NCIS is approaching a milestone few TV series ever reach — its 500th episode — and Brian Dietzen is teasing that longtime fans should expect some familiar faces along the way. Speaking ahead of the landmark installment set to air March 17, 2026, the actor behind Dr. Jimmy Palmer hinted that returning characters will play a role in upcoming episodes.
While Dietzen stayed tight-lipped about specific names, he emphasized that the show’s deep history makes surprise appearances possible at any time. With 23 seasons under its belt — and multiple spinoffs expanding the universe — NCIS has no shortage of beloved characters who could reemerge.
The cast recently paused production to celebrate the achievement, a moment Dietzen described as both humbling and surreal. After years of working episode by episode, the scale of 500 finally set in. As NCIS enters this rare television territory, the promise of nostalgic returns only adds to the excitement surrounding its historic moment.
