Friday, February 24, 2012

A Portrait of Pam Dawber and Mark Harmon

 

Mark Harmon and Pam Dawber were married on March 21, 1987 and this year they will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary.  That's pretty impressive by Hollywood standards, isn't it?

Mark and Pam are the parents of two sons, Sean Thomas and Ty Christian.  Sean was born on April 25, 1988 and Ty was born on June 25, 1992.  The couple met in March of 1986 at a party given by a mutual friend and were introduced to each other by actress Gina Hecht.  They have always been a tad reclusive and they have guarded their privacy fiercely. 

Pam Dawber was born in the Detroit suburb of Farmington Hills, Michigan on October 18, 1951.  She is the daughter of Eugene E. Dawber, a commercial artist and his wife Thelma (nee Fisher), a photo agency operator.  Pam was raised in Farmington Hills where she attended North Farmington High School.  Gifted with a beautiful soprano voice, she later prepared for a singing career at Oakland Community College in Oakland County, Michigan.  While at the college, she did some modelling in Detroit.

At the age of 19, Pam Dawber moved to New York City and began a career as a fashion model, eventually signing a contract with the Wilhelmina Model Agency.  She went on to study acting and was cast in her breakout role as Mindy McConnell.

From 1978 to 1982, Pam played Mindy in the hit television series Mork and Mindy.  She and co-star Robin Williams shot to fame in this comedy about a wisecracking extraterrestrial, Mork from the planet "Ork," played by Williams. 

In December of 1976, Pam suffered the devastating loss of her only sibling.  Born with a heart condition, Leslie Dawber, Pam's younger sister, was just 22 years old when she died during open-heart surgery. 

After Leslie's death, Pam underwent therapy.  "When a tragedy happens that big," she told People magazine in 1987, "you have to reassess your life."  She said, "I believe my sister is out there somewhere, and that is a calming idea."

After the demise of Mork and Mindy, Pam Dawber, won the lead role in another situation comedy.  From 1986 to 1988, she played freelance photographer Samantha Russell on My Sister Sam.  Sam Russell shared a San Francisco apartment with her younger sister Patti, played by Rebecca Schaeffer. 

Sadly, on July 18, 1989, an obsessed fan killed Rebecca in the doorway of her Los Angeles apartment building.  The crazed gunman, John Bardo, had been stalking the 21-year-old actress for three years.  Her tragic murder left Pam heartbroken at the death of her television sister.


Rebecca Schaeffer


Pam Dawber has not been active on screen for quite awhile.  In a 2008 interview, she said she may return to acting at some point.  She also revealed that she had not seen Robin Williams for about eight years.  To watch the 2008 interview, click on the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qAY7gBe-5A


Mark Harmon is the son of American football hero Tom Harmon.  Tom won the Heisman Trophy in 1940 and is considered one of the greatest players in the history of the Michigan Wolverines.  After his retirement from football, he became a sports broadcaster.  On March 15, 1990, Tom Harmon passed away in Los Angeles after suffering a heart attack.  He was 70 years old.

Mark's mother, Elyse Knox, died last week at her home in Los Angeles.  She was 94 years old at the time of her death.  Elyse was a model and fashion designer in Manhattan until Hollywood beckoned in the late 1930s.  A contract player, she appeared in almost 40 films for major studios.  When she married Tom Harmon in 1944, Elyse's wedding dress was made from the parachute that saved his life when his plane was shot down over China during World War II.

Tom and Elyse settled in Los Angeles and raised three children: Sharon Kristen (born June 25, 1945); Kelly Jean (born November 9, 1948) and Thomas Mark (born September 2, 1951).  Mark and his older sisters all became actors.  In 1963, Kristen married singer/actor Ricky Nelson of Ozzie and Harriet fame.  She and Rick had four children and divorced acrimoniously.

In 1987, two years after Rick's death in a plane accident, Mark and Pam petitioned for custody of their nephew, Sam Hilliard Nelson (born August 29, 1974), Kristen and Rick's youngest child.  They contended that Kristen was incapable of being a good parent due to drug use and mood swings. 

