Mark Harmon Biography

Thomas 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

Born in Burbank, California, Harmon was the youngest of three children. His parents were Heisman Trophy winner and broadcaster Tom Harmon and 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. His maternal grandparents were Austrian immigrants.

Following high school graduation in 1970, Harmon spent his first two years of college at Pierce College in Los Angeles. After gaining his associate's degree, he transferred to the University of California, Los Angeles, and was the starting quarterback for the UCLA Bruins football team in 1972 and 1973. In his first game for UCLA in 1972, he engineered a stunning upset of the two-time defending national champion, Nebraska Cornhuskers. The Bruins were an 18-point underdog to the top-ranked Huskers, but won 20-17 with a late field goal under the lights in Los Angeles. As a senior, Harmon 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 compiled a 17–5 record (). Harmon graduated from UCLA with a B.A. in Communication cum laude in 1974.

Career

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 ("905-Wild" centered on two L.A. County Animal Control Officers and was a backdoor pilot episode for a series, but 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 in a Miniseries or a Movie for his performance as Robert Dunlap in the TV movie Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years. In 1978 he appeared in three episodes of the acclaimed mini-series, Centennial, as Captain John MacIntosh,an honorable Union cavalry officer.

During the mid-1970s, Harmon made guest appearances on shows such as Laverne & Shirley and The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries and 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. 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 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.

Harmon's career reached several other high points in 1986. 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, co-starring with Kirstie Alley, 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, again co-starring with 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 one episode of the 1998 mini-series From the Earth to the Moon.

In May 2002, he portrayed Secret Service Special Agent Simon Donovan on The West Wing in a four-episode story arc. The role gained him his second Emmy Award nomination, exactly 25 years after his first nomination. Harmon appeared in a guest starring role in two episodes of JAG in April 2003, which introduced the character of NCIS agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs; since 2003, Harmon has starred as Gibbs in the CBS drama 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. Since 2008, he has also been a producer/executive producer. Also in 2003, Harmon had a supporting role in the remake of the comedy film Freaky Friday.

Harmon also starred in several stage productions in Los Angeles and Toronto. At 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 wife Pam Dawber.

Harmon received the 2,482nd star of the Hollywood Walk of Fame on October 1, 2012.

Awards and nominations

Football

• 1971: National Junior College Athletic Association All-American
• 1973: National Football Foundation Award for All-Round Excellence

Acting history

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 his character's hobby of building boats in his basement.

Harmon has been married to actress Pam Dawber since March 21, 1987. The couple have 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, Season 9 Episode 8 and 15), 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. He is also the son of the late Tom Harmon, a star on the University of Michigan football team who won the Heisman Trophy in 1940.

In 1987, Harmon filed for 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, 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 involved in a car accident outside of his home. Harmon used a sledgehammer from his garage to break the window of their burning car, then pulled them free from the flames. Harmon and his wife are also outspoken activists for gun control.

Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1973	Ozzie's Girls	The Candidate	Unknown episodes
1975	Emergency!	Officer Dave Gordon	Episode: "905-Wild"
1975	Adam-12	Officer Gus Corbin	Episode: "Gus Corbin"
1975	Police Woman	Paul Donin	Episode: "No Place to Hide"
1976	Laverne & Shirley	Victor	Episode: "Dating Slump"
1976	All's Fair	Unknown	Episode: "Jealousy"
1976	Police Woman	Stansky	Episode: "Tender Soldier"
1976	Delvecchio	Ronnie Striker	Episode: "Hot Spell"
1977	Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years	Robert Dunlap	Television movie Nominated"?Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie
1977	The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries	Chip Garvey	Episode: "Mystery of the Solid Gold Kicker"
1978	Sam	Officer Mike Breen	7 episodes
1978	Getting Married	Howie Lesser	Television movie
1978	Little Mo	Norman Brinker	Television movie
1978	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	Dwayne Thibideaux	13 episodes
1980	Flamingo Road	Fielding Carlyle	Television movie
1980	The Dream Merchants	Johnny Edge
1981	Goliath Awaits	Peter Cabot	Television movie
1981"1982	Flamingo Road	Fielding Carlyle	37 episodes
1983	Doctor in Paradise	Tommy
1983"1986	St. Elsewhere	Dr. Robert Caldwell	70 episodes
1984	Tuareg " The Desert Warrior	Gacel Sayah
1986	Prince of Bel Air	Robin Prince	Television movie
1986	The Deliberate Stranger	Ted Bundy	Television movie Nominated"?Golden Globe Award for Best Actor " Miniseries or Television Film
1986	Let's Get Harry	Harry Burck, Jr.
1987	Moonlighting	Sam Crawford	4 episodes
1987	Summer School	Freddy Shoop
1987	After the Promise	Elmer Jackson	Television movie Nominated"?Golden Globe Award for Best Actor " Miniseries or Television Film
1988	The Presidio	Jay Austin
1988	Stealing Home	Billy Wyatt
1989	Sweet Bird of Youth	Chance Wayne	Television movie
1989	Worth Winning	Taylor Worth
1990	Till There Was You	Frank Flynn
1990	Kenny Rogers Classic Weekend	Himself
1991	Dillinger	John Dillinger	Television movie
1991	Fourth Story	David Shepard	Television movie
1991	Long Road Home	Ertie Robertson	Television movie
1991	Shadow of a Doubt	Uncle Charlie Oakley
1991	Cold Heaven	Alex Davenport
1991"1993	Reasonable Doubts	Detective Dicky Cobb	45 episodes Nominated"?Golden Globe Award for Best Actor " Television Series Drama (1991-92)
1993	Harts of the West	Sam Carver	Episode: "The Right Stuff"
1994	Natural Born Killers	Mickey Knox	Uncredited
1994	Wyatt Earp	Sheriff John Behan
1995	Original Sins	Johnathan Franye	Television movie
1995	Magic in the Water	Jack Black
1995	The Last Supper	Dominant Male
1995	Charlie Grace	Charlie Grace	6 episodes
1995	Acts of Contrition	Johnathan Frayne	Television movie
1996	Strangers	Mark	Episode: "Visit"
1996"2000	Chicago Hope	Dr. Jack McNeil	95 episodes Nominated"?Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (1996"97)
1997	Adventures from the Book of Virtues	Ulysses	Episode: "Perseverance"
1997	Casualties	Tommy Nance
1997	The First to Go	Jeremy Hampton
1998	From the Earth to the Moon	Wally Schirra	Episode: "We Have Cleared the Tower"
1998	Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas	Magazine Reporter
1999	I'll Remember April	John Cooper
2000	For All Time	Charles Lattimer
2000	The Amati Girls	Lawrence
2001	Crossfire Trail	Bruce Barkow
2001	And Never Let Her GO	Thomas Capano	Television movie
2001	The Legend of Tarzan	Bob Markham	Episode: "Tarzan and the Outbreak"
2002	Local Boys	Jim Wesley
2002	The West Wing	Simon Donovan	4 episodes Nominated"?Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series
2003	JAG	Leroy Jethro Gibbs	2 episodes
2003	Freaky Friday	Ryan
	NCIS	Leroy Jethro Gibbs	234 episodes Nominated"?People's Choice Award for Favorite Television Drama Actor Nominated"?People's Choice Award for Favorite Television Drama Crime Fighter
2004	Chasing Liberty	President James Foster
2009	Weather Girl	Dale
2010	Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths	Superman
2011	Certain Prey	Lucas Davenport	Television movie
2012	Family Guy	Leroy Jethro Gibbs	Episode: "The Man and His Dream"