Mark Harmon

This article is about the actor. For the musician, see Mark Harmon (musician). For other people with the similar name, see Mark Harman (disambiguation).

Mark Harmon
Born	Thomas Mark Harmon September 2, 1951 (1951-09-02) Burbank, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1973–present
Spouse	Pam Dawber (m. March 21, 1987 – present)[citation needed]
Children	Two sons (Sean and Ty)
Mark Harmon UCLA Bruins — No. 7 Quarterback 1972–1973 Major: Communications Date of birth: September 2, 1951 (1951-09-02) Place of birth: Burbank, California Height: 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) Weight: 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb) Career history High school: Harvard School for Boys Los Angeles, California  College(s): UCLA (1972–1973) Pierce College (1970–1971) Career highlights and awards 1971 National Junior College Athletic Association All-American 1973 National Football Foundation Award for All-Round Excellence 2010 Pierce College Athletic Hall of Fame

Mark Harmon (born September 2, 1951) is an American actor. Since the mid 1970s, he has appeared in a variety of television, film and stage roles following a brief career as a collegiate football player with the UCLA Bruins. Since 2003, Harmon has starred as Leroy Jethro Gibbs in the hit CBS series NCIS.

Early life

Harmon was born Thomas Mark Harmon in Burbank, California. His father was University of Michigan football All-American and Heisman Trophy winner, Tom Harmon. His mother is actress and artist, Elyse Knox (née Elsie Lillian Kornbrath). Harmon has two older sisters, actress and painter Kristin Nelson, the former wife of singer Ricky Nelson, and actress-model Kelly Harmon, who was once married to car magnate John DeLorean.

After attending Los Angeles Pierce College as a student and quarterback, Harmon transferred to the University of California, Los Angeles, and following in his father's athletic footsteps was the starting quarterback for the UCLA Bruins football team in 1972 and 1973. In UCLA's 1972 season he engineered a stunning upset of the two-time defending national champion, Nebraska Cornhuskers. He received the National Football Foundation Award for All-Round Excellence in 1973. In his two years as quarterback in coach Pepper Rodgers' wishbone offense, UCLA won 17 games and lost only 5. He graduated from UCLA with a B.A. in Communication cum laude in 1974.

Career

Mark Harmon in 2009 portraying Special Agent Gibbs in NCIS

Even though he considered "advertising or law" as careers after college, Harmon became an actor and has spent much of his career portraying law enforcement and medical personnel. Other than athletics/sports appearances, one of his first national TV appearances was with his father Tom Harmon, in a commercial for Kellogg's Product 19 cereal, for which the latter was the longtime TV spokesman. As an actor, his first credit came courtesy of his sister Kristen's in-laws, Ozzie Nelson and Harriet Nelson, in an episode of Ozzie's Girls. This was followed by guest-starring roles on episodes of Adam-12, Police Woman, and Emergency! in mid-1975 (the Emergency! episode that Harmon starred in, "905-Wild", centered on two L.A. County Animal Control Officers, and was a pilot episode for a possible new series, which did not sell). Producer/creator Jack Webb, who was the packager of both series, later cast Harmon in Sam, a short-lived 1977 series about an LAPD officer and his K-9 partner. Also in 1977, Harmon received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor for his performance as Robert Dunlap in the TV movie Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years.

During the mid 1970s, Harmon had also made guest appearances on shows such as Laverne & Shirley and The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries. He also had supporting roles in the feature films Comes a Horseman (1978) and Beyond the Poseidon Adventure (1979). He then landed a co-starring role on the 1979 action series 240-Robert as Deputy Dwayne Thibideaux. The series centered around the missions of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Emergency Services Detail, but was also short-lived.

In 1980, Harmon gained a regular role in the primetime soap opera Flamingo Road, in which he played Fielding Carlisle, the husband of Morgan Fairchild's character. However, despite initially good ratings, the series was canceled after two seasons. Following its cancellation, he landed the role of Dr. Robert Caldwell on the prestigious NBC Emmy-winning series St. Elsewhere in 1983. Harmon appeared in the show for almost three seasons before leaving in early 1986 when his character contracted HIV through unprotected heterosexual intercourse, one of the first instances where a major recurring television character contracted the virus (the character's subsequent off-screen death from AIDS would be mentioned two years later). In the mid 1980s, Harmon also became the spokesperson for Coors Regular beer, appearing in television commercials for them.