Sam was 13 at the time and the custody battle was highly publicized.  It tore the Harmon family apart.  In the end, however, Mark and Pam dropped the petition and Kristen was given custody of Sam.  Mark and his wife were granted visitation rights.

Following in his father's footsteps, Mark Harmon was a college football star during his days at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA).  In 1972, he appeared with his parents in a television commercial for Kellogg's Product 19.

Click on the link below to watch the Kellogg's Product 19 ad.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvKLC01cY_k

Mark Harmon launched his long and highly successful television career with an appearance on Ozzie's Girls, a 1973-74 syndicated series starring his sister Kristen's in-laws, Ozzie and Harriet Nelson. Since 1973, Mark has been involved in series after series including St. Elsewhere, Moonlighting, Chicago Hope and The West Wing. He often plays the role of a doctor or a law enforcement officer.

On the medical drama St. Elsewhere, Mark portrayed Dr. Robert "Bobby" Caldwell, a philandering plastic surgeon.  He played the role from 1983 until the final episode of the series in 1986.  In that last episode, it was revealed that Dr. Caldwell was HIV postive. 

Harmon, now 60 years old, currently plays the lead role in the No 1 series on American television.  The series is called NCIS, which stands for Naval Criminal Investigative Service.  It's in its ninth season and recently celebrated its 200th episode.

NCIS is viewed in more than 200 countries around the world and is translated into more than 20 different languages.  This forensic police show, originally a spinoff of the CBS drama JAG, made its debut in 2003.  Mark Harmon plays the part of Leroy Jethro Gibbs, a former sniper, who leads a fictional team of special agents headquartered in Washington, D.C.  Their mission is to investigate crimes within the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.

Mark and Pam's eldest son, 23-year-old Sean Harmon, is also an actor and has portrayed the young Gibbs on NCIS.  Sean attended the Los Angeles Film School (LAFS) and has had small roles in independent productions.  He has also taken classes in stunt coordination.



Sean T. Harmon

Mark Harmon is a master at evading unwanted questions.  In matters regarding his family, he remains steadfastly and unfailingly discreet.  For example, when asked about the possibility of his actress wife, Pam, appearing as a guest star on NCIS, Harmon replied, "You'll have to ask her." 

Pam and Mark have worked together in the past.  In the late 1990s, they performed in the play Love Letters.  They also played husband and wife John and Barbara Cooper in the 1999 film I'll Remember April.  The film tells the story of four young boys who discover a shipwrecked Japanese soldier during World War II and must decide whether to save him.

To watch a video about Mark, Pam and their children, click on the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGx9HkiBiao


Editor's Note and Update (December 28, 2012)  

A reader pointed out that I neglected to mention that Mark Harmon appeared in the prime time soap Flamingo Road.  Mark played the role of Fielding Carlyle in all 38 episodes of the show from 1981 until 1982.  Flamingo Road chronicled the lives of the citizens of a sleepy little fictional town called Truro, Florida.



- Joanne

82 comments:

  1. Do you have contact info for Mark Harmon's agent? I'd like him to produce my screenplay.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, call me... Drake Duckmann at CAA, I'm more than interested to hear what you've got

      Delete
  2. Sorry, I do not have contact info for Mark Harmon's agent. If you subscribe to IMdbPro, however, you can find the information you want.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm surprised you didn't mention Flamingo Road as part of Mr. Harmon's TV credits.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Flamingo road was an intriguing show. Second too ncis.

      Delete
    2. I was a huge fan of flamingo road in the seventies I'm fifty two now and remember him when he played the husband of Morgan Fairchild in the series he portrayed fielding Carlisle very well he is and will always be remembered as the guy who starred in this series' and to this day is he a very good actor and will always to this day..

      Delete
  4. Mark harmon is fablous..you forgot to mention his credit in the movie summer school where he played a teacher who had a love affair with another teacher played by kristie alley..he was awesome in that movie..i love NCIS though..it has to be one of my all time favorite programs on television..i never miss an episode!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is my favorite tv show. I never miss an episode. Mark is a excellent actor.

