Dr. Jimmy Palmer’s love life is a bit up in the air on NCIS, but Brian Dietzen has been happily married for over 20 years. The actor said “I do” to wife Kelly in 2004, and they’ve since welcomed two kids.
The Dietzens prefer to keep most of their lives out of the public eye, but Brian does occasionally give a glimpse into his marriage and life at home. In honor of his wife’s birthday on August 4, the 47-year-old opened up about his love for her.
“Happy birthday to the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” Brian’s heartfelt love note to his wife began. “This powerful, caring, giving, beautiful woman inspires me to be a better human, and makes me smile every day just by being herself. I am so damn fortunate to have her not only as my partner in this journey, but also as the mother to our kiddos.”
The CBS actor shared a beautiful photo of his wife as well. “Love you always Kel. Here’s to many many more together,” he concluded.
In 2020, Brian had a stroke. The actor credited his Apple Watch for saving his life. He told Variety, “I was on the floor of my bathroom, throwing up, and I pulled out my phone and I was like, ‘Oh sh*t, I can’t use my fingers.’ And so I said, ‘Hey, Siri, call Kelly,’ and called my wife and I said, ‘I need help.’ She said, ‘You sound like you have marbles in your mouth.’”
He used voice command to call 911. While getting an MRI, Brian reflected on his life, “‘I don’t think there’s much that I’ve left undone, because everyone that I love knows that I love them’ — that sort of thing. But then I was like, ‘Whoa, no, I can’t start thinking that way,’ and then I started trying to get my mind in the right place.” Brian underwent surgery and has since recovered.
Brian will be returning to NCIS this fall for Season 23. The actor’s holding out hope that Palmer will pop up on the NCIS spinoff, Tony & Ziva, but he told TV Insider that “it’s not going to happen in their first season.”
NCIS, Season 23, Tuesday, October 14, 8/7c, CBS
