Mark Harmon on Finding Love: "I Kissed a Lot of Frogs" Before Finding His Perfect Match

Hollywood marriages are notorious for their short shelf lives—but Mark Harmon and Pam Dawber have gone the distance. While other celebrity couples flame out in a haze of tabloid drama, the NCIS star and his Mork & Mindy bride have quietly built a marriage that’s lasted over three decades. So, what’s their secret?

Turns out, it’s not what you’d expect.

"We Don’t Even Like the Same Things"

In a town where couples often bond over red carpets and industry gossip, Harmon and Dawber have leaned into something simpler: their differences.

“We don’t generally like the same things,” Harmon shared in a rare interview. “But that’s been healthy for us.”

It’s a refreshingly honest take from an actor known for playing the ultra-traditional Leroy Jethro Gibbs. But then again, Harmon has always marched to his own beat—even when it comes to love.

From "Kissing Frogs" to Lasting Love

Before Dawber, Harmon says he “had to kiss a lot of frogs.” The two met in 1986 at a mutual friend’s party, where Dawber—fresh off Mork & Mindy—was secretly sizing him up against her mental checklist.

“I wanted someone with warmth, intelligence, and a sense of humor,” she later shared. Harmon, it turned out, checked every box.

Their relationship was low-key from the start—no tabloid drama, no red carpet stunts. When breakup rumors popped up, they stayed quiet. When fans speculated about a secret wedding, they quietly proved them right—marrying in 1987 at a small ceremony with just family and close friends.

The Radical Decision That Saved Their Marriage

At the height of her fame, Dawber made a choice few in Hollywood ever do: she walked away.

“I wanted to drive my kids to school. Be there for birthdays. Just be mom,” she said.

While Harmon spent years building one of TV’s most recognizable roles on NCIS, Dawber chose home life. It wasn’t glamorous, but it worked.

“I don’t think two people can work all the time in show business and stay married,” she reflected.

Why You’ll Never See Their Kids on Instagram

The Harmons have stayed off the grid by today’s standards. No social media. No tell-all interviews. Just two sons—Sean, 36, and Ty, 31—who were raised away from cameras.

“Our kids aren’t into that world,” Harmon said. “And neither are we.”

Sean followed his parents into acting (even playing a young Gibbs on NCIS), while Ty works behind the scenes as a screenwriter. But both inherited their parents’ aversion to fame—a rarity in today’s influencer-obsessed era.

What’s Kept Them Together All These Years

After 35 years, Harmon still wears his wedding ring with pride. Not for cameras—but because, as he puts it, “I’m proud of who I’m married to.”

In an industry where relationships are treated as disposable, their marriage stands as a quiet rebellion. No drama. No scandals. Just two people who chose each other—and still do.

As Dawber once said: “We’re just normal people who happened to fall in love.”

And maybe that’s all there ever needed to be.

Mark Harmon Opens Up About Marriage in Rare Interview

In a rare sit-down with Larry King, Mark Harmon offered one of the few public glimpses into his marriage with Pam Dawber. When asked about love, commitment, and how they’ve lasted so long, his response was quiet, honest—and revealing.

“I love that you’re asking me about marriage,” Harmon said with a smile, before reflecting on the values that keep them grounded.