      Delete
    2. Mark also played in a role in 1973 show called Emerency 51 what a great show and a great actor. They couldnt find a better guy to play in NCIS.

      Delete
    3. According to the International Movie Data Base, Mark portrayed Officer Dave Gordon in an episode of Emercency! entitled "905-Wild" The episode aired on March 1, 1975.

      Delete
    4. I LOVE ALL THEIR NCIS SHOWS. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY PAM AND MARK

      Delete
    5. Today is not their anniversary. They were married on March 21, 1987.

      Delete
    6. Mark also starred in a 1995 movie "Magic in the Water". It's about a father taking his children on vacation and they encounter a prehistoric creature that effects people with feelings of euphoria.

      Delete
    7. Does anyone remember "Reasonable Doubt"?

      Delete
  5. Yes, Mark Harmon starred in the 1987 feature film Summer School
    opposite Kirstie Alley. He played the role of Mr. Freddy Shoop in this comedy/romance directed by Carl Reiner. This is a television blog and I don't have the time or the space to mention every credit. I try to focus on television shows rather than full length movies.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Mark Harmon also portrayed the serial killer 'Ted Bundy' in the made for television movie Deliberate Stranger'. He did a fabulous job. I've always been a huge fan and have followed his career for decades. Also love Pam Dawber, beautiful and talented.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mark Harmon did such a phenomenal job acting as Ted Bundy that it was hard to watch him play a bad guy. He should have won an Emmy or Oscar for that role because it was totally different from any other role that he played. Great Job, Mark!!! Have been a fan for years and will continue to be for a long time.

      Delete
    2. He was nominated for an Emmy for his outstanding performance in "The Deliberate Stranger". And I agree, he should have won that Emmy.

      Joanne, you also forgot "Reasonable Doubt", a TV show in the 90s. Mark had the lead role & Marlee Matlin was in it too.

      Delete
    3. This is where I first noticed this brilliant actor . He playted Ted Bundy perfectly . He should have won that Emmy

      Delete
    4. I cannot stand Harmon lol...he played the role too well. He might be a great guy but all I see is Ted.

      Delete
  7. Thanks! I shared your info today with another Mark Harmon fan and this was her first I Pad discovery! It was a big hit for a huge fan who is 86 years young!

    ReplyDelete
  8. iAM A HUGE FAN OF MARK HARMON. HE HAS IT ALL GOOD MARRIAGE,FAMILY, THERE SHOULD BE MORE CELEBRITIES WHO TAKE LIFE
    AS IT SHOULD BE----FAMILY TOGETHERNESS

    ReplyDelete
  9. Question,is Angie Harmon related to Mark Harmon?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Answer: No. Angie Harmon and Mark Harmon share the same last name but they are not related.

      Delete
  10. Agente Gibbs, qué hombre tan bello y fascinante es usted!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oh Lord....I just love Mark Harmon! Always have, always will. He's a genuine, down to earth, sweet human being with a beautiful family.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I AGREE WITH YOU HE IS FROM MRS ELIZABETH GREEN

      Delete
  12. Who could forget Flamingo Road! Whew~

    ReplyDelete
  13. Mark and Pam are such an inspiring couple. They are down to earth.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They are very down to earth, they don't even act rich, spitlight, etc. they're amazing people. Her mother and father raised her well. Ive not met marks parents before but pams dad was amazing.

      Delete
  14. I think that Mark is great,and gorgeous he makes silver hair sexy. . . Tho silver fox !

    ReplyDelete
  15. When Pam is done with this amazing man I'll take him. ( hubby will take Pam :-) ) love them both and respect their life.

    ReplyDelete
  16. They are very down to earth, amazing people. Molly maids cleaned her dads house up until he passed away, if you are interested look up his father in laws company under his name, and they can put you in contact with mark or his wife and he will be more than thrilled to look at any and all copys you may have

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. DEAR MARK I REALLY ENJOY YOUR ACTING ON NCIS. I NEVER MISS IT I HAVE A 5 SET OF BOOKS ON THE 2 WORLD WAR. I CAME ACROSS IN ONE OF THE A PICTURE OF YOUR FATHER, MOTHER AND
      BABY SISTER YOUR FATHER JUST CAME HOME FROM THE WAR, I
      THOUGH YOU MIGHT BE INTEREST RICHARD LETISSIER richardthegreater@yahoo.com phone 2148790288

      Delete
  17. i even named my cat jethro ans he is as handsome and talented as the real jethro he can open a door and drink out of a glass-- he is scared of thunder so he hides under the sofa-- i do love agent gibbs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!he is my kind of man yum yum love his grey hair.

