As NCIS moves closer to its historic 500th episode, Brian Dietzen is hinting that longtime viewers may soon see faces they haven’t forgotten. The milestone episode, scheduled to air on March 17, 2026, marks an extraordinary achievement for the CBS drama — and according to Dietzen, the celebrations won’t stop at cake.
The actor, who has played Dr. Jimmy Palmer for more than a decade, teased that several returning characters are set to appear in the coming episodes. While he avoided naming names, he stressed that surprises are part of what keeps NCIS alive after 23 seasons. With such a vast cast history across the flagship series and its spinoffs, nearly anyone could resurface.
Dietzen also reflected on how rare the moment feels, admitting the scale of 500 episodes only truly hit once production paused to acknowledge it. As NCIS approaches television “rare air,” the promise of unexpected returns adds a layer of mystery — and nostalgia — to an already landmark season.
