For nearly 20 years, Mark Harmon wasn’t just a TV star — he was a weekly ritual. As Leroy Jethro Gibbs on NCIS, he became the face of steady leadership, loyalty, and quiet strength. But off-screen, Harmon built something even more impressive: a fiercely private life rooted in family.
Born in Burbank, he grew up in a household of high achievers. His father, Tom Harmon, was a college football legend turned broadcaster, and his mother, Elyse Knox, was a Hollywood actress. Though he once seemed destined for the NFL as UCLA’s quarterback, acting ultimately became his calling.
That journey led to 18 seasons at the helm of NCIS, helping transform the series into a global phenomenon. Yet at the height of fame, Harmon made one rule clear: family first.
In 1987, he married Pam Dawber, beloved for Mork & Mindy. While Hollywood relationships often unravel under pressure, theirs thrived in privacy. They raised their two sons, Sean and Ty, largely out of the spotlight — with Dawber stepping back from acting and Harmon structuring his career around home life.
In a rare full-circle moment, Dawber returned to television in 2021 to share the screen with her husband on NCIS — a quiet nod to their enduring partnership.
Their sons have since carved their own paths. Sean even portrayed a young Gibbs on NCIS before marrying Courtney Prather in 2022, with Harmon proudly by his side. Ty has chosen life behind the camera, focusing on screenwriting.
Now stepping away from weekly television, Harmon leaves behind more than ratings and awards. His real legacy may be how he handled success — choosing consistency over chaos, privacy over publicity, and family over everything.