    ReplyDelete
  18. JOHNNY LORRAINE FRANCOJuly 16, 2013 at 9:05 PM

    my husband and i have been ncis for about 4yrs now that show is A t IN OUR BOOK....MARK HARMON AND ALL HIS COSTARS ARE AWESOME.......OH AND I JUST HAVE TO SAY WE DIDNT KNO THAT YURE SON PLAYED YOUNG GIBBS AND I TOLD MY HUSBAND HE HAS GIBBS EYES FOR RREAALLZ...LOL...NOW WE KNO Y...LOL....I GREW UP WATCHING MORK N MINDY...YOU HAVE A VERY BEAUTIFUL WIFE AND FAMILY.....MAY GOD BLESS YU AND YOURS ALWAYS...WE LOVE YU ALL....THE FRANCO FAM BAM

    ReplyDelete
  19. Mark Gibbs & Pam are both beautiful people. How can I get a signed autograph from Mark? An 84 yr. woman (friend) has one and I would love to own one also. I live @ Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You can write to Mark Harmon Wings Productions, Inc. 2236-A Encinitas Boulevard Encinitas, CA 92024 and request a signed autograph.

      Delete
  20. flamingo road was the best night time soap opera of the century good looking then and still good looking mark harmon.watched that show until the end///

    ReplyDelete
  21. I enjoy both actors work...each in their own right. I think Agent Gibbs should have another love interest on NCIS....something similar to Col. Mann/Gibbs relationship. I like those very rare moments of Gibbs being playful and happy...it shows a full development of the character. Even "tortured" souls need a break. The character seems very heavy this season. Just a slight tweak.
    I noticed Pam will be a guest on Robin William's new TV comedy. Looking forward to her performance.

    As to the couple, I have great admiration for their marital longevity. Congrats! I think more "Hollywood" couples should strive for that type of marital relationship. Too often the public knows WAY too much about actors private lives. Yeah for Mark and Pam drawing that line.

    ReplyDelete
  22. THE WORLD LOVES MARK HARMON!
    Does anyone know where marks sons live? Do they still live with Mark and pam? The older one Sean, maybe not, but what about ty? Does anyone know?
    (Great article) i love it!
    If anyone know please write me on Facebook (Ena Leein) or Twitter (@Vereeney)
    Thank you so much!

    ReplyDelete
  23. does pam dawber appear in the final shot on some of his ncis work; appearing in the car that arrives to pick him up

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No, the woman is not Pam Dawber. She is Vivienne Bellisario, wife of NCIS creator Donald Bellisario. See my August 13, 2014 TV Banter blog post for the details.

      Delete
    2. Who is actually Sean Murray's real life mother and Sean Murray of course is McGee!

      Delete
  24. God bless you Mr and Mrs Harmon and family. You are a man of class, integrity and honor on NCIS. You will always be my favorite actor for having those qualities. May God bless you and yours in this time of sadness. I have a great deal of respect for you being able to keep your family life and career life from the media sharks!

    ReplyDelete
  25. So who is the redhead in the convertible to Gibbs? An early girlfriend?

