Born on September 2, 1951 in Burbank, California, actor Mark Harmon has had a notable career on television and film. His father, Tom Harmon, was a Heisman Trophy winner and his mother, Elyse Knox, was an actress. Mark attended the Los Angeles Pierce College as a student and quarterback, and later transferred to the University of California, Los Angeles. There, he continued to follow in his father’s footsteps by becoming the starting quarterback for the UCLA Bruins. In 1973, he was awarded with the National Football Foundation Award for All-Round Excellence.
Mark Harmon later ventured into acting, landing a guest role on series like Adam-12 and Emergency! In 1979, he starred in the series 240-Robert, playing the character Deputy Dwayne Thibideaux. Most of Harmon’s career was spent portraying law enforcement officers, and he has been noted for being a guest on Police Woman, Laverne & Shirley, as well as The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries. In 1980, Harmon landed his first prominent role in the primetime soap opera Flamingo Road. The short-lived role was followed by a part in the NBC Emmy-winning series St. Elsewhere, but Harmon left it in 1986. He was later seen on Moonlighting, and became a regular member of the cast of the NBC series Reasonable Doubts. From 1996 to 2000, he played the character Dr. Jack McNeil in Chicago Hope.
Mark Harmon's acting talent has earned him multiple Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award nominations. He was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for The West Wing, and before that for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Special for the movie Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years. He received two consecutive Golden Globe nominations for his work in Reasonable Doubts and also received Golden Globe nominations for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture Made for TV for After the Promise and for his role as serial killer Ted Bundy in The Deliberate Stranger. Mark Harmon later joined the cast of the CBS series NCIS, playing the experienced former US Marine Gunnery Sergeant and sniper, Agent Gibbs. Some of Harmon’s other performances include those in Comes A Horseman, Summer School, The Presidio, Freaky Friday and Chasing Liberty.
Burbank, California, United States.
Uncle of musicians Gunnar Nelson and Matthew Nelson.
Uncle of Sam Nelson.
Brother-in-law of singer Ricky Nelson.
Mother is actress Elyse Knox.
Father is football star Tom Harmon.
Brother of actress Kelly Harmon.
Brother of Kristin Harmon.
Harmon and Pam Dawber have two children: Sean Thomas Harmon born 26 April 1988 and Ty Christian Harmon born 25 June 1992.
Uncle of actress Tracy Nelson.
Chosen as People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive. [1986]
His godfather Forest Evashevski is in the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame.
Risked his life to save two teenage boys who were involved in a car accident outside of his home. Harmon used a sledge hammer from his garage to break the window out of their car then pulled them free so they wouldn't be burned to death, while his wife Pam Dawber called 911. He made every effort to downplay his role in saving their lives. [1996].
Graduated c-u-m laude from UCLA, 1974, with degree in communications. Also played quarterback for UCLA Bruins, 1972-73 winning National Football Foundation Award for all-round excellence.
Worked as a carpenter before he hit it big.
No relation to Angie Harmon.
His uncle, Ron Knox (his mother's brother), was also a college football star and played one season as a professional quarterback for the Chicago Bears.
Good friends with David Bortolucci.
Grandson of William Franklin Knox, United States Secretary of the Navy during World War II and Republican candidate for Vice President in 1936.
Father, Tom Harmon, played for the University of Michigan Wolverines and won the 1940 Heisman Trophy emblematic of the best player in the nation.
1997 Nominated Actor
1998 Nominated Actor
1987 Nominated Golden Globe
1988 Nominated Golden Globe
1992 Nominated Golden Globe
1993 Nominated Golden Globe
2005 - Golden Boot
1977 Nominated Emmy
2002 Nominated Emmy
# Weather Girl (2008) (post-production) .... Dale
# "Navy NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service" .... Leroy Jethro Gibbs / ... (113 episodes, 2003-2008)
... aka NCIS (USA: short title)
... aka NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service (USA: new title)
- Episode #6.1 (2008) TV episode .... NCIS Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs
- Judgment Day (2008) TV episode .... NCIS Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs
