From 1983 to 1986, he appeared on St Elsewhere.
Mark Harmon is best known and loved for his portrayal of special agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs on NCIS, but the actor had already starred in another major series before landing the role. From 1983 to 1986, Mark was a fan favorite as Dr. Robert Caldwell on NBC’s St Elsewhere – and he looked so different! Continue reading to see a glimpse of his previous role.
Plus, if you enjoy nostalgia, watch Mark’s first TV appearance in Ozzie’s Girls in 1973 in the video below.
We discovered a photograph of Mark from a season two episode of St Elsewhere titled ‘A Pig Too Far.’ With his dark hair and thick moustache, the TV star is almost unrecognizable from his iconic character, special agent Leroy! In the throwback photo, the actor can be seen shaving and showing off his incredibly toned physique.
On St. Elsewhere, he played Dr. Robert Caldwell.
Mark previously spoke with Variety about his groundbreaking role in St Elsewhere. In 1986, he became one of the first primetime lead characters to contract and d1e from AIDS. Season four of the show featured a heartbreaking storyline.
On the show, Mark donned a completely different look.
“At the time, it was really risky,” Mark reflected, “but years later, it’s something people talk about and remember.” He also praised the writers for coming up with the storyline, stating that “what they were saying about that character was simply not being done at that time.”
The actor attributes his television success to having great mentors.
Mark is frequently asked about his extraordinary run on TV since leaving St Elsewhere and landing his long-running role on NCIS, and he attributes much of it to the late James Garner. During a 2017 TV Insider interview, the NCIS star stated:
“Select your mentors with care. James Garner was a big one for me. That was the type of job I desired. ‘I don’t care who’s the No. 1 guy in the business right now,’ Jim would always say. That will not last. I just want to stay in the Top 10 for the next 30 years!’ It was all about the long haul for him. That was something I never forgot.”
Related News – Be sure to get some more news when it comes to NCIS.