Kyle Schmid, Mark Harmons Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Photos(2)
Kyle Schmid has totally embraced his function as “hippie cowboy” Mike Franks on NCIS: Origins, due to recommendation from each Mark Harmon and Muse Watson.
“After I received the function, Mark Harmon reached out to me and I used to be fortunate sufficient to get to know him fairly effectively,” Schmid, 40, solely informed Us Weekly. “He put me in contact with Muse, and Muse and I clicked.”
Watson, 76, appeared on NCIS as the unique Mike Franks, who’s Leroy Jethro Gibbs’ mentor. Harmon, 73, portrayed Gibbs on the flagship sequence from 2003 to 2021, whereas Watson had a recurring function from between 2006 to 2017.
Schmid has now stuffed Watson’s footwear because the “gruff” character on the prequel sequence, which premiered in October. NCIS: Origins transports viewers again in time to the ‘90s when Gibbs (Austin Stowell) first begins working at NIS — which later turns into NCIS — in California beneath the steering of Franks.
“There was one thing about who [Muse] was as an individual that actually resonated with me. I believe we form of see the world in the identical means,” Schmid informed Us of his connection to the OG Franks. “I received an enormous coronary heart. Muse has an enormous coronary heart. The rationale I got here to Hollywood was to attempt to do good work and strategy every little thing with integrity and satisfaction. And that’s the best way that Muse labored and continues to reside his life.”
The actor famous that he thinks Franks additionally has lots of these qualities regardless of being a “dinosaur” in some ways. “There’s nothing he does half-ass. Every little thing’s one hundred percent. You see him tackle the load of everyone round him,” Schmid mentioned of the younger Franks. “You see the best way that he drives via these circumstances, they imply one thing to him. They aren’t mild.”
To efficiently painting Franks, who he describes as an “old-fashioned” man with a “large coronary heart,” Schmid seemed to Watson.
Kyle Schmid as Mike Franks. Sonja Flemming/CBS
“Muse mentioned to me, he goes, ‘ what? Simply do good work. Consider in your self and consider within the character,’” he recalled. “And out of doors of that, all I wanted to do was develop a mustache and work on the dialect with Muse. It was straightforward sufficient to talk with him and speak to him, decide up sure inflections.”
Harmon — who’s an government producer and the narrator on NCIS: Origins — has additionally been hands-on in Schmid’s evolution because the present’s chief.
“Mark’s involvement within the present has actually been to make it the very best that it may be. He all the time says, ‘Belief your intestine. You’re right here for a purpose. You bought the function, now simply run with it,’” Schmid informed Us. “Mark was simply all the time very encouraging. Which I believe, oddly sufficient, was precisely what I wanted coming into the franchise.”
He recalled listening to Harmon’s phrases as he took on the problem of taking part in a well known character in a brand new mild.
“[I thought], ‘All proper, you bought it. You’re right here for a purpose, man. You don’t must do the rest. It’s good to buckle your seatbelt, you already know? ‘Trigger we’re occurring a journey and it’s gonna be a superb one,’” Schmid defined, noting, “Mark acknowledged for me any individual who is an effective one who was fortunate sufficient to only form of earn my place in a terrific solid.”
Schmid confessed he “wasn’t certain” what he was moving into doing a procedural, however he has since embraced portraying Franks, who struggles along with his feelings and apologizing.
Kyle Schmid as Mike Franks. Erik Voake/CBS
“It’s onerous for him to say the fitting issues and never be so blunt generally. However on the identical time, for me, on this hippie cowboy means, Mike has the largest coronary heart within the room, always, and he loves courageously,” he mentioned. “He takes on the load of different individuals’s lives, and he trusts. That’s form of just like the hippie in him. That loving human with this gruff exterior, this rusty armor.”
Whereas Schmid does really feel linked to Franks in some ways, he’s rather more vocal about his feelings. Actually, Schmid is teaming up with Movember — holding Franks’ mustache — and Gillette this month to assist eliminate the stigma surrounding psychological well being.
“I work in an trade the place we’re celebrated for being weak. And in sporting our hearts on our sleeve, we go away ourselves very open to emotional ups and downs,” Schmid defined, sharing that he’s been sober 4 years after shedding pals to substance abuse and suicide.
CBS Broadcasting The NCIS universe is getting greater in 2024 due to the upcoming prequel sequence, NCIS: Origins. CBS introduced on Friday, January 7, that the present about Leroy Jethro Gibbs’ (beforehand performed by Mark Harmon) origin story obtained a straight to sequence order for the 2024-2025 broadcast season. “We’re elated and honored to […]
He continued, “I’ve seen how all the opposite hurdles with individuals in my life have trickled down and affected [my family]. I’ve a daughter [and] I don’t need her to develop up in the identical surroundings that I did. And an enormous a part of altering that’s shedding the sunshine on psychological well being, making it a dialog that’s rather more generally had and celebrated.”
Schmid is hoping to assist individuals perceive that it’s “OK to not be OK” by working with family and friends, together with his appearing friends, to “elevate cash, elevate consciousness.”
The actor, who informed Us he’s now “fulfilled” and “comfortable” to be engaged on a terrific present like NCIS: Origins, added that there are prizes accessible for individuals who donate.
“I’d like to have individuals out to the Paramount lot and present them round and provides them a non-public tour,” he mentioned. “There’s a signed pair of Mike Franks’ cowboy boots that’s up for grabs and signed scripts. We’ve received individuals popping out of the woodwork to assist this. And I can’t let you know how grateful I’m to them.”
For extra details about Schmid’s Movember mission for psychological well being consciousness, click on right here.
NCIS: Origins airs on CBS Mondays at 10 p.m. ET.