- About Face (2008) TV episode .... NCIS Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs
- Recoil (2008) TV episode .... NCIS Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs
- In the Zone (2008) TV episode .... NCIS Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs
(108 more)
# Chasing Liberty (2004) .... President James Foster
# Freaky Friday (2003) .... Ryan
# "JAG" .... NCIS Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs (2 episodes, 2003)
... aka JAG: Judge Advocate General (Australia)
- Meltdown (2003) TV episode .... NCIS Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs
- Ice Queen (2003) TV episode .... NCIS Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs
# "The West Wing" .... Agent Simon Donovan (4 episodes, 2002)
- Posse Comitatus (2002) TV episode .... Agent Simon Donovan
- We Killed Yamamoto (2002) TV episode .... Agent Simon Donovan
- The Black Vera Wang (2002) TV episode .... Agent Simon Donovan
- Enemies Foreign and Domestic (2002) TV episode .... Agent Simon Donovan
# Local Boys (2002) .... Jim Wesley
# "The Legend of Tarzan" .... Bob Markham (1 episode, 2001)
... aka Disney's the Legend of Tarzan (USA: complete title)
- Tarzan and the Outbreak (2001) TV episode .... Bob Markham
# And Never Let Her Go (2001) (TV) .... Thomas Capano
# Crossfire Trail (2001) (TV) .... Bruce Barkow
... aka Louis L'Amour's 'Crossfire Trail' (USA)
# The Amati Girls (2000) .... Lawrence
# For All Time (2000) (TV) .... Charles Lattimer
# "Chicago Hope" .... Dr. Jack McNeil (95 episodes, 1996-2000)
- Have I Got a Deal for You (2000) TV episode .... Dr. Jack McNeil
- Everybody's Special at Chicago Hope (2000) TV episode .... Dr. Jack McNeil
- Thoughts of You (2000) TV episode .... Dr. Jack McNeil
- Miller Time (2000) TV episode .... Dr. Jack McNeil
- Devoted Attachment (2000) TV episode .... Dr. Jack McNeil
(90 more)
# I'll Remember April (1999) .... John Cooper
# Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998) .... Magazine Reporter at Mint 400
# "From the Earth to the Moon" (1998) TV mini-series .... Astronaut Walter Schirra
# Casualties (1997) .... Tommy Nance
# "Adventures from the Book of Virtues" .... Ulysses (1 episode, 1997)
... aka The Book of Virtues (USA: short title)
- Perseverence (1997) TV episode (voice) .... Ulysses
# The First to Go (1997) .... Jeremy Hampton
# "Strangers" .... Mark (1 episode, 1996)
- Visit (1996) TV episode .... Mark
# "Charlie Grace" .... Charlie Grace (6 episodes, 1995)
- One Simple Little Favor (1995) TV episode .... Charlie Grace
- Designer Knock-Off (1995) TV episode .... Charlie Grace
- The Kid (1995) TV episode .... Charlie Grace
- Bring Me the Head of Darnell Sims (1995) TV episode .... Charlie Grace
- Pilot (1995) TV episode .... Charlie Grace
(1 more)
# The Last Supper (1995) .... Dominant Male
# Magic in the Water (1995) .... Jack Black
... aka Glenorky
... aka Lac magique, Le (Canada: French title: TV title)
# Original Sins (1995) (TV) .... Johnathan Franye
... aka Acts of Contrition
# Natural Born Killers (1994) (uncredited) .... Mickey Knox in Wayne Gale's Reconstruction
# Wyatt Earp (1994) .... Johnny Behan
# "Harts of the West" .... Rodeo clown (1 episode, 1993)
- The Right Stuff (1993) TV episode .... Rodeo clown
# "Reasonable Doubts" .... Det. Dicky Cobb (43 episodes, 1991-1993)
- Trust Me on This: Part 1 (1993) TV episode .... Det. Dicky Cobb
- Trust Me on This: Part 2 (1993) TV episode .... Det. Dicky Cobb
- The Ties That Bind: Part 1 (1993) TV episode .... Det. Dicky Cobb
- The Ties That Bind: Part 2 (1993) TV episode .... Det. Dicky Cobb
- Wish You Were Here (1993) TV episode .... Det. Dicky Cobb
(38 more)
# Cold Heaven (1991) .... Alex Davenport
# Shadow of a Doubt (1991) (TV) .... Charles
# Long Road Home (1991) (TV) .... Ertie Robertson
# Fourth Story (1991) (TV) .... David Shepard
... aka Basic Deception
... aka Deadly Identity (UK)
# Dillinger (1991) (TV) .... John Dillinger
# Till There Was You (1990) .... Frank Flynn
# Worth Winning (1989) .... Taylor Worth
# Sweet Bird of Youth (1989) (TV) .... Chance Wayne
# Stealing Home (1988) .... Billy Wyatt
# The Presidio (1988) .... Jay Austin
... aka The Presidio: The Scene of the Crime (UK)
# After the Promise (1987) (TV) .... Elmer Jackson
# Summer School (1987) .... Mr. Freddy Shoop
# "Saturday Night Live" .... Host (1 episode, 1987)
... aka NBC's Saturday Night (USA: first season title)
... aka SNL (USA: informal title)
... aka SNL 25 (USA: alternative title)
... aka Saturday Night (USA: second season title)
... aka Saturday Night Live '80 (USA: sixth season title)
... aka The Best of Saturday Night Live (USA: rerun title)
