The legendary NCIS actor Mark Harmon was spotted in exclusive Daily Mail photos for the first time since returning on-screen to his iconic role as special agent Leroy Jethro.
The 74-year-old seemed to be getting fan love already, hauling a hefty bundle of mail near his West Los Angeles home on November 17.
Dressed casually in a blue Carhartt hoodie, light blue jeans and blue-and-gray sneakers, Harmon enlisted the help of an assistant to manage the sheer volume of packages.
Braving the drizzle, he later returned home, cheerfully accompanied by his loyal pit-bull mix, Dave, who trotted faithfully by his side.
The sighting came just a week after Harmon made a surprise guest appearance during a crossover event between NCIS and NCIS: Origins on CBS – marking his first on-screen starring return in four years since retiring from acting. He is still holding the reins as executive producer.
The episodes aired on Veterans Day, featuring a young Leroy, played by Austin Stowell, as he investigates the death of a naval officer in a small town.
Dressed in a blue Carhartt hoodie, light blue jeans and blue-and-gray sneakers, NCIS legend Mark Harmon’s trip to pick up his mail was more than fruitful following his return to his iconic role as special agent Leroy Gibbs on NCIS: Origins this past Veterans Day
A week after starring in the franchise’s crossover special, Harmon was spotted hauling a hefty bundle of mail near his West Los Angeles home on November 17
In fact, he received so much fan mail that the actor enlisted the help of an assistant to manage the sheer volume of packages
The story then jumps to the present day, where new information prompts the reopening of what seemed like a cold case.
Harmon had previously made a brief guest appearance on Origins during the series premiere in 2024 but had mostly stayed behind the scenes, narrating each episode.
However, co-showrunners David J. North and Gina Lucita Monreal’s pitch for the crossover was too compelling to pass up, according to Harmon.
‘I’m very proud of the storytelling that David and Gina are doing on Origins,’ Harmon said in an October 28 statement.
‘They continue to push boundaries and dive deeper into the characters’ backstories. They came to me with an idea for Gibbs that I liked, and it seemed like a good time to check in with him. I hope fans enjoy it.’
Harmon bid farewell to his beloved character in an emotional exit from NCIS in 2021.
Later braving the drizzle, Harmon was seen clutching more letters to send out as he was accompanied by his ever-faithful pitbull mix Dave, who trotted by his side down the driveway
The November 11 episode marked his first on-screen return in the role of Gibbs in four years since retiring from acting, though he’s still holding the reins as executive producer
Joining the show in 2003, Harmon stayed on for nearly two decades until 2021, earning multiple Emmy nominations and winning a People’s Choice Award for Favorite TV Crime Drama Actor in 2017
Addressing his departure, Harmon shared his heartfelt feelings as he said goodbye to his character he played for over two decades, expressing his appreciation and joy in portraying Agent Gibbs.
‘What has always drawn me here is the character I play and to keep it fresh and to keep it challenging,’ said the Emmy Award-nominated performer.
‘Plot-wise, this character has taken the path that it did. I thought it was honest and OK,’ he said in 2022.
Last year, sources revealed that to keep Harmon happy on the show, the network had to fire co-creator Donald P. Bellisario four years after the show premiered in 2003.
According to E News, the NCIS cast members, including Harmon, claimed that Bellisario’s toxic work environment significantly hindered the filming process.
Harmon’s career spans beyond the NCIS franchise, gaining a role as Fielding Carlisle on the 1980s soap opera Flamingo Road before branching off after the show was cancelled to the series St. Elsewhere.
In 1986, Harmon was named People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive while he was starring on St. Elsewhere
Harmon as Dr. Robert ‘Bobby’ Caldwell in St. Elsewhere
Harmon and his wife, Pam Dawber, star of 1980s hit comedy Mork & Mindy, have two sons together: Sean, 37, and Ty, 33
He later starred in movies such as Let’s Get Harry (1986), Summer School (1987), The Presidio (1988), Stealing Home (1988) and later Freaky Friday (2003).
That same year, he was cast as NCIS agent Leroy and would hold onto that role for nearly two decades, earning six nominations at the People’s Choice Awards including a win for Favorite TV Crime Drama Actor in 2017.
In 1986, he was named People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive and would once again appear on the magazine’s cover in 2019 to talk about his secret to career longevity.
Mark shares two sons, Sean, 37, and Ty, 33, with his wife Pam Dawber, star of the 1980s hit comedy Mork & Mindy.
On his secret to his marriage success (the couple wed in 1987), Mark told People Magazine: ‘We were both in our 30s when we got married, so hopefully we did the stupid stuff earlier.
‘That’s probably the closest I have to what the key is,’ he said.
Gushing about his wife, he stated: ‘I’m proud to be married, and I’m proud of who I’m married to. I’m just so proud of her.’
