http://thenorthernlight.canadaeast.com/whatson/article/261446
Mark Harmon is one of those actors who just doesn’t quit.
He’s been appearing in prime-time TV series since the 1970s, and his latest project is just one of many career highlights.
He currently stars as Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs, leader of a team of military investigators in “NCIS,” airing Tuesday on CBS and Global.
The series chronicles the efforts of the team as it probes any and all crimes with Navy or Marine Corps ties. As a man of few words, Harmon’s acting chops are truly tested, often relying on just a look to get his message across.
It’s a role that requires a certain level of self-assurance, and after so many years in the business, the actor’s confidence shines through.
What was once just a sprinkle of salt-and-pepper hair has now taken over, but Harmon is as dashing as ever in his latest role. In fact,“NCIS”is arguably one of his most successful professional projects.
With a famous family behind him, it’s no wonder Harmon has thrived in show biz.
His mother was Elyse Knox, a fashion designer turned actress who starred in a number of films for Universal throughout the 1940s. Her co-stars included everyone from Abbott and Costello to Lon Chaney Jr. Harmon’s father was football star and sportscaster Tom Harmon, who once played for the University of Michigan Wolverines and won the 1940 Heisman Trophy.
His older sister, Kris Harmon, is the ex-wife of music icon Ricky Nelson.
Before Harmon carved out his niche in the acting world, he followed in his father’s footsteps and played football for UCLA while studying communications. While playing quarterback for the UCLA Bruins during the 1972-73 season, he won the National Football Award for all-around excellence.
He did not let such early successes go to his head, however. He wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty, and even worked as a carpenter before his acting career took off.
Throughout the ‘70s, Harmon honed his chops with small roles in such iconic TV series as “Laverne and Shirley,” “Emergency!” and “The Love Boat.” In 1977, he earned his first Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Robert Dunlap in “Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years,” a highly touted TV movie.
Viewers with very good memories might also remember him as Officer Mike Breen from the short-lived 1978 CBS TV series“Sam.”
His first big-screen appearance came with a role in 1978’s “Comes a Horseman,” starring opposite Jane Fonda and James Caan. He joined even more Hollywood heavyweights in the 1979 sequel “Beyond the Poseidon Adventure,” which also starred Michael Caine, Sally Field,Telly Savalas and Peter Boyle.
Two of his most notable projects were still to follow, the first being the prime-time soap “Flamingo Road.”
From the creators of the mega-hit“Dallas,” the show was NBC’s first foray into the prime-time soap arena, and Harmon led the cast as ambitious politician Fielding Carlyle opposite Morgan Fairchild, who played his scheming wife, Constance.
The show propelled him to mainstream success, but it was his work in the critically acclaimed ‘80s medical drama “St. Elsewhere” that made him a superstar. Cast as hospital “Romeo” Dr. Bobby Caldwell in 1983, Harmon showcased his acting skills as the original “Dr. McDreamy” and left the show in 1986 when his character developed AIDS.
He surprised audiences when he completely changed gears for his next role, that of serial killer Ted Bundy in “The Deliberate Stranger,” a 1986 TV movie.
His versatility intrigued fans and industry pundits, and that same year he was voted People’s Sexiest Man Alive.
The next few years were a flurry of activity as he took on several projects, including a memorable guest-starring stint as Sam in the hit comedy “Moonlighting.”
He received a Golden Globe nomination for his work in the TV movie “After the Promise,” and starred in the big-screen flicks “Summer School” (1987), “The Presidio” (1988) and “Stealing Home” (1988).
In 1996, he returned to the medical drama genre as Dr. Jack McNeil in “Chicago Hope.” He stayed with the show until its demise in 2000.
It wasn’t long before “NCIS,” a spinoff of the popular show “JAG,” came along. The actor was welcomed to prime time once again when the show premiered in the fall of 2003. The show has some personal connotations for Har mon, who has real-life ties to the Navy. His grandfather, William Franklin Knox, was United States Secretary of the Navy during the Second World War.
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