NCIS Fans Shocked as Mark Harmon, 72, Looks Completely Unrecognizable 21 Years After His Debut!

Mark Harmon, the beloved actor from NCIS, is almost unrecognizable two decades after first stepping into the role of Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs in 2003. The long-running series, a spin-off of JAG, has produced 21 seasons and six spin-offs, becoming a staple in crime drama television.

Harmon portrayed Gibbs until 2021, departing during the 19th season. Now 72, he largely stays out of the spotlight, enjoying a quiet life with his wife of 37 years, Mork & Mindy actress Pam Dawber. Recently, Harmon was seen in Los Angeles, casually dressed in a red button-down shirt, dark shorts, and flip-flops, braving the heat as he ran errands.

Since leaving NCIS, Harmon has not taken on any new film or TV roles, but he’s set to reprise his role in Freakier Friday, a sequel to the 2003 hit film Freaky Friday. In the original, he played Ryan, the love interest of Tess (Jamie Lee Curtis) and stepfather to Anna (Lindsay Lohan).

Reflecting on his departure from NCIS, Harmon expressed his gratitude for the role that defined his career. “What has always drawn me here is the character I play and keeping it fresh and challenging,” he said.

Though Gibbs wasn’t killed off, Harmon’s name was removed from the credits after his departure, leaving the door open for a potential return. Executive producer Steven D. Binder has hinted that a return isn’t out of the question, saying, “We’ll wait and see.”

For fans of Gibbs, there’s more good news: Harmon will serve as executive producer and narrator for NCIS: Origins, a prequel series set 12 years before the original. The show will follow a young Gibbs, portrayed by Austin Stowell, as a fresh-faced special agent at NCIS Camp Pendleton.

While Harmon enjoys his reduced role, he remains uncertain about returning to the original series. “I don’t know. It’s all about feeling like you’ve completed a role. I’ve always trusted the writers to take the story wherever they want,” he said.