Such is the case for actor Brian Dietzen, who today plays Assistant Medical Examiner Dr. Jimmy Palmer on "NCIS." However, this wasn't initially in the cards, as Dietzen's role was intended to last one episode, back when he was first introduced in 2004 (via Cheat Sheet). So how did Dietzen end up with such staying power? He took risks — and they paid off.
"I was a one day guest star. But what's funny is that because it was just a one day job, I decided to make some really bold choices when I auditioned. And they liked it so much that it turned into a ten-year job," Dietzen explained in an interview with Paul Semel. "Had it been for a starring role, I would've had to test for the network, and if I had done that, I probably would've made different choices. And I probably wouldn't have gotten the job."
Although Dietzen appeared on the show in its first nine seasons, it wasn't until Season 10 that he was finally made a series regular (via Hello!). Dietzen has now filmed hundreds of "NCIS" episodes, he can still name his favorite.
"We did this episode called 'Keep Going.' It was about Jimmy Palmer out on a ledge. He was trying to talk down a kid, who was suicidal..," Dietzen shared with Inside Ottawa Valley. "It was an absolute blast. I got to do some wonderful scenes with some really good actors."
