With long-running shows like Law & Order, Grey’s Anatomy, Criminal Minds, and NCIS, producers tend to use the same talent more than once over the years. But actor Kurt Yaeger, who has logged over 50 acting credits in over a decade, has made history.
According to a report by Variety, Yaeger is the first actor to star in all editions of NCIS, playing four completely different roles over the years. The American actor has starred as a guest star in NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles, NCIS: New Orleans, and NCIS: Hawai’i.
The latter’s latest episode marked Kurt making history. CBS casting executive Claudia Lyon explained how the talented actor did the deed, highlighting his “tenacity and perseverance” to “create opportunities for himself.” Read her full comment below:
Given how long these franchises have been in existence, there will inevitably be some crossover with actors. We don’t have statistics on how often that happens, but I wouldn’t be surprised. There are many actors out there who do one or two of them. But what makes Kurt unique is that he’s done all four.
Claudia Lyon
It’s just sort of the perfect storm. A lot of things that have come into play. First of all, Kurt starts with talent. He’s got this tenacity and perseverance where he is able to create opportunities for himself.
And we’ve got producers who like Kurt and have been interested in working with him after they saw what he could do the first or second or third time on a show. You’ve got casting directors who are really invested in Kurt as well. He’s a talent, so we want to support him. It’s pretty remarkable that he’s doing all of them.
The actor first appeared on NCIS in 2014, playing a former Marine Sgt. Freddie Linn who started a successful skydiving business after losing the use of his legs in an incident. Later in 2019, he played Kevin Simms, a law enforcement officer “dealing with a life-altering injury,” on NCIS: New Orleans.
That episode also starred Darryl “Chill” Mitchell, which marked the second-greatest number of disabled actors in a single TV show episode, so it won a Media Access Award.
But his third appearance on the franchise was his most notable and longest one. He starred in five episodes as Sullivan, a military vet and leg amputee, who was later revealed as the rogue CIA officer Ferris.
Yaeger is a disabled actor/writer who lost part of his leg in a motorbike accident in 2006. He uses his talent and skills to provide other actors like himself opportunities to rise above the role of “a disabled person.”
His latest appearance in the franchise was on Breadcrumbs in NCIS: Hawai’i, where he plays Jane Tennant’s father in flashbacks. Stay tuned to Cine Dope for the latest news about your favorite movies, shows, actors, characters, and more.
About NCIS
NCIS is an American television series, revolving around a fictional team of special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service combining elements of the military drama and police procedural genres. The concept and characters were initially introduced in two episodes of the CBS series JAG.
The series, originally titled Navy NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service, was later shortened to NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service and then to NCIS.
NCIS is currently airing season 21.
Source: Variety
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