mark harmon ncis star© Photo: Rex

NCIS star Mark Harmon shows off dancing skills in first-ever TV role

The NCIS star made his TV debut in 1973

TV and film writer
February 17, 2023

Mark Harmon is known and loved for his portrayal of Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs in the long-running drama NCIS, in which he starred for almost 20 years from 2003 to 2021

The 71-year-old has appeared in a variety of major TV shows and films over the course of his career, including The West Wing and Freaky Friday. But did you know that he made his TV debut in the NBC sitcom Ozzie's Girls back in 1973?

The actor bagged a part playing Mark Johnson, a college friend of Susie's who runs against her for class president. At the end of the episode, it's revealed that Mark won the election and offers Susie a position as his advisor before celebrating on the dance floor. Watch him in action below!

WATCH: Mark Harmon shows off his dancing skills in Ozzie's Girls

Mark has his older sister Kristin to thank for his first screen credit as she was married to show creator Ozzie Nelson's son, Ricky.

MORE: Everything former NCIS stars have said about returning: Mark Harmon, Pauley Perrette and more

Following his small screen debut, Mark went on to appear in minor roles on various TV shows before landing his big break playing Dr. Robert Caldwell in NBC's medical drama St. Elsewhere in 1983. 

© Photo: Rex

Mark has been on our screens since 1973

He stayed in the role for three seasons before making his departure in 1986, when his character contracted HIV - one of the first times a recurring television character was diagnosed with the virus.

MORE: NCIS stars' famous families revealed: Mark Harmon, Michael Weatherly, Sean Murray and more

From there, the actor landed several starring roles on primetime shows, including police drama Reasonable Doubts and the crime mini-series, The Deliberate Stranger, in which he portrayed serial killer Ted Bundy. 

Mark - who married his wife Pam Dawber in 1987 - also made a name for himself on the big screen, co-starring alongside Sean Connery and Meg Ryan in the 1988 film The Presidio and also opposite Jodie Foster in Stealing Home

© Photo: Rex

Mark Harmon with Meg Ryan in the 1988 film The Presidio

POPULAR: How Mark Harmon's painful injury resulted in him discovering a new fitness passion

Following his four-episode story arc on The West Wing - which won him his second Emmy nomination - JAG and NCIS creator Donald P. Bellisario invited him to guest star as Agent Gibbs in two episodes of JAG in 2003.

Just a few months later, Mark starred as the same character in the show's spin-off series, NCIS - a role that he played for almost two decades until 2021.

LISTEN: Today's biggest celebrity news in just 2 minutes

Like this story? Sign up to our What to Watch newsletter to get other stories like this delivered straight to your inbox.

Sign up to Off Camera for all the gossip and goings-on from the wonderful world of TV and film

Email Address

By entering your details, you are agreeing to HELLO! Magazine User Data Protection Policy. You can unsubscribe at any time. For more information, please click here.

More TV and Film

See more