if it had been for a starring role, and I’m sure I would have chosen differently if I had. Brian continued, “And I doubt I would have been hired.
As time went on, Dietzen was chosen for an increasing number of episodes. Naturally, being a part of a popular television show and recording every episode meant giving up the chance to work on other projects. However, Brian didn’t go back. Ultimately, he believed he had chosen wisely.
“It is a fantastic career opportunity, but the more time you devote to one show, the less time you have for other activities. So that thought definitely enters into it,” he continued.
But since I enjoy working on this show so much, especially with the cast, writers, and crew, it was an easy decision. ”.
According to Entertainment Weekly, eight years after making an appearance in his first NCIS episode, Brian was promoted to series regular in 2012. NCIS had already established itself as one of the most watched television programs by the time it entered its tenth season.
NCIS is one of the most well-known shows in the world, with millions of viewers each week. NCIS: New Orleans, NCIS: Los Angeles, and NCIS: Hawaii are just a few of the many CBS spin-offs that are currently available, according to The Hollywood Reporter, with licenses in more than 200 countries.
Additionally, the program has won numerous other honors over the course of its run and been nominated for three Primetime Emmys.
Along with David McCallum, Mark Harmon, Pauley Perrette, and Sean Murray, Dietzen has worked with other well-known people in his most recent guest roles. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Dietzen has a personal net worth of almost $2 million.
Brian Dietzen could unwind after signing a significant contract for the show, which was crucial from the perspective of an employee. In addition, he will now be featured in the opening credits, which will no doubt please longtime NCIS viewers.
At the time, Dietzen told Entertainment Weekly, “I’m very excited.
I signed a contract with CBS after eight years on the show, and I couldn’t be happier about it. I believe I am secure, and a contract is a good way to state that. ”.
It must get pretty boring after a while to come to the set every day to work on a television show. Although Dietzen has appeared in more than 330 episodes of NCIS, he still has a passion for the show.
I enjoy going to work. Of course, we all have our bad days, but Jimmy Palmer is a man who always says, “I’m ready to go, and I’m excited to be here.”.
There is no nativity involved.
He said, “It’s about optimism and a self-fulfilled happiness.
It must get pretty boring after a while to come to the set every day to work on a television show. Despite having participated in more than 330 episodes of NCIS, Dietzen still pursues his passion.
“I’m going to say something that will sound like an advertisement, but it’s not, but the Apple Watch saved my life. In an interview, Brian Dietzen recalled the incident: “I was on the floor of my bathroom, puking, and I pulled out my phone and was like, ‘Oh sh*t, I can’t use my fingers.
I then dialed my wife by telling Siri to call Kelly. I proclaimed, “I need assistance. You sound as though you have marbles in your mouth, the woman said. ’”.
Brian was able to call 911 using his voice command, and after that, he was taken right to the hospital. In the MRI tube, he evaluated his life.
“I don’t believe there is much that I have neglected because everyone I love is aware of my love for them,” and similar statements. Brian said, “But then I was like, ‘Whoa, no, I can’t start thinking that way,’ and I started trying to get my mind in the right place.
And I could sense something happening in my brain, but all of a sudden, I was able to move my hands and start moving my tongue. My tongue-twister routine began. “Please stay still,” they say. The brain clot did, however, dissolve. And I counted myself extremely fortunate that my cardiovascular system and I had remained in excellent health”.
After regaining stability, Dietzen was sent to UCLA for treatment because a test there discovered a hole between his atrial chambers that needed to be sealed. He underwent surgery right away. Doctors warned the NCIS actor that it would be dangerous for him to undergo any anesthesia, so he chose to watch the entire procedure on an overhead screen so he could see how the hole in his heart was repaired.
Thankfully, he made it through and was able to resume his job. The fact that he got to see Kelly, his wife, and their two children once more was the most crucial aspect.
“And then over the next six months, as everyone was sitting at home, including myself, I started asking those questions of, ‘How do I want to affect the world? And which stories do I want to tell?’” he continued. “You go through all the scenarios — should I be on this show anymore? Should I move on, do something different? What’s going to make me happy?
“And I realized there’s no reason why I can’t tell really great stories, branch out, and still do what I love on this thing, and be surrounded by these people who have supported me and whom I support and love. ”.
We are so relieved that Brian Dietzen overcame the terrifying stroke incident and is now able to stand without assistance. I hope he stays with NCIS for a very long time.
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