1986 turned out to be an important year in Harmon's career. In January, he was named People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive. Following his departure from St. Elsewhere in February, he played the lead in the TV movies Prince of Bel Air and The Deliberate Stranger (in which he played serial killer Ted Bundy). With his career blossoming, he gained a role in the 1986 theatrical film Let's Get Harry and the lead role in the 1987 comedy Summer School (co-starring Kirstie Alley). Returning briefly to episodic television in 1987, Harmon had a limited engagement on the series Moonlighting, playing Cybill Shepherd's love interest Sam Crawford for four episodes. He then starred in the 1987 TV movie After The Promise. In 1988, he co-starred with Sean Connery and Meg Ryan in the 1988 feature film The Presidio, and also opposite Jodie Foster in the film Stealing Home. Despite several high profile roles, Harmon's film career never gathered momentum and, after a muted reception to his 1989 comedy Worth Winning, he returned to television, appearing in various television movies.

Harmon's next regular television role would be as Chicago police detective Dickie Cobb for two seasons (1991–1993) on the NBC series Reasonable Doubts. In 1993, he appeared in one episode in the role of a rodeo clown on the CBS comedy/western series Harts of the West with future cast mate Sean Murray, who plays McGee on NCIS.

In 1995, Harmon starred in the ABC series Charlie Grace, in which he portrayed a private investigator. The series lasted only one season, after which he returned to ensemble medical shows on the series Chicago Hope, in which he played Dr. Jack McNeil from 1996-2000. He also portrayed astronaut Wally Schirra in the 1998 mini-series From the Earth to the Moon.

In May 2002, he had a limited four episode run playing Secret Service Special Agent Simon Donovan on The West Wing. The role gained him his second Emmy Award nomination, exactly 25 years after his first nomination. Harmon then took a lead role in two episodes of JAG in April 2003, which introduced viewers to him in the role of NCIS agent Gibbs. Since 2003, Harmon has starred as NCIS Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs in CBS' drama television show NCIS. During his time on the show, he was reunited with three of his former Chicago Hope co-stars, Rocky Carroll, Lauren Holly, and Jayne Brook. Also in 2003, Harmon had a supporting role in the remake of the comedy film Freaky Friday.

Throughout his career, Harmon also starred in several stage productions in Los Angeles and Toronto. The Cast Theatre in Los Angeles he performed in Wrestlers and The Wager. In the late eighties he was part of the cast of the Canadian premier of Key Exchange. Several productions of Love Letters provided him the opportunity to play alongside his wife Pam Dawber.

Awards and nominations

Primetime Emmy Awards

• 1977: Nominated, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie - Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years
• 2002: Nominated, Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series - The West Wing

Golden Globe Awards

• 1986: Nominated, Best Actor in a Miniseries or Television Film - The Deliberate Stranger
• 1987: Nominated, Best Actor in a Miniseries or Television Film - After The Promise
• 1991: Nominated, Best Actor in a Television Series Drama - Reasonable Doubts
• 1992: Nominated, Best Actor in a Television Series Drama - Reasonable Doubts

Screen Actors Guild Awards

• 1996: Nominated, Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series - Chicago Hope
• 1997: Nominated, Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series - Chicago Hope

People's Choice Awards

• 2010: Nominated, Favorite TV Drama Actor - NCIS
• 2011: Nominated, Favorite TV Crime Fighter - NCIS

Personal life

He worked as a carpenter before making a success of his acting career. On NCIS, his carpentry skills are alluded to through Gibbs' (his character) hobby of building boats in his basement.

Harmon has been married to actress Pam Dawber since March 21, 1987. The couple has two sons: Sean Thomas Harmon (born April 25, 1988), who played a young Gibbs in NCIS Season 6 Episode 4 and Episode 15, Season 7 Episode 16 and Season 9 Episode 8, and Ty Christian Harmon (born June 25, 1992). Harmon was the brother-in-law of Ricky Nelson and is the uncle of actress Tracy Nelson and singers Matthew and Gunnar Nelson of the pop duo Nelson. Harmon dated singer Karen Carpenter in the 1970s.

In 1987, Harmon tried to gain custody of his nephew Sam based on grounds that his sister Kris was incapable of good parenting. Sam's psychiatrist testified the thirteen-year-old boy depicted his mother as a dragon, and complained about her mood swings and how she prevented him from being with his siblings. Harmon later dropped the custody bid.

In 1996, Harmon saved two teenage boys who were involved in a car accident outside of his home. Harmon used a sledge hammer from his garage to break the window out of their burning car, then pulled them free from the flames.

Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Other notes
1973	Ozzie's Girls	The Candidate
1975	Emergency!	Officer Dave Gordon	Episode: "905-Wild"
	Adam-12	Officer Gus Corbin	Episode: "Gus Corbin"
	Police Woman	Paul Donin	Episode: "No Place to Hide"
1976	Laverne & Shirley	Victor, Jeep Buyer	Episode: "Dating Slump"
	All's Fair		Episode: "Jealousy"
	Police Woman	Stansky	Episode: "Tender Soldier"
	Delvecchio	Ronnie Striker	Episode: "Hot Spell"
1977	Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years	Robert Dunlap	TV movie Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor – Miniseries or a Movie
	The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries	Chip Garvey	Episode: "Mystery of the Solid Gold Kicker"
1978	Sam	Officer Mike Breen	7 episodes
	Getting Married	Howie Lesser	TV movie
	Little Mo	Norman Brinker	TV movie
	Comes a Horseman	Billy Joe Meynert
1978–1979	Centennial	Captain John McIntosh	3 episodes
1979	Beyond the Poseidon Adventure	Larry Simpson
1979–1983	The Love Boat	Doug Bradbury	3 episodes
1979–1980	240-Robert	Deputy Dwayne "Thib" Thibideaux	Main character, 13 episodes
1980	Flamingo Road	Fielding "Field" Carlyle	TV movie
	The Dream Merchants	Johnny Edge
1981	Goliath Awaits	Peter Cabot	TV movie
1981–1982	Flamingo Road	Fielding "Field" Carlyle	Main character, 37 episodes
1983	Doctor in Paradise	Tommy
1983–1986	St. Elsewhere	Dr. Robert Caldwell	Main character, 70 episodes
1984	Desert Warrior	Gacel Sayah
1986	Prince of Bel Air	Robin Prince	TV movie
	The Deliberate Stranger	Ted Bundy	TV movie Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film
	Let's Get Harry	Harry Burck, Jr.
1987	Moonlighting	Sam Crawford	4 episodes
	Summer School	Freddy Shoop
	After the Promise	Elmer Jackson	TV movie Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film
1988	The Presidio	Jay Austin
	Stealing Home	Billy Wyatt
1989	Sweet Bird of Youth	Chance Wayne	TV movie
	Worth Winning	Taylor Worth
1990	Till There Was You	Frank Flynn
	Kenny Rogers Classic Weekend	Himself
1991	Dillinger	John Dillinger	TV movie
	Fourth Story	David Shepard	TV movie
	Long Road Home	Ertie Robertson	TV movie
	Shadow of a Doubt	Uncle Charlie Oakley
	Cold Heaven	Alex Davenport
1991–1993	Reasonable Doubts	Detective Dicky Cobb	Main character, 45 episodes Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama (1991) Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama (1992)
1993	Harts of the West	Rodeo clown	Episode: "The Right Stuff"
1994	Natural Born Killers	Uncredited
1994	Wyatt Earp	Sheriff John Behan
1995	Original Sins	Johnathan Franye	TV movie
	Magic in the Water	Jack Black
	The Last Supper	Dominant Male
	Charlie Grace	Charlie Grace	Main character, 6 episodes
	Acts of Contrition	Jonathan Frayne	Movie
1996	Strangers	Mark	Episode: "Visit"
1996–2000	Chicago Hope	Dr. Jack McNeil	Main character, 95 episodes Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (1996) Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (1997)
1997	Adventures from the Book of Virtues	Ulysses	Episode: "Perseverance"
	Casualties	Tommy Nance
	The First to Go	Jeremy Hampton
1998	From the Earth to the Moon	Wally Schirra	2 episodes
	Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas	Magazine Reporter at Mint 400
1999	I'll Remember April	John Cooper
2000	For All Time	Charles Lattimer
	The Amati Girls	Lawrence
2001	Crossfire Trail	Bruce Barkow
	And Never Let Her Go	Thomas Capano	TV movie
	The Legend of Tarzan	Bob Markham (voice)	Episode: "Tarzan and the Outbreak"
2002	Local Boys	Jim Wesley
	The West Wing	Special Agent Simon Donovan	4 episodes Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor – Drama Series
2003	JAG	Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs	2 episodes (NCIS pilot episodes)
	Freaky Friday	Ryan
2003–present	NCIS	Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs	Current main character, every episode Nominated — People's Choice Award – Favorite TV Drama Actor (2010) Nominated — People's Choice Award – Favorite TV Drama Crime Fighter (2011)
2004	Chasing Liberty	President James Foster
2009	Weather Girl	Dale
2010	Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths	Superman (voice)	Direct-to-DVD release
2011	John Sandford's Certain Prey	Deputy Police Chief Lucas Davenport	TV movie

References

Notes

External links

• Mark Harmon at the Internet Movie Database
• Mark Harmon at TV Guide
• CBS profile
• Mark Harmon at Emmys.com

Preceded by Mel Gibson

People's Sexiest Man Alive 1986

Succeeded by Harry Hamlin