    ReplyDelete
  26. According to the NCIS website, the mysterious red-headed woman was often seen in the company of Special Agent Gibbs during Season One and Season Two. Her last appearance to date was in the Season Three episode "Silver War." Gibbs' colleagues (Anthony DiNozzo, Timothy McGee, Caitlin Todd and Ziva David) were curious about the woman. However, they never directly questioned Gibbs about her. Therefore, the mysterious red-headed woman remains mysterious.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Hi mark I think you are great and when I see you on ncis you are. My idol I sit and watch you all the time with out a fale I like you and my husband likes Abby he thinks she is great PS can we join you and Abby s fanclub from Elizabeth green and Jim green

    ReplyDelete
  28. Dear Pam and Mark, Thank you both for giving us the beautiful witness to Fidelity and Married love.. This world lost it's innocence long ago and the greatest testament and legacy you leave will have been your indelible love for each other, may it grow beyond all telling as the expression of that Uncreated Love, GOD, Cheers and God's Blessings to you and your family.-

    ReplyDelete
  29. I know Mark is a good looking guy and Pam is a beautiful woman, but you guys are acting like since they've been married for 25 years that it's been all peaches and creme... With his career and women chasing him, I'm sure there's been a lot of infidelity going on behind closed doors, which is where it should stay is behind closed doors for their kids sake if anything, but by no means should they be put on a pedestal just because they've been married for that many years. If anything they should get a bravo for keeping their dirty laundry where it belongs, which is with them and not aired in public like all of these other celebs...Cheers...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow! Are you cynical or what? Just because someone has been married for a long time and is good looking doesn't mean they are a cheater. I feel very sad for you.

      Delete
    2. Well Said Anonymous!

      Delete
    3. Coincidentaly I was married on the same date as mark and pam and we havent been unfaithful to each othet so why would they? I am sorry if your life hasnt gone so well but it doesnt mean everyone is bound to fail.

      Delete
    4. Agreed Christie. In part at least. Life, marriage, kids are never easy nor perfect. I think it is odd to praise people for staying married. Anonymous, I do not find Christie cynical at all. Logical and a fan of privacy yes. It is not good to boast nor brag about marriage. To me it is very private. To speak about both never cheating is not provable anyway. It is quite boastful particularly in mixed company as not everyone has had your so called good fortune. Also, it is very unkind to gang up on someone and call them names.

      Delete
  30. Ihave always loved Pam and mark. They are two of the best in the movie world and seem to be real people in their family life. Both are beautiful people. Thanks to them for bringing enjoyment in my life. Many happy years to both and their beautiful children.

    ReplyDelete
  31. I really enjoy watching both of them. Both are great in evverything they do in the movie world seldom do i see a couple that look and act like real people. Most comes off with acting. they don;t leave their fairy tail lives at the studio. thanks to mark and pam for all the years of enjoyment i have had watching them. happy anniversary and many more

    ReplyDelete
  32. Thank you Joanne for all the interesting snippets , I've enjoyed reading them. It's lovely to hear that they're about to celebrate 28 years of marriage, forget the cynics. Liz x

    ReplyDelete
  33. He was also the spokes person for Coors back in the 80's

    ReplyDelete
  34. I just want to say how much I have enjoyed watching your career flourish over the years. Both me and my husband watch NCIS every week AND reruns when we get tired of other programs. I just think it is time for you, Mr. Harmon, to have another love interest on the show. I love the twinkle in your eye when someone piques your interest. So sexy! I must tell you that I also love your wife, Pam Dawber, since the show "Mork and Mindy". So glad you both have had a good marriage. Happy Anniversary!!! We will celebrate #52 this year, so I am no spring chicken. Been around some. Like I tell my friends, "it takes guts to stay married this long!" :)

    ReplyDelete
  35. Does anyone know if either of their sons has a girlfriend, wife, or kids of their own?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. To the best of my knowledge, neither Sean nor Ty is married. As far as I know, Mark Harmon and Pam Dawber are not grandparents yet.

      Delete
  36. PAM AND MARK ARE STILL MARRIED RIGHT ? IF HE'S ANYTHING LIKE GIBBS HE A REALLY GOOD MAN.... LEE E.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Rochelle Wood, price, utahMay 12, 2015 at 10:47 PM

    Love, respect and admiration to Mark Harmon, his wife, Pam Dawber, his Family and to the wonderful work you have both done for the acting community and being a generous humanitarian and gifted actor. God Bless.....

    ReplyDelete
  38. Mark Harmon you are a legend!
    NCIS is brilliant and so is the rest of the cast...the actors work so well together that you cannot imagine them being anything but the characters they portray. Long may the show continue!

