Mark Harmon on the Secret Behind His Long NCIS Run: “You Earn Luck”

Mark Harmon has been on television long enough to feel like part of the furniture — sturdy, quiet, and somehow still sharp at the edges. From his early St. Elsewhere years to nearly twenty seasons on NCIS, the through line has never been glamour. It’s work.

That work ethic started early. Raised in Burbank as the youngest of three, Harmon grew up watching his father, Heisman winner Tom Harmon, and his mother, artist Elyse Knox, approach life with the same discipline — one on the field, one at the easel. What stuck wasn’t their fame, but their focus.

“If it’s not true, don’t worry about it,” Harmon told PEOPLE — simple advice from his dad that’s carried him through a noisy business.

The Practice Guy

Before acting, Harmon was a quarterback at UCLA — a detail that explains more about his approach than any headline ever could.

“I’m a practice guy… you tell me I can’t do something, I’m probably going to prove you wrong.”

It’s why his portrayal of Gibbs on NCIS never looked like performance. The stillness, the silences, the authority — they came from habit, not affect. Harmon didn’t play at being grounded; he just was. On set, he wasn’t the loudest or the loosest. He was the one who knew his lines, hit his mark, and made sure the scene worked for everyone.

Carrying His Dad’s Words

Harmon lost his father when he was 38, but the lessons outlived the loss: work hard, stay kind, and never let the effort show.

“Work your ass off, and don’t let the effort show. Treat people the same, not based on who they are or what they are.”

It’s a philosophy that kept him centered as NCIS became one of the biggest shows on television. While others chased attention, Harmon quietly led — and when it was time to step back, he did that just as gracefully.

Prepared for the Long Game

After football came small TV roles, then Chicago Hope, The West Wing, and finally NCIS — the role that would define him. But when he arrived, he wasn’t chasing a breakout. He was ready for it.

“Your job is to be prepared for the opportunity — it will come, you just won’t know when. Until then, all you can do is invest in yourself.”

No shortcuts, no luck to ride — just preparation stacked quietly over time.

A Line Between Work and Home

Off-screen, Harmon kept his world small by design. Married to actress Pam Dawber for more than 30 years, father to two sons, he’s always drawn a clean line between set and home. Even that old “Sexiest Man Alive” title? He laughed it off then, and still does now — the reaction of a man allergic to pretense.

Why Fans Still Feel It

Harmon’s staying power isn’t mystery. It’s the kind of reliability audiences don’t realize they miss until it’s gone — steady work, no drama, no noise.

“I’m a lucky guy,” he said. “But you earn luck.” It’s the same quiet mantra that built his life, his legacy, and the kind of career that doesn’t fade when the credits roll.

Sources:
PEOPLE — Mark Harmon coverage
YouTube — NCIS clip/interview context