Mark Harmon is an American actor who rose to fame with his role as聽Simon Donovan, a secret service special agent in the political drama TV series聽The West Wing. He is also known for portraying important roles in several films, TV movies, and series including his signature role as聽Leroy Jethro Gibbs, an NCIS special agent in the American聽action聽police procedural TV series NCIS in 2002 and for his roles in films like聽Comes a Horseman聽(1978) and Beyond the Poseidon Adventure (1979).
Born NameThomas Mark Harmon
Nick NameSilver Fox, Quarterback, Papa Smurf, Gibbs, Charmin Harmon, Papa Bear
Mark Harmon as seen in 2005 (Jerry Avenaim / Wikimedia / CC BY-SA 3.0)
Sun Sign
Virgo
Born PlaceBurbank, California, United States
ResidenceBurbank, California, United States
Nationality
Mark attended Harvard School and went to聽Pierce College聽in聽Los Angeles for his 2-year associate degree. He later got enrolled at the聽University of California, Los Angeles.
OccupationActor, Television Producer & Director
Family Father –聽Tom Harmon (Heisman Trophy-winning football player and broadcaster) Mother –聽Elyse Knox聽(n茅e聽Elsie Lillian Kornbrath) (Actress and Artist) Siblings –聽Kristin Nelson (Older Sister) (Actress and Painter) (Deceased), Kelly Harmon (Older Sister) (Actress-Model) Others –聽Louis Amiel/Anthony Harmon (Paternal Grandfather), Rose Marie Quinn (Paternal Grandmother), Marie Felix (Great-Grandfather),聽Mary Elizabeth (Great-Grandmother),聽Frederick Kornbrath (Maternal Grandfather),聽Hermine Sophie Muck (Maternal Grandmother),聽John DeLorean (Brother-in-Law) (Car聽magnate) (Deceased), Ricky Nelson (Brother-in-Law) (Deceased) ManagerMark is represented by –
Wings Productions, Inc. Paradigm Talent Agency BuildAthletic
Height6 ft or 183 cm
Weight84 kg or 185 lbs
Mark Harmon during NCIS Filming in March 2009 (Bill Wheatley / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0)
Girlfriend / Spouse
Mark has dated –
Karen Carpenter –聽Singer Karen聽Carpenter and Harmon started dating in the 1970s and broke up after a few months. Morgan Fairchild – Actress Morgan and Mark dated each other in 1979 and their relationship came to an end after a brief encounter. Cristina Raines (1980-1984) – Mark and Cristina began to date each other in the year 1980. After dating for almost 4 years, they both ended their relationship in 1984. Heather Locklear聽(1984) – After splitting from Raines, Mark dated actress Heather Locklear for a short period of time in 1984. Sheree J. Wilson聽(1985) – Mark and the actress Sheree J. Wilson had a fling聽in 1985. Terri Garber聽(1986) – Actress Terri Garber and Mark Harmon started dating in 1986, and after a few days, they both ended their relationship. Pam Dawber (1986-Present) – Mark and actress Pam Dawber started dating in 1986. After dating for almost 1 year, the couple tied the knot on聽March 21, 1987. They he 2 sons together named Sean Thomas Harmon (b.聽April 25, 1988) and聽Ty Christian Harmon (b.聽June 25, 1992). Race / EthnicityWhite
Mark has 50% Austrian, 37.5% Irish, and 12.5% Alsatian (Combination of French and German) ancestry.
Hair ColorDark Brown
With advancing age, his hair has turned gray.
Eye ColorBlue
Sexual OrientationStraight
Distinctive Features Arched Eyebrows Bright Eyes
Mark Harmon (Right) and Jason Gerhardt as seen in November 2018 (Mark Harmon / Instagram)
Brand Endorsements
He has appeared in the TV commercial for Coors Beer more than 20 times.
Mark acted with his father in a TV commercial which was about Kellogg’s Product 19 cereal. With this commercial, he made his first TV appearance.
In the 1970s, Mark worked as a national shoe spokesman for the Adidas.
Best Known For
Playing聽Secret Service Special Agent Simon Donovan in the drama series,聽The West Wing (2002)
First FilmMark made his theatrical film debut as聽Billy Joe Meynert in the 1978 film聽Comes a Horseman.
First TV ShowMark made his first TV show appearance as聽Mark Johnson on聽Ozzie’s Girls in 1973.
Personal TrainerTo stay fit and healthy, Mark likes to eat nutritious food and follow a healthy routine and workout regime. His workout includes running, Pilates, and other exercises.
Mark Harmon Forite Things Actors – Gary Cooper, Buster Keaton, and William S. Hart TV Series – Combat!聽(1962-1967)Source – IMDb
Mark Harmon at a ceremony to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in October 2012 (Angela George / Wikimedia / CC BY-SA 3.0)
Mark Harmon聽Facts
He was a part of major college football programs at the University of California, Los Angeles.
He attended pre-med college for a brief period before shifting to communications.
Mark served as a lifeguard during his summer job at Laguna Beach, California.
After completing his studies, Mark decided to serve in Law and Advertising.
Harmon is a former marathon runner and can run 60 to 70 miles in a week.
He can play guitar.
Mark earned a Ford 1928, his first car, at the age of 13.
He is fond of dogs and had an Australian shepherd, a golden retriever, and a bearded collie in the past.
Mark was declared the聽4th most popular actor on prime-time television in 2011.
In 1973, Harmon fractured his collarbone at聽the University of California, Los Angeles during聽a spring practice football scrimmage.
He became the first actor to play Ted Bundy,聽the most notorious serial killer in the TV movie聽The Deliberate Stranger聽(1986).
Gary Cooper highly inspires Mark.
During the filming of Beyond the Poseidon Adventure聽(1979), Mark damaged his eardrum.
Mark is also known as “Quarterback” as his dad didn’t want to call Mark by his original name during his football matches.
Harmon was considered to play聽Dan Gallagher in聽Fatal Attraction聽(1987).
Before their marriage, Mark and his wife Pam went on a double date with聽Julianne Phillips聽and聽Bruce Springsteen.
Mark was offered to start his football career professionally, but he declined the offer.
Mark also had a cat named Arnold.
Before stepping into acting, Mark tried carpentering but couldn’t get success.
In October 2021, Mark announced his exit from the CBS series, NCIS after 19 seasons.
In November 2023, Mark teamed up with a real NCIS agent named Leon Carroll, Jr. to release a nonfiction book titled Ghosts of Honolulu: A Japanese Spy, A Japanese American Spy Hunter, and the Untold Story of Pearl Harbor.
Mark Harmon doesn’t he any verified social media account.
Featured Image by聽Angela George / Wikimedia / CC BY-SA 3.0