    ReplyDelete
  39. As the woods of a great Vulcan...Live long and Prosper

    ReplyDelete
  40. Strange that so many people around Pam Dawber died except Mark. Her sister died at 22, her costar of My Sister Sam was killed a year after the show ended, Robin Williams killed himself. Tragic but weird. Her brother in-law Rick Nelson died right after she joined the family.

    ReplyDelete
  41. LOVE NCIS, love to hear when a Hollywood Couple's marriage is long & successful! Congrats!

    ReplyDelete
  42. I really like idea of Sean Harmon taking over his fathers place. I enjoy NCIS so much I can't get enough of it lol. Congrats on the Hollywood Couples Marrige and of course i am saying this a bit late l

    ReplyDelete
  43. I really think it was nice of Mark to let his son take over for him. Like Mark no offence isn't getting ant younger. I think Sean will be he best new Gibbs ever. I love NCIS i can't wair for the new one comes out. When does the new one one come out? Anyways i am saying this three months late but congrats on your holllywood marriage mark and pam

    ReplyDelete
  44. What about 240 Robert?
    That's where I first saw him and fell in love!

    ReplyDelete
  45. Who doesn't love Mark Harmon!? He is an awesome actor, and wife Pam has also had a long-running career. Congratulations on their recent 29 Wedding Anniversary!! Their strong character as individuals and in marriage didn't just happen...it always comes at a price. They have gone through many trials and tragedies on both sides and it has made them stronger as a couple and a family. God bless them for keeping it together for so long and being an example to many others who look to these "stars" as role models in real life. It's not an easy image to live up to! Life is not perfect just because their marriage has remained intact. I'm sure it was the tests that made it what it has become today. It's their character and integrity that are a legacy to us who love them. May the Harmon family continue to be blessed and be a part of our lives in the future of entertainment. Thank you for bringing that to us! We look forward to seeing your children do the same. Who is the present Producer of the show? I'd like to write to them with gratitude for keeping it around as a "family" all these years!

    ReplyDelete
  46. I'm trying to remember the show that Mark Harmon played with Pam Dawber in? In the 80's??

    ReplyDelete
  47. As I mentioned in my article above, Pam and Mark played husband and wife John and Barbara Cooper in the 1999 film I'll Remember April. In the late 1990s, they performed in the play Love Letters. I do not know of any television show in which the couple starred together in the 1980s. I have searched IMDb.com. If anyone knows differently, please enlighten me.

    ReplyDelete
  48. I remember an I interview with him when he was still single and yes very good looking and before meeting Pam, the question I believe was when at you going to ge married, his response was when I find the right one, because marriage is forever. I guess he found the right one in Pam. Good for both of them, really hard to find true love in these times there are still couples out there that respect and love each other.

    ReplyDelete
  49. Can't believe his work with Sean Connery and Meg Ryan in The Presidio hasn't been brought up. He was great in that picture as well

    ReplyDelete
  50. Also when he played the role of the President, I don't remember the name of it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mark Harmon played the President of the United States, James Foster, in the 2004 film "Chasing Liberty." "Chasing Liberty" is a romantic comedy, also starring Mandy Moore as the president's daughter.

      Delete
  51. I have always admired Mark, he is a terrific and colorful actor. I remember him playing his role in "St. Elsewhere" but not any of the other shows. His best role though is Leroy Jethro Gibbs, he plays the role as if he really is Gibbs. I would like to know if there is any way that I could send him and his wife Pam a little "Than you Note" just to let them know that I am praying for them and their family and that I guess you could call me a fan of his. We watch "NCIS" every Tuesday night even if it is a rerun, we feel like they are a part of our family. Thank You, Laura Register

    ReplyDelete
  52. Love these two actors. I just saw Pam narrating the story and history of "DETROIT WATER". I've lived in Detroit in my school years. Married my high school sweetheart in 1951. Six kids later and 65 years later my wonderful husband passed away. Your story of Detroit was so very interesting, many things most of us never knew. Thanks for broadcasting this great program. Love to you all and may it last forever. Phyllis Joly

    ReplyDelete