Brian Dietzen, who plays Jimmy Palmer on the TV show “NCIS,” recently co-wrote a special tribute episode for his co-star David McCallum, who played the character Ducky. McCallum passed away in September, and the tribute episode, titled “The Stories We Leave Behind,” will honor both the character and the actor. The episode is set to air on Monday night on CBS.
Dietzen shared that writing the episode was a cathartic experience for him, especially considering he had worked closely with McCallum for 20 years. He mentioned that the goal of the episode was to provide a space for both the cast and audience to share their sadness and joy in remembering McCallum.
The actor also discussed his character’s arc and the current season of “NCIS,” noting that his character, Jimmy Palmer, has gone through significant personal growth and will be involved in a romantic storyline with another character on the show. He expressed excitement about the comedic and dramatic opportunities in the season’s scripts.
In addition, Dietzen reflected on his close relationship with McCallum, describing the veteran actor as someone who enjoyed working and valued spending time with his family. He highlighted McCallum’s professionalism and work ethic, even into his 80s.
Despite the loss of McCallum, Dietzen remains excited about the future of “NCIS” and the opportunity to continue telling compelling stories for the audience to enjoy.
The tribute episode is expected to be a heartfelt and emotional journey for both the characters and the viewers, as they bid farewell to Ducky and the late David McCallum.
