Mark Harmon

Mark Harmon is a well-known actor and former football player. He attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and earned a reputation as a skillful quarterback, culminating in his receipt of the National Football Foundation Award for All-Round Excellence during his senior year. Harmon graduated cum laude from UCLA in 1974 with a B.A. in Communications, a background that has undoubtedly served him well in his subsequent career in the entertainment industry. Before switching to acting, he began his career in business as a merchandising director.

Harmon's acting career took off in the early 1970s, and he has continually demonstrated his versatility through a variety of television and film roles. He is perhaps best known for his portrayal of Leroy Jethro Gibbs on "NCIS," a role he has been playing since 2003. His portrayal of Secret Service special agent Simon Donovan in the "West Wing" in 2002 earned him an Emmy Award nomination. Over his career, Harmon has often portrayed law enforcement and medical personnel, lending him a unique perspective on these fields. He has also worked behind the scenes as a producer and executive producer on "NCIS" since 2008, further broadening his industry experience.

In addition to his television work, Harmon has starred in films such as Summer School, Prince of Bel-Air, and Wyatt Earp. He has also made a mark in the theater, performing in stage productions in Los Angeles and Toronto. His contributions to the acting field were recognized in 2012 when he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Beyond acting, Harmon has written a book titled "Ghosts of Honolulu: A Japanese Spy, a Japanese American Spy Hunter, and the Untold Story of Pearl Harbor," released in 2023.