NCIS: Brian Dietzen Has A Sweet Personal Connection To The Actress Who Plays Jimmy Palmer’s Daughter

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Contains spoilers for “NCIS” Season 22, Episode 14 — “Close to Home”

A significant aspect of NCIS’s Chief Medical Examiner Jimmy Palmer, played by Brian Dietzen, involves him diligently raising his daughter Victoria Palmer (Elle Graper), following the loss of his wife. Despite her infrequent appearances on the show, Victoria has significantly influenced Jimmy’s character development. When she finally made an appearance in Season 19, it was a significant moment for Dietzen as he had co-written the episode with Scott Williams. As Dietzen shared with TV Insider, “It was the first episode that I co-wrote with Scott Williams called ‘The Helpers,’ and we found Elle amidst COVID casting. She was exceptional, and we were fortunate to have her on our set, leaving a lasting impression on us.

In Season 22, Graper once again took on the character of Victoria. At this point, she’s firmly in her teenage years, and her dynamic with her father has evolved – Victoria finds her dad embarrassingly out-of-touch. She views his job as a medical examiner as unappealing compared to the exciting field agents like Jimmy’s former partner Jessica Knight (Katrina Law). However, by the end of the season, her perspective on her father’s work undergoes a shift, thanks largely to Jimmy’s role in tracking down a serial killer known as The Saratoga Specter.

In the portrayal of Jimmy and his teenage daughter, the scenes seem incredibly authentic. This is because Dietzen, in real life, shares a similar age with Graper’s character. He expressed, “I would do anything for her. I truly felt that protective father emotion intensely, something all fathers experience. The precious bonds we create.” Dietzen shared this sentiment with TV Insider, further explaining, “We have an extremely strong connection, and I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have it in my life. I’m grateful that Jimmy gets to experience it as well.

Has Elle Graper been in anything other than NCIS?

Elle Graper has made two appearances on “NCIS” as Victoria thus far, and she is also building a career for herself in acting beyond her father’s work. She portrayed the young version of Summer Dutkowsky, played by Busy Phillips, in an episode of “Girls5Eva,” and she starred as Lucy in the holiday movie “A Holiday Spectacular” on Hallmark. Additionally, she made a brief appearance in the Sopranos prequel film “The Many Saints of Newark,” although her role as a Catholic school girl was not credited. Looking back to earlier roles, Graper appeared in an episode of “Sesame Street,” where she was one of the children during Season 51’s “Family Day.

Beyond just being Victoria Palmer, there’s a richness to her that’s been especially accentuated by her role in the show so far. This part has significantly influenced both her professional growth and personal connections. Graper shares an equal fondness for working alongside Brian Dietzen as he does with her, and this affection isn’t hidden. In a heartfelt Instagram post on the day “Close to Home” aired, she openly praised Dietzen as “the greatest TV dad ever.” She further expressed her contentment by saying, “There’s no other place I’d rather be than being part of this exceptional cast and crew on this show.

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2025-03-05 21:40