NCIS star Brian Dietzen shared a heartfelt tribute to the long-running CBS show as he reunited with his co-stars on the picket lines of the ongoing writers' strike.
The actor, who plays Dr Jimmy Palmer on the show, got together with his colleagues on Tuesday to show their support for the members of the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA who are currently striking.
In the post, he reflected on his time as a young actor and explained how he landed his role on NCIS. Sharing a snap that showed the NCIS cast and crew, including Sean Murray and Gary Cole, posing for a photo while holding up signs, Brian wrote: "In 2001 I booked a role that moved me to Canada, and gained me entry to the Screen Actors Guild. I was (and still am) so very proud to be a part of this union. I'd dreamt of being a professional stage actor all through high school and college, and while I was acting on a different type of stage now, I felt so validated that I had a professional union at my back.
"Two years later, in 2003 I was cast as a one-day guest star on a project that would change my life. This little spin-off of the show JAG needed someone to play an assistant medical examiner opposite the legend David McCallum. I was lucky enough to be the guy to play Jimmy Palmer."
He continued: "Over the course of the next several years, I recurred on the show and thanks to my union's protections, I was guaranteed a residual payment whenever a performance of mine aired. It enabled me to get medical coverage for myself and my wife, and to pay our bills.
"As the show's success grew, so did my own, and I'm forever grateful to the group of people both past and present who I've created alongside. I've been so blessed on this journey. It's taken a lot of people, from craft service to the network heads, and everyone in between, working very hard together to build this show.
"Today a bunch of us NCIS folks got together to celebrate our show, and stand in solidarity to support all WGA and SAGAftra members striking to develop payment structures and protections that'll allow future actors, writers and shows to grow and flourish the way we've been able to."
© Getty ImagesPaying tribute to the cast and crew of NCIS, he added: "I love the people I work with. I'm proud to stand by them as we wait for a fair deal. I'm sure that there'll be a way for everyone (actors, writers and studio folks alike) to be included on future revenue streams and benefit from the successes we're all working hard for.
"When we do reach an agreement, we'll be getting back to the stage to do what we do best. I look forward to it."
MORE: NCIS alum Michael Weatherly teases fans with 'exciting' news: 'Things are starting to happen'
He ended the message by thanking the LA-based ice cream company, CVT Soft Serve, for keeping the cast cool in the hot sun: "Shoutout to @cvtsoftserve for helping us serve our fellow members some ice cream on a hot day."
© Getty ImagesFans were quick to show their support for the star, with one person writing: "We stand with you all!" while another added: "As a huge fan of NCIS in its entirely, I stand behind you & all your fellow cast mates, writers - everyone!"
The strike has resulted in production delays on various scripted shows, including NCIS. Industry insiders have predicted that the strike will be settled in the fall, which means the 21st season of the CBS show should hit screens early next year.
© Getty ImagesWhy are the writers on strike?
The WGA called for its members to strike on 2 May after failing to reach an agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which represents major studios such as Apple, Disney and Netflix.
The writers are striking due to a dispute over how they are compensated in the streaming era, and their demands include a pay increase, a stable pay structure and guarantees that artificial intelligence won't be used in scriptwriting.
© InstagramOn July 14, SAG-AFTRA also went on strike over an ongoing labor dispute with the AMPTP.
