‘NCIS’: Jimmy Palmer’s Wife’s Off-Screen Death, Explained

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Since joining NCIS as a main cast member in 2012 at the start of Season 10, Brian Dietzen’s character, Jimmy Palmer, has become a more and more important part of the show. Dietzen and Sean Murray are the only two actors who have been in all 22 seasons. Palmer started as the assistant to Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard (played by David McCallum), and later became the NCIS chief medical examiner in Season 16 (2019) when Ducky stepped down to become the NCIS historian.

The long-running characters of Dietzen and Palmer took center stage in the season 21 premiere of NCIS, culminating in a heartbreaking phone call where Palmer informs Special Agent Alden Parker that Ducky passed away peacefully in his sleep. The following episode begins with Palmer arriving at Ducky’s home and discovering his body, offering a somber and respectful moment of farewell.

The death of Ducky on the show mirrored the real-life passing of actor David McCallum, and it’s another heartbreaking loss for Palmer, who previously lost his wife, Breena, in Season 18. While the news of Ducky’s death was anticipated following McCallum’s passing on September 25, 2023, Breena’s death was a complete surprise, happening unexpectedly off-screen. Adding to the tragedy, Palmer was unable to be with Breena before she passed away.

‘NCIS’ Shocked Viewers With Jimmy Palmer’s Wife’s Death


CBS

Breena Palmer, played by Michelle Pierce, was only in seven episodes of NCIS during its 13 seasons. Because of this, her death didn’t resonate with viewers as strongly as other major character departures, like Mark Harmon leaving or the passing of Ducky. However, NCIS used Breena’s death as a way to acknowledge the real-life losses many people experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, while still allowing Jimmy Palmer to remain a central character. The writers and producers also believed this storyline would create opportunities for Jimmy’s character to grow and develop.

The show revealed in a Season 18 episode, “The First Day,” that Breena passed away in December 2020 due to complications from COVID-19. Because of pandemic restrictions, Palmer couldn’t visit her before she died and could only connect with her via video calls. Though he mostly appears upbeat, Palmer becomes overwhelmed with grief in front of Gibbs, who understands his pain of loss.

Breena joined the show in its seventh season as a mortician who began dating Palmer. By the end of the eighth season, Jimmy announced they were getting married. Their daughter, Victoria—named after Ducky’s late mother—was born on February 3, 2015. Jimmy and Breena had married in May 2012, and Victoria is their only child.

Breena Palmer’s Death Had Lasting Effects in ‘NCIS’


CBS

Brian Dietzen has shown his commitment to the show by writing several episodes over the last four seasons and by continuing to explore how Jimmy is affected by his late wife, Breena. He first began working as a writer with the Season 19 episode, “The Helpers,” which featured Jimmy’s emotional reunion with Breena in the afterlife.

This episode features Jimmy and forensic scientist Kasie stuck in quarantine after exposure to a dangerous poison. They need an antidote to survive. As the toxin affects Jimmy, he hallucinates a peaceful field and believes he’s with Breena again. This allows Jimmy—and the audience—to finally witness the emotional goodbye he and Breena never had.

Even though it’s just a dream, being with Breena again helps Jimmy start to accept her death. During their time together, she urges him to stop being sad and begin building a new life without her. Taking her advice to heart, Jimmy removes his wedding ring—a sign that he needs to focus on the future and finally process his grief.

This episode features a moving appearance by Jimmy’s daughter, Victoria, who is understandably scared that the poison will kill her father and leave her without parents. In a particularly powerful moment, a sick Jimmy tells Victoria that while everyone dies eventually, it’s how we live that truly matters.

Palmer Tried To Move on From Breena, But Could Not Escape the Past


CBS

During season 20 of NCIS, Jimmy Palmer started dating Special Agent Jessica Knight (played by Katrina Law). Their relationship faced challenges in seasons 20 and 21 because Jessica was focused on advancing her career. The season 21 finale saw Jessica offered her ideal job as a trainer at Camp Pendleton, leaving the future of their relationship uncertain.

Okay, so things get really intense. Knight’s trying to make a long-distance thing work with Jimmy, but Jimmy, surprisingly, thinks they should just break it off and encourages Knight to take this amazing job opportunity. Then, after talking it over with Kasie – who basically tells Jimmy he’s crazy to let Knight go – Jimmy tries to call and fix things. But here’s the kicker: Knight is trapped on a Navy ship that’s actually sinking! Talk about bad timing, right? It’s a total nail-biter moment.

Although their relationship ended ambiguously in Season 21, Season 22 clearly shows that Jimmy and Knight have split up. Their different goals – Jessica’s focus on her career and Jimmy’s need for emotional support – created too many problems for them to overcome. It’s likely that Jimmy’s previous painful experience with Breena also made it difficult for him to be flexible and feel secure in a new relationship.

Where To Watch ‘NCIS’


CBS

NCIS is still a major force on television as it begins its 23rd season in October 2025. The show has also created several successful spin-offs, including the popular new series NCIS: Tony & Ziva, which will return for a second season. Whether you’re new to the franchise or a longtime fan, there’s plenty of NCIS to enjoy. If you only want to watch the original series, all 23 seasons are available to stream on Paramount+.

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2025-12-01 03:34