- Mark Harmon/Suzanne Vega (1987) TV episode .... Host
# "Moonlighting" .... Sam Crawford (4 episodes, 1987)
- I Am Curious... Maddie (1987) TV episode .... Sam Crawford
- Maddie's Turn to Cry (1987) TV episode .... Sam Crawford
- Sam & Dave (1987) TV episode .... Sam Crawford
- Blonde on Blonde (1987) TV episode .... Sam Crawford
# Let's Get Harry (1986) .... Harry Burck Jr.
... aka The Rescue
# "St. Elsewhere" .... Dr. Robert 'Bobby' Caldwell (70 episodes, 1983-1986)
- E.R. (1986) TV episode .... Dr. Robert 'Bobby' Caldwell
- The Equalizer (1986) TV episode .... Dr. Robert 'Bobby' Caldwell
- Black's Magic (1986) TV episode .... Dr. Robert 'Bobby' Caldwell
- Cheek to Cheek (1986) TV episode .... Dr. Robert 'Bobby' Caldwell
- Come Home, Oh Sapien (1986) TV episode .... Dr. Robert 'Bobby' Caldwell
(65 more)
# The Deliberate Stranger (1986) (TV) .... Ted Bundy
# Prince of Bel Air (1986) (TV) .... Robin Prince
# Tuareg - Il guerriero del deserto (1984) .... Gacel Sayah
... aka Desert Warrior (USA: video title)
... aka Tuareg (Spain)
... aka Tuareg: The Desert Warrior (USA: longer version)
# "The Love Boat" .... Doug Bradbury (3 episodes, 1979-1983)
- Julie and the Bachelor/Intensive Care/Set Up for Romance (1983) TV episode
- The Wedding: Carol and Doug's Story/Peter and Alicia's Story/Julie's Story/Buddy and Portia's Story: Part 1 (1979) TV episode .... Doug Bradbury
- The Wedding: Carol and Doug's Story/Peter and Alicia's Story/Julie's Story/Buddy and Portia's Story: Part 2 (1979) TV episode .... Doug Bradbury
# Intimate Agony (1983) (TV) .... Tommy
... aka Doctor in Paradise (USA: video box title)
# "Flamingo Road" .... Fielding Carlyle (37 episodes, 1981-1982)
- Murder They Said (1982) TV episode .... Fielding Carlyle
- The Harder They fall (1982) TV episode .... Fielding Carlyle
- An Eye for an Eye (1982) TV episode .... Fielding Carlyle
- The Bad and the Beautiful (1982) TV episode .... Fielding Carlyle
- The High and the Mighty (1982) TV episode .... Fielding Carlyle
(32 more)
# Goliath Awaits (1981) (TV) .... Peter Cabot
# The Dream Merchants (1980) (TV) .... Johnny Edge
# Flamingo Road (1980) (TV) .... Fielding Carlyle
# "240-Robert" (1979) TV series .... Deputy Dwayne Thibideaux (unknown episodes, 1979-1980)
# Beyond the Poseidon Adventure (1979) .... Larry Simpson
# Comes a Horseman (1978) .... Billy Joe Meynert
# "Centennial" (1978) TV mini-series .... Captain John McIntosh
# Little Mo (1978) (TV) .... Norman Brinker
# Getting Married (1978) (TV) .... Howie Lesser
# "Sam" (1978) TV series .... Officer Mike Breen (unknown episodes)
# "The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries" .... Chip Garvey (1 episode, 1977)
... aka The Nancy Drew Mysteries (USA: short title)
- Mystery of the Solid Gold Kicker (1977) TV episode .... Chip Garvey
# Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years (1977) (TV) .... Robert Dunlap
# "Laverne & Shirley" .... Victor, Jeep Buyer (1 episode, 1976)
... aka Laverne & Shirley & Company (USA: syndication title)
... aka Laverne & Shirley & Friends (USA: syndication title)
... aka Laverne DeFazio & Shirley Feeney (USA: first season title)
- Dating Slump (1976) TV episode .... Victor, Jeep Buyer
# "Adam-12" .... Officer Gus Corbin (1 episode, 1975)
- Gus Corbin (1975) TV episode .... Officer Gus Corbin
# "Emergency!" .... Officer Dave Gordon (1 episode, 1975)
... aka Emergencia (USA: Spanish title)
... aka Emergency One (USA: syndication title)
- 905-Wild (1975) TV episode .... Officer Dave Gordon
# "Police Woman" .... Paul Donin (1 episode, 1975)
- No Place to Hide (1975) TV episode .... Paul Donin
At Chicago Hope they have a technical staff that works real hard to make that O.R. as realistic as possible.
Mark Harmon
How many times have you been on the freeway and had someone fly by you at 100 mph then end up two cars ahead of you at the off ramp? What's the point?
Mark Harmon
I like this job - most days I have a chance to make breakfast and take the kids to school or to read 'em a bedtime story. It's almost like a normal life.
Mark Harmon
I think if you get asked to do this, then that's called doing your homework, and I try and do it.
Mark Harmon
I'm in the business to push it. I'm not likely to be attracted to characters I've already done.
Mark Harmon
I'm just beginning to direct. For all intents and purposes, this is the first time for me.
Mark Harmon
I'm thankful to get the opportunity to direct. I hope I don't mess it up.
Mark Harmon
It's a lot easier to do good work when you have good words to say and work with good people.
Mark Harmon
People think what you are doing is real, on a TV show.
Mark Harmon
Some people say it's scarier to direct the people you work with; not me, I'm a team guy.
Mark Harmon
St. Elsewhere was certainly a great show.
Mark Harmon