NCIS’ Brian Dietzen Pushed For Authentic Representation For Jeremy Brighton – Looper

In the “NCIS” episode, Brighton is Agent Alden Parker’s (Gary Cole) old partner. While they were trying to capture a drug dealer, Parker accidentally shot Brighton, paralyzing him from the waist down. Brian Dietzen was thrilled that Michael Patrick Thornton took the role, telling Parade, “He’s an absolutely terrific actor. He does use a wheelchair. He is talented beyond anything. We were so fortunate to have him be able to work with Gary [Cole].” Thornton, for his part, was excited to get a meaty role with a lot of screen time with Cole.

When he was 24 years old, Thornton had two spinal strokes that paralyzed him from the neck down. He recited Shakespeare while relearning how to talk and eventually got the use of his upper body back. He played Dr. Gabriel Fife in “Private Practice” for two years and most recently has been playing Dr. Cole Porter on “The Good Doctor” (via IMDb). “I hope I’m flipping the script, simply by visibility,” he told NBC News. “Disabled people are the largest minority in the world and the least represented on TV and film and on stage. I try to take on roles where the disability is not a plot device, it’s simply there, like the furniture in the room.”