NCIS Star Brian Dietzen’s Shocking Stroke Survival Story and Comeback
Brian Dietzen, known for his role as Jimmy Palmer on “NCIS,” faced a terrifying health crisis in 2020 when he suffered a dual embolic stroke in his cerebellum. In an interview with Variety, Dietzen recounted the harrowing experience, saying, “My hands were all curled up, and it was terrifying. I remember getting rushed to the hospital and thinking, ‘Well, I don’t have a career anymore. I guess I’m gonna have to focus on writing, because I can’t speak.’”
Dietzen credits his Apple Watch with saving his life. During the stroke, unable to use his fingers, he used Siri to call his wife for help. Miraculously, the blood clot passed after three hours, and Dietzen survived without major consequences.
Determined to continue his career, Dietzen took a bold step by co-writing an episode of “NCIS,” becoming the first actor in the show’s nearly two-decade history to do so. Reflecting on this decision, he said, “I realized there’s no reason why I can’t tell really great stories and branch out and still do what I love.”
Now, four years later, Dietzen celebrated the 1000th episode of “NCIS” with his co-stars. He expressed his gratitude for the long-standing crew, saying, “I love these people that I work with, and our crew that’s been together with us for 21 years.”
As filming for “NCIS” Season 22 begins, Dietzen is excited to return, sharing on Instagram, “Hello Jimmy Palmer. Welcome back everyone!”
