Mark Harmon is an American actor, producer, and director, best known for his portrayal of Leroy Jethro Gibbs on the hit CBS television series NCIS.

Born on September 2, 1951, in Burbank, California, Harmon grew up in a family with a strong connection to the entertainment industry. His father, Tom Harmon, was a well-known football player and broadcaster, and his mother, Elyse Knox, was an actress and fashion model. This background provided Mark with a unique perspective on the world of show business, though he initially pursued a career in sports before entering acting.

Before gaining widespread fame for his role in NCIS, Mark Harmon was already a familiar face on television. He began his acting career in the mid-1970s, appearing in a variety of roles in TV shows and made-for-TV movies. His breakthrough role came in 1986 when he starred as Dr. Robert Caldwell on the medical drama St. Elsewhere. Harmon’s work on St. Elsewhere was highly praised, and it marked the beginning of a long and successful career in television. His experience on the show also provided him with the skills to take on more prominent roles in the industry.

In the 1990s, Mark Harmon’s career continued to flourish, with notable appearances in films and television series. He starred in the 1995 hit film The Deliberate Stranger, where he portrayed the infamous serial killer Ted Bundy. Harmon’s chilling portrayal of Bundy showed his versatility as an actor, allowing him to branch out into darker, more complex characters. Despite his success in movies, Harmon continued to build a strong reputation in television, with appearances on series like Chicago Hope and The West Wing.

The role that would define Mark Harmon’s career came in 2003 when he was cast as Leroy Jethro Gibbs, the leader of the elite Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) team in the show NCIS. The series became an immediate hit, with Harmon’s portrayal of the stoic, no-nonsense Gibbs earning him widespread acclaim. His performance on the show has been one of the main reasons for its success, and he has remained a central part of the series throughout its long run. NCIS has become one of the longest-running and most popular procedural dramas in television history, and Harmon’s role as Gibbs has made him a household name.