Fans of NCIS were left heartbroken when Breena Palmer, played by Michelle Pierce, sadly died off-screen, leaving her husband, Dr Jimmy Palmer, played by Brian Dietzen, widowed
NCIS viewers were left heartbroken to find out that Breena Palmer, the wife of Dr Jimmy Palmer, had died behind the scenes, with the character being killed off the show in a very emotional way.
In season 18 of the CBS show, the Covid-19 pandemic had largely come and gone, but sadly claimed the life of Breena, played by Michelle Pierce. The character was introduced in season 7 and quickly became a fan favorite thanks to her kind nature and the love she had for her husband.
Fans of the series were saddened to learn that Breena had died from Covid-19 complications off-screen, leaving her husband widowed. The revelation came as a surprise and after his wife’s death, Dr Palmer had to grieve while maintaining his professional responsibilities.
But the decision to make Breena pass away quietly rather than in a dramatic way was not random. Brian Dietzen, who plays Jimmy, explained that the producers told him about Breena’s death beforehand as they wanted to emphasize the impact the pandemic had on the team, leaving both characters and viewers grappling with her loss.
The actor, 47, said producers had also warned him of the heartbreaking plotline so he could “emotionally” prepare. He told Entertainment Tonight, “I had been told that this was going to happen, that Jimmy was going to lose his wife before I received this script.
“I got a chance to speak with the writer, a new writer for our staff Margaret Lester. I got an opportunity to talk with her quite a bit beforehand.
“The producers let me know that we want the advent of Covid to hit our team. And yet, we don’t want to lose a team member. So the prospect of having Jimmy lose his wife, the most optimistic team member lose someone, came to the table and they thought it would be a great storytelling mechanic – albeit very, very sad. So they went ahead with it. I was notified ahead of time and prepared for it, I suppose, emotionally.”
Breena’s death allowed NCIS to address the pandemic’s impact, reflecting the experience of many people around the world who lost their loved ones but couldn’t be by their side due to health protocols. And Dr Palmer acknowledging that he couldn’t be with his wife in her final moments was a poignant reminder of the pandemic, which resonated with many viewers.
The character then made an emotional return in season 19, episode 13, as she appeared in a vision experienced by her husband as he was fighting for his life. In the episode, Jimmy and Kasie Hines were exposed to a deadly biotoxin and as he struggled to stay alive, he hallucinated, imagining Breena, who seemed to comfort and guide him during his near-death experience.
During the vision, Breena reassured her husband, encouraging him to keep fighting, especially for their daughter, Victoria. The character’s appearance was an emotional moment for viewers and also served as a form of closure, given that her death happened off-screen.