The Scene in NCIS Season 21 That Brought Brian Dietzen to Tears

The passing of David McCallum at the age of 90 in 2023 deeply moved those close to him, including Brian Dietzen, known for his role as Jimmy Palmer on “NCIS.” Dietzen shared with TV Insider his emotional experience filming a poignant scene for the tribute episode titled “The Stories We Leave Behind,” dedicated to McCallum and his character, Ducky Mallard.

Dietzen’s reaction is poignant, especially as his character, Jimmy, discovers Ducky’s passing first. He revealed, “The cold open scene where Jimmy finds Ducky [who has passed away in his sleep] overwhelmed me with emotion. I was just a bucket of tears.” Having co-written the episode with Scott Williams, Dietzen had anticipated this moment.

He specifically wanted to include a scene from an episode titled “Face The Strange” by Steven Binder in the mid-episode montage. This scene, which shows Ducky adjusting to changes at the NCIS office following the departures of Leroy Gibbs (played by Mark Harmon) and Ellie Bishop (Emily Wickersham), resonates as a self-eulogy by McCallum, according to Dietzen.

Dietzen acknowledged the collective mourning on set, as cast and crew shared memories of McCallum. However, he also spoke of a deep personal connection with the late actor, likening the parallels between Jimmy and Ducky’s relationship to his own bond with McCallum. This reflection stirred profound emotions in him.

Beyond delivering one of Jimmy Palmer’s most memorable performances, Dietzen’s focus isn’t on accolades but on honoring McCallum’s legacy. He hopes the episode resonates with those who admired McCallum but never had the chance to work alongside him. Dietzen’s sentiments extend beyond the set, sharing that the team attended McCallum’s memorial service in New York in early January, expressing a heartfelt desire for the actor’s family to appreciate the tribute episode.