Mark Harmon’s journey to fame is filled with surprising twists and hidden talents. Known for his iconic role as Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs on NCIS, Harmon’s career spans beyond acting. He once dreamed of a career in carpentry, a passion passed down from his famous father, Tom Harmon, a former NFL player and sports broadcaster. Despite his love for woodworking, Mark struggled to find work in the field, which led him to pursue acting instead.
Before NCIS, Harmon already had a solid acting career, having appeared in notable projects like Prince of Bel Air, Summer School, and Chasing Liberty. However, his breakthrough came in the role of Gibbs, where he earned a hefty $525K per episode. Interestingly, Harmon wasn’t the first choice for the role—NCIS creator Don Bellisario initially wanted Harrison Ford, but Ford turned down the offer. It was Harmon’s audition that convinced Bellisario he was the right fit for the no-nonsense character.
However, Harmon’s time on NCIS wasn’t without its challenges. Behind the scenes, tensions grew between him and Bellisario, particularly after long hours and micromanagement took a toll on the cast and crew. In 2007, CBS decided to part ways with Bellisario, despite his claims that Harmon had orchestrated his departure.
Despite the drama, Harmon remained dedicated to his role on NCIS, which became one of the longest-running shows on CBS. You can catch all the seasons of NCIS now streaming on Hulu and
