NCIS: Origins’ Kyle Schmid gives Mark Harmon’s advice for Frank’s role

Kyle Schmid has fully embraced his role as “hippie cowboy” Mike Franks NCIS: Originsthanks to the advice of both Mark Harmon And Muse Watson.

“When I got the role, Mark Harmon reached out to me and I was lucky enough to get to know him pretty well,” Schmid, 40, exclusively said Us weekly. “He put me in touch with Muse, and Muse and I clicked.”

Watson, 76, appeared on NCIS as the original Mike Franks, the mentor of Leroy Jethro Gibbs. Harmon, 73, portrayed Gibbs in the flagship series from 2003 to 2021, while Watson had a recurring role from 2006 to 2017.

Schmid has now filled Watson’s shoes as a “gruff” character in the prequel series, which premiered in October. NCIS: Origins takes viewers back to the 90s when Gibbs (Austin Stowell) initially begins working under the leadership of Franks at NIS – which later becomes NCIS – in California.

“It had something to do with who [Muse] was a person who really touched me. I think we kind of see the world the same way,” Schmid said Us his connection to the OG Franks. “I have a big heart. Muse has a big heart. The reason I came to Hollywood was to try to do good work and approach everything with integrity and pride. And that’s how Muse worked and continues to live his life.”

The actor noted that he believes Franks also possesses many of these qualities, despite being a “dinosaur” in many ways. “There is nothing he does half-heartedly. Everything is one hundred percent. You can see how he takes on the weight of everyone around him,” Schmid said of the young Franconians. “You see how he goes through these cases, they mean something to him. They are not easy.”

To successfully portray Franks, whom he describes as an “old-school” man with a “big heart,” Schmid relied on Watson.

“Muse said to me, he said, ‘You know what? Just do good work. “Believe in yourself and the character,” he remembers. “And beyond that, all I had to do was grow a mustache and work on the dialect with Muse. It was easy enough to chat and talk to him and pick up certain phrases.”

Harmon – who serves as executive producer and narrator NCIS: Origins – was also actively involved in Schmid’s development as host of the show.

“Mark’s commitment to the show was to make it as good as possible. He always says, “Trust your gut.” They are here for a reason. “You got the role, now just keep going,” said Schmid Us. “Mark was just always very encouraging. Which I think, oddly enough, was exactly what I needed to get into the franchise.”

He remembered hearing Harmon’s words as he faced the challenge of playing a familiar character in a new light.

“[I thought]”All right, you got it.” You’re here for a reason, man. You don’t need to do anything else. You gotta buckle up, you know? “Because we are going on a trip and it will be a good one,” explained Schmid, noting: “Mark recognized for me someone who is a good person who was lucky enough to somehow earn my place in a great cast.” “

Schmid admitted he “wasn’t sure” what he was getting into going into a trial, but he has since made it his mission to portray Franks, who struggles with his emotions and apologizes.

“He sometimes finds it difficult to say the right things and not be so blunt. But at the same time, to me, in that hippie cowboy way, Mike has the biggest heart in the room at all times and he loves boldly,” he said. “He takes on the burden of other people’s lives and trusts. That’s kind of the hippie in him. This loving person with this rugged exterior, this rusty armor.”

Although Schmid feels connected to Franks in many ways, he is much more vocal about his feelings. In fact, this month Schmid is teaming up with Movember — which is keeping Frank’s mustache — and Gillette to help get rid of the stigma surrounding mental health.

“I work in an industry where we are celebrated for our vulnerability. And by wearing our hearts on our sleeves, we are very open to emotional ups and downs,” Schmid explained, sharing that he is sober four years after losing friends to substance abuse and suicide.

Related: ‘NCIS: Origins’ October Premiere: Everything You Should Know

CBS Broadcasting The NCIS universe is about to get bigger in 2024 thanks to the upcoming prequel series NCIS: Origins. CBS announced on Friday, January 7, that the show about the origin story of Leroy Jethro Gibbs (previously played by Mark Harmon) has received a straight-to-series order for the 2024-2025 broadcast season. “We are delighted and honored […]

He continued: “I’ve seen all the other hurdles with people in my life lessen and have an impact [my family]. I have a daughter [and] I don’t want her to grow up in the same environment as me. And a big part of that change is shedding more light on mental health, making it a much more common conversation and celebrated.”

Schmid hopes to make people understand that it’s “okay not to be okay” by working with friends and family, including his actor friends, to “raise money and awareness.”

The actor who narrated Us He is now “fulfilled” and “happy” to be working on a great show like NCIS: Originsadded that there will be prizes for those who donate.

“I would like to send people to the Paramount lot, show them around and give them a private tour,” he said. “You can win a signed pair of Mike Franks cowboy boots and signed scripts. There are people committed to supporting this. And I can’t tell you how grateful I am to them.”

For more information about Schmid’s Movember mission to raise mental health awareness, click here.

NCIS: Origins airs Mondays at 10 p.m. ET on CBS.