“Mark Harmon’s Last-Minute Intervention Saves NCIS’ Agent Gibbs From Name Change!”
In a surprising revelation, it has come to light that Mark Harmon, the veteran actor behind the iconic character Leroy Jethro Gibbs in NCIS, almost had his character’s name changed at the eleventh hour. Harmon, who portrayed Gibbs from the show’s inception until his exit in season 19, revealed that there was a moment of uncertainty regarding his character’s name just as filming was about to commence.
Initially intrigued by the role upon reading the first script, Harmon found himself facing unexpected opposition when the creators proposed changing Gibbs’ name to something entirely different. Speaking to ET, Harmon recounted the moment, saying, “I read ‘Leroy Jethro Gibbs’ and thought, ‘Huh, I like that name.’ And then for a brief second when I decided that I liked the idea of the project, the name changed.”
The proposed new name was something along the lines of “Bob Johnson,” but Harmon was adamant that the character remain Leroy Jethro Gibbs. “No, no, it’s gotta be Leroy Jethro Gibbs,” he insisted to the creators. Despite their initial resistance, Harmon ultimately prevailed, securing Gibbs’ iconic name for the character.
Before Harmon’s enduring association with the role, several other notable actors were considered for the part, including Chris Cooper, Val Kilmer, Patrick Swayze, and Kevin Bacon. However, it was Harmon’s portrayal of Leroy Jethro Gibbs that became synonymous with NCIS, cementing his place in the hearts of fans worldwide.
Harmon’s intervention serves as a testament to the importance of character identity in television, ensuring that Agent Gibbs remained true to his original name throughout the series’ illustrious run.
