The Actor Who Portrays Patton on 'NCIS' Really Does Use a Wheelchair

Apr. 11 2019, Updated 5:50 p.m. ET

This week's episode of NCIS: New Orleans was an emotional one. Fans got a little bit of backstory regarding Investigative Computer Specialist Patton Plame, played via the inimitable Daryl "Chill" Mitchell, who's been part of NCIS's solid because the show first aired in 2014. 

We watched as the NCIS workforce investigated the homicide of Patton's former Navy SEAL friend, who was once killed in a drive-by shooting whilst Patton watched. While that used to be sufficient of a storyline to keep fans hooked for the episode, it additionally fleshed out a bit of Patton's backstory. Namely, viewers got to learn more concerning the life-changing harm that put him in a wheelchair.

So, is Daryl "Chill" Mitchell aka Patton really in a wheelchair?

Although you might be mindful actor Daryl Mitchell as Mr. Morgan in 10 Things I Hate About You or for his recurring roles on The Cosby Show, in which he was once able-bodied, the big name does indeed use a wheelchair in real lifestyles at the present time.

In 2001, after he used to be already an established actor with over 25 performing credits to his identify, he suffered a motorbike twist of fate that left him paralyzed from the waist down. "It was dark and I didn't know the roads really well," the actor told Fox News.

"I went around a bend and on the other side there was gravel and loose pavement and bam, the bike shot right underneath me. I woke up five days later in the hospital." 

Denzel Washington and Chris Tucker encouraged Daryl to continue appearing following his twist of fate.

From a brief glimpse at his IMDb, you could never bet that Daryl had a life-altering accident as a result of he by no means took a wreck from performing. That's as a result of he were given tremendous encouragement from his friends and family, including actors Chris Tucker and Denzel Washington (who invited him to attend the Oscars in 2002 when he received for Training Day) not to surrender on appearing. 

He also were given improve from a buddy, who — in a similar fashion to Patton's buddy on the show — fell sufferer a drive-by shooting long gone wrong. Luckily, the capturing did not end his lifestyles, but it did leave him paraplegic. 

From day one, he showed empathy, but he didn’t display sympathy," Daryl told Ability Magazine. "Man, he was like, 'Get it goin’ at this time.' He was very a lot of the mindset, 'This is simply what it is and you maintain it.'"

Daryl is now a big advocate for employing actors with disabilities.

"It's really a matter of what we wish to do," he continued. "We want to be more boisterous. We want to let the sector know that we're right here." 

He encourages other people who've recently become disabled to hold on to the things they believe in. "You can not do this by yourself," he said in an interview with Fox News. "You need your circle of relatives, pals, faith and love."

We're delighted to see that the accident hasn't stopped Daryl from booking Hollywood roles and hope that the trend continues to choose actors with disabilities over able-bodied stars to play those parts.

New episodes of NCIS: New Orleans air Tuesdays at 10 p.m. on CBS.

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