Kyle Schmid has taken on the role of a young Mike Franks in NCIS: Origins butwhat is there to know about the star away from the Paramount+ prequel?
NCIS Origins introduces Kyle Schmid as the young Mike Franks, Gibbs’ mentor during his early days as a special agent.
The show has crossed the pond to Paramount+ in the UK after its US premiere in October 2024, offering fans a glimpse into Agent Gibbs’ (portrayed by Austin Stowell) backstory before the flagship series kicked off in 2003.
Mike, while a bit unpolished, is portrayed as a committed leader with a solid ethical framework, earning respect from peers despite occasional disagreements.
With Schmid taking on this pivotal role originally played by Muse Watson, viewers are eager to delve into the background of the “NCIS Origins” actor.
Alternative path
Hailing from Toronto, Canada, born in 1984, Schmid grew up with his sister Rachel, their mother and stepfather, while their biological father lived further north.
Starting out as a child model featuring in ads, Schmid’s true love was soccer, playing for various teams including the Erin Mills Soccer Club.
Destiny had other plans, though, as he was set to dedicate himself entirely to the sport instead of an acting career.
In a conversation with Sci Fi and TV Talk, Schmid recounted: “I played very high-level soccer in high school and during that time my mom also got me interested in the acting industry.
“However, it was something I did for fun and never really thought it would take off or lead to anything serious.
“Then when I was 17-years-old I broke my leg, which more or less ended my chances of a soccer career, but at the same time they say that everything happens for a reason.”
It was Debra Martin Chase, a producer known for her work on films like The Princess Diaries and The Cheetah Girls, who nudged him towards acting.
Schmid reminisced: “I laughed and said, ‘This is a hobby. It’s a way for me to make a little money to save for university.'”.
“She said, ‘No, you’re good. You’ve got something.’ Debra had me go to Los Angeles where she introduced me to a great acting coach who taught me just how far you can go with exploring your craft.
“Since then, this [acting] is something I’ve fallen in love with and been very passionate about.”
From the mid-2000s onwards, Schmid has graced screens in projects such as Blood Ties, Copper, Being Human, Six, Big Sky and Lost Girl, to name but a few.
Famous wife
Schmid first crossed paths with his now-wife, actress Caity Lotz, while filming DC’s Legends of Tomorrow in Vancouver. Friends set them up on a date in February 2021.
Lotz boasts an impressive resume, having starred in high-profile shows like AMC’s Mad Men as Stephanie Horton, Annie in The Pact, Sara Lance in The CW’s Arrowverse, and Kirsten Landry in MTV’s mockumentary Death Valley.
The couple took their relationship to the next level with an engagement in May 2022, followed by a wedding in Colombia the subsequent year.
The couple welcomed their first child, a daughter whose name they have chosen not to disclose, in September 2024.
In 2023, the 40-year-old actor faced profound grief when his mother passed away from lung cancer that had spread to her brain, with a brain tumour detected around Christmas 2022.
He shared his emotional journey on Instagram, recounting the moments leading up to her death and her brave battle with chemotherapy: “I remember giving her a big hug. I then went down to my room and I cried.
“It was the first time I truly understood my mother’s mortality. You see, my mom was a tough-as-nails farm woman, she’s brave and courageous, but that doesn’t help when your treatments make it nearly impossible to eat or drink.
“In October she started the next treatment – chemo every three weeks for the next two years. It was a daunting undertaking.
“She was tired and weak, but every once in a while we’d talk and she’d pipe up with this bit of energy and it made me wonder (if only for a moment) if this had all just been a dream.”
Schmid paid a heartfelt tribute to his beloved mum: “She encouraged me to become an actor and helped me to be brave in the face of teenage insecurities. She poured herself into our lives as a mother.
“To be surrounded by family was all you ever wanted and on that last day you were. I will forever and always miss you ma.”
NCIS Origins is available to watch on Paramount+.