'NCIS' Mark Harmon on the Secret to His Career: "You Earn Luck"

Mark Harmon has a simple explanation for why his career has lasted as long as it has, and it has nothing to do with luck.

In a recent conversation, the longtime NCIS actor said he’s never believed success just happens on its own. To him, opportunity only matters if you’re prepared when it arrives. Otherwise, it passes by unnoticed.

That outlook started early. Harmon has often pointed to the influence of his father, former football star Tom Harmon, who offered practical advice rather than encouragement built on hype. One lesson stuck with him: if something isn’t true, there’s no reason to waste energy worrying about it.

Harmon says that idea helped him stay focused in an industry where opinions, rumors, and outside noise are constant. Instead of reacting to everything around him, he learned to concentrate on the work in front of him.

Before acting became his full-time career, Harmon played quarterback at UCLA. He’s said that experience shaped how he approaches his job to this day. Repetition, preparation, and consistency mattered more than talent alone. If someone doubted him, he didn’t argue — he worked harder.

Harmon has described himself as a “practice guy,” someone who believes improvement comes from showing up and doing the same things well, over and over again. That mindset followed him through decades of acting work.

Even after becoming widely known through NCIS, Harmon didn’t see himself differently. He’s said he still wakes up with the same goal: put in the effort and do the job right. Titles and recognition were never the point.

While Harmon admits he’s been fortunate, he doesn’t see luck as random. In his words, luck is something you earn by being ready long before opportunity appears.

That belief has guided his career from the beginning — staying grounded, focused, and willing to work — without chasing attention or worrying about anything that doesn’t matter.