Mark Harmon, the iconic actor known for his role as Leroy Jethro Gibbs on the long-running series ‘NCIS’, has been a major figure in the world of television for many years. With his departure from the show after 423 episodes, fans were left both saddened and wondering what the future holds for the talented actor. In this extended survey of Mark Harmon’s career, we delve into his early life, his path to acting, his time on “NCIS” and his plans for the future.
Now, new information has surfaced about Mark Harmon’s departure from NCIS, including a very specific request he made before his final episode.
Mark Harmon was born on September 2, 1951, in Burbank, California. Given his family background, it seemed likely that he would follow in his parents’ footsteps. His father, Tom Harmon, was a former football player who became a famous broadcaster, while his mother, Elyse Knox, was an actress and artist. This unique combination of sports and entertainment genes set the stage for Mark’s future career.
Mark Harmon’s early career
As a child, Harmon admitted that he was unaware that his parents were famous.
As a toddler, he often accompanied his father when he commented on sporting events. Years later, after witnessing Mark play quarterback for the UCLA Bruins for two years, his father regained his affection.
Mark had a chance to play football professionally at that time. He aspired to a career in theater or film, but he also had dreams of an even bigger platform. He started spending time with Ricky Nelson’s family after his sister-in-law married the pop singer.
At the time, Ricky was a member of the sitcom The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. Later, when Nelson was working on Ozzie’s Girls, Harmon was asked to fill in for an actor who could not appear.
Ricky led Mark around the set to watch things being done. After the encounter, he became obsessed with the field.
He admitted to Parade: “It affected my course.
My very first acting role
Harmon decided to give up his desire to play professional football in favor of an acting career.
The aspiring actor returned to school when several of his peers went on to act professionally and made, in Harmon’s memory, more money in one year than he did in the next 15 combined.
After taking acting classes, he quickly landed his first film and television roles. He even had the opportunity to work with artists such as Michael Caine and Jaso Robards, who later served as his mentors.
He recalled, “They were all humble; they all gave me valuable time, friendship, and advice.”
After occasional appearances on shows like 240 Robert, Flamingo Road, and The Love Boat, Mark finally got his big break when he became a series regular on the drama St. Elsewhere.
As more producers realized Mark’s exceptional acting skills, he got more work. After working in the industry for about 15 to 20 years, it all got a little too much. At that moment, Harmon made a choice that changed his life forever.
He explained that it was “not right”, “I was directing a lot, I was doing a film here and there and we had a young family growing up and I was missing a lot [of family time]. “
NCIS star Leroy Jethro Gibbs
Even though Mark was well known, he ended up feeling like he was missing out on experiences he wouldn’t have later in life.
“When my firstborn took his first steps, I was in the forests of New Guinea shooting a subpar movie. No job is worth missing important life events,” he declared.
In order to spend more time with his family, Harmon decided to take a step back. Around that time came the script for NCIS, the TV series about the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Harmon was taken aback by the writing, which was often hilarious, and the personality of Leroy Jethro Gibbs.
“For a moment when I got interested, the name changed to Bob Nelson or something, and I just said, ‘Eh … please, can you put the name back,'” he recalled.
In September 2003, the first episode of NCIS aired. The show took some time to become a household name, but once it did, it was a huge hit. With millions of viewers each week, NCIS has become one of the most popular shows in the world.
The Hollywood Reporter claims it has more than 200 licenses worldwide and has spawned numerous CBS spinoffs, including NCIS: New Orleans, NCIS: Los Angeles, and NCIS: Hawaii.
“Airports are difficult to navigate on foot”
During its run, the program was awarded three Primetime Emmy nominations and numerous other awards. In addition to being nominated for numerous awards for his performance, Harmon himself also took home the 2017 People’s Choice Award for Favorite Crime TV Actor.
Harmon struggled to understand how NCIS became one of the most popular programs on television despite its success.
“I haven’t. Not at all. The global reach is staggering,” he told TV Insider in 2017.
Even in the most remote locations, it’s hard to walk through an airport without bumping into fans of this show, and that’s definitely nothing to get upset about. I appeared on TV shows apologizing as I walked through airports.
It turned out that Mark was also popular on set; some of his co-workers went public to praise him. Mark not only became one of the most famous, if not the most famous artist of the show.
