Sean Murray of NCIS had a connection with Gibbs actor Mark Harmon a decade prior to their collaboration on the long-running series.
The NCIS star, Sean Murray, encountered his eventual “mentor” Mark Harmon during his younger years, unaware of the close bond they would later develop.
Agent Leroy Gibbs (Mark Harmon) was a constant presence in the CBS police procedural for nearly two decades, working alongside a generally ever-changing team, except for his right-hand man, Agent Timothy McGee (Sean Murray). They tackled crimes together from the series premiere “Yankee White” in 2003 until Gibbs departed at the end of season 19.
Their relationship predates the filming of NCIS, with Sean Murray starting as a young actor, having appeared in projects like Hocus Pocus and This Boy’s Life.
In 1993, at the age of 15, the 46-year-old actor landed a role as Zane Hart in the television series “Harts of the West,” where a Chicago family embarks on a new life on a rundown ranch in Nevada. Harmon appeared in an episode called “The Right Stuff” as a rodeo clown alongside the series regular Murray.
During an interview on the Let’s Dive In podcast, the Timothy McGee star shared his initial experience working with his future NCIS colleague.
“It was very interesting to come full circle with Harmon there, and he left an imprint on me,” Murray said. “He made an impression on me when he came on and had a role in ‘Harts of the West,’ a show I performed in when I was 15 years old; we did one season of it. He made a big effect on me; I had a couple of scenes with him, and we chatted a lot about crafts and everything. So, after all these years, being able to work with him again is fantastic. He’s been kind of a mentor to me, whether he realizes it or not.”
While Harmon is no longer part of the original drama, Gibbs’ legacy in the NCIS universe will continue. CBS has announced the development of “NCIS: Origins,” which will narrate Gibbs’ story before he joined NCIS. Harmon will not star in the prequel but will serve as a narrator and executive producer for the upcoming series. There has been no announcement yet regarding who will portray the young Gibbs.