The Incredible Life of Television and Film Star Mark Harmon

This article was originally published on Lizanest.com

He was the son of a football legend and a Hollywood actress, and a star quarterback who turned down professional football. Instead, Mark Harmon took small TV roles, worked construction, and slowly built a career of his own.

Then came the Sexiest Man Alive title, a family custody battle, a daring rescue from a burning car, and a behind-the-scenes NCIS controversy.

From UCLA’s football field to two decades as Gibbs, this is the remarkable story of Mark Harmon.

#1: Mark Harmon is Born to a Football and Acting Family in 1951

Thomas Mark Harmon was born on September 2, 1951, in Burbank, California. His father, Tom Harmon, had won the 1940 Heisman Trophy before becoming a sports broadcaster. His mother, Elyse Knox, was an actress and model whose films included The Mummy’s Tomb. Sports and entertainment were already part of the family.

Mark was the youngest of three children, following his sisters Kristin and Kelly. His parents had successful public careers, but his own future was still wide open. Before he chose a path, his sister’s marriage would bring another famous family into his life.

#2: His Sister Kristin Marries Ricky Nelson in 1963

In 1963, his older sister Kristin married singer and actor Ricky Nelson. Ricky had grown up on television alongside his parents, Ozzie and Harriet Nelson, and had become a popular recording star. The marriage connected the Harmon family to one of America’s best-known entertainment households.

Through Kristin, he eventually became uncle to actress Tracy Nelson, twin musicians Matthew and Gunnar Nelson, and their younger brother Sam. He also developed a connection with Ozzie, whose experience reached far beyond acting. That family relationship would later give him an unexpected opening into television.

#3: He Plays Three Sports at Harvard, but an Injury Interrupts His Football Career

At Harvard School in Los Angeles, he played football, baseball, and rugby. The school later became part of Harvard-Westlake. Despite having a famous football player for a father, he still had to develop his own skills and earn opportunities on the field.

A broken elbow during his junior year interrupted that progress. He did not play varsity football as a senior, and major college recruiters passed him over. Instead of entering a top university program straight from high school, he continued at Pierce College. His chance to prove himself would come on a smaller field.

#4: He Appears on Ozzie’s Girls in 1973

In 1973, his connection with the Nelson family brought him onto the set of Ozzie’s Girls. Ozzie Nelson needed someone to fill in, and he accepted the opportunity. His early television acting work included appearing in a gorilla costume, an unusual introduction to a profession he had not planned to enter.

The experience offered more than a moment in front of the camera. He watched Ozzie work and followed him into the editing room, seeing how television was made. Acting now offered another possible future, but he still had his UCLA education to finish.