Sean, who is actually Timothy McGee, and his co-worker have spent a lot of time together over the years and seem to have developed a wonderful friendship.
co-stars praise John Harmon
Regarding the upcoming episodes, he said, “We’re going to explore it quite a bit and see how it’s changed and matured. The bond between McGee and Gibbs has always been like a father-son relationship.”
However, Sean told the Inquirer, “For him, the bond doesn’t end when the cameras aren’t rolling.”
Mark is one of my closest friends and mentor. One of my favorite collaborators of all time. It means a lot to me. He has leadership skills that have helped the program become what it is today. He’s our quarterback.
The same was true for Harmon and David McCallum. Their first meeting was fun in every way.
According to rumors, Harmon was the one who was impressed when he first met McCallum. In a 2003 episode of JAG, the two co-starred. Harmon joked that he couldn’t believe he was shaking hands with Illya Kuryakin, McCallum’s man from U.N.C.L.E. character because he was so glad to meet him.
Executive producer Steven D. Binder recalls Harmon remarking, “I can’t believe I’m shaking hands with Illya Kuryakin.” McCallum’s response was hilarious: “Holy shit, man, that was 40 years ago!”
NCIS star Mark Harmon is leaving
Mark was in a total of 423 episodes of NCIS. But it seems the end is finally here. He appeared as Leroy Jethro Gibbs in his final episode on October 9. Kelly Kahl, president of CBS Entertainment, confirmed the information in a statement to Deadline.
“Mark has always been a part of the show, and Mark will always be a part of the show,” he told Deadline. “We’ll have to wait and see how that plays out with regards to his on-air appearances in the future.”
Ever since Gary Cole joined the cast as Special Agent Park, a new series regular, rumors of Harmon leaving the show have persisted.
Although Harmon may be gone at this point, NCIS executive producer and showrunner Steven D. Binder has kept the possibility of his return open.
He said: “Staying true to our characters has always been our north star and that truth has always guided the stories we tell and where these characters go.”
Therefore, as longtime viewers of the show could see over the years, “Never count Leroy Jethro Gibbs out” in terms of Gibbs’ future.
Harmon’s Special Request Before ‘NCIS’ Final Episode
Many viewers were quite shocked to learn that Mark Harmon was leaving NCIS. As it turned out, the acclaimed actor didn’t want to mess with his departure.
Fans were caught off guard as there was no warning that the mid-October episode would be his character’s final farewell. All of this was obviously part of the strategy.
Harmon didn’t want his departure from NCIS to be too hyped or sentimental, according to an Entertainment Tonight source. It was “critical—especially with social media—that any hint of a twist be left out,” he said so that the network doesn’t publicize it.
Now that Mark has more time to spend with his family, only time will tell if he wants to stick with acting or pursue other career options. According to multiple news sources, he already has a number of other projects in development with his production company Wings Productions in Culver City, California.
Still, he could have access to another career.
Does Carpenter work in the future?
If Harmon hadn’t become an actor, he probably would have worked as a carpenter, he admitted in an interview with Men’s Journal. Although he tried this profession, he failed to get a job.
“I liked getting up early and doing it; I liked the commute. In my case, it was all about the tools and how to do it well. If you did it well, the project would outlive you,” says Mark Harmon.
Although I still enjoy it, if I wasn’t playing I believe I would be trying. I accepted a position at an advertising agency and spent about four years there. I was promoted to the position of national sales representative for a shoe manufacturer, so I basically worked as a shoe salesman for about seven months.
We will always appreciate Mark Harmon’s excellent work as Leroy Jethro Gibbs on NCIS. And we will never give up hope that he will return to the program in the future. But now he undoubtedly deserves some time off to enjoy his existence.
In conclusion, Mark Harmon’s departure from “NCIS” marks the end of an era for the beloved show and its devoted fan base. His portrayal of Leroy Jethro Gibbs will be remembered as one of the most iconic characters in television history. The show’s success and impact on popular culture are a testament to Mark’s talent and dedication.
As Mark Harmon embarks on the next chapter of his career and life, fans are eagerly anticipating what the future holds for the versatile actor and producer. Whether he chooses to continue his journey in the entertainment industry or explore other passions such as carpentry, Mark’s legacy in the entertainment world is secure and his contributions will be celebrated for years to come.