With an acting career spanning over 50 years, American actor Mark Harmon is one of television’s most successful actors. Although many of his prominent roles have been on the small screen, Harmon has also raked up significant credits in film. Decades later, the septuagenarian shows no sign of stopping, as he’s reprising his role as Ryan in the decade-long overdue sequel Freakier Friday (2025).
For much of Mark Harmon’s career, the actor has played medical personnel and law enforcement officers. Over the years, he has received several accolades, including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on October 1, 2012. In revisiting his work over the years, here are Mark Harmon’s top roles on television.
240-Robert
Mark Harmon made his professional acting debut in 1973 in an episode of the 1970s sitcom Ozzie’s Girls. He spent the next few years landing guest roles in several other TV shows. His earliest major role was in the ABC drama 240-Robert. As an early role, most of today’s TV audiences never watched him play Deputy Dwayne “Thib” Thibodeaux on the show. 240-Robert focused on the specialized rescue team of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD). The show centered on emergency cases, including rescues from dangerous situations like floods, cliffs, and fires. The show was created by Rick Rosner, who had created the famed crime drama series CHiPs. Although the show aired from 1979 to 1981, Mark Harmon only appeared in 13 of its 16 episodes.
Flamingo Road
Mark Harmon followed his 240-Robert performance by joining the cast of NBC’s primetime soap opera Flamingo Road. The soap opera premiered on May 12, 1980, with Harmon cast as Fielding “Field” Carlyle. The Rita Lakin-developed show had been based on the 1949 noir drama film of the same name, as well as its source material, Robert Wilder’s 1942 novel. Harmon’s character is introduced as the town’s deputy sheriff with political aspirations. He eventually becomes a state senator, with his story arc centered on his entanglement in the power struggles and personal drama of the small town’s elite.
On Flamingo Road, Field is known for his tumultuous marriage to Constance Weldon Semple Carlyle (Morgan Fairchild), which eventually ended in a divorce. He was also romantically involved with Lane Ballou Curtis (Cristina Raines) and Sandy Tyrone Swanson (Cynthia Sikes). Flamingo Road aired for 2 seasons from May 12, 1980, to May 4, 1982. With the show’s success and international broadcast, Flamingo Road helped give Mark Harmon’s career significant recognition.
St. Elsewhere
One of Mark Harmon’s notable roles on 1980s television was on NBC’s medical drama series St. Elsewhere. With Harmon appearing in 64 episodes of the show, St. Elsewhere quickly became his longest-running project. Mark Harmon played Dr. Robert “Bobby” Caldwell on the show, joining St. Elsewhere in season 2. His character was a plastic surgeon known for his charm, confidence, and good looks. Dr. Caldwell’s storylines included complex, often serious themes, notable when he contracted HIV.
This makes Mark Harmon and St. Elsewhere one of the first to address the impact of AIDS on medical professionals in the 1980s. Harmon’s portrayal of Dr. Caldwell was widely praised, with his role and story arc helping to raise awareness about the AIDS epidemic. In the 1980s, HIV/AIDS was still highly stigmatized and misunderstood. Mark Harmon played Dr. Caldwell until season 4. Interestingly, St. Elsewhere also starred notable actors such as Denzel Washington, Ed Begley Jr., Howie Mandel, David Morse, Christina Pickles, and Alfre Woodard (in a recurring/guest role).
The Deliberate Stranger
One of Mark Harmon’s underrated roles from the mid-80s was portraying American serial killer Ted Bundy. Harmon played the character in the 1986 two-part TV movie The Deliberate Stranger. The movie focused on Ted Bundy’s crimes and the investigation that eventually led to his capture. It reenacted how he managed to escape law enforcement for years.
The Deliberate Stranger begins after Bundy’s six kills, beginning after the murder of Georgann Hawkins. Harmon portrays Ted Bundy as a charming, intelligent, and manipulative man who conceals his violent tendencies behind a pleasant facade. At the time, Mark Harmon was praised for his portrayal of the serial killer, perfect life capturing the complexity and darkness of Bundy’s character.
Reasonable Doubts
Mark Harmon led the cast of the NBC police drama series Reasonable Doubts as Detective Dickie Cobb. The show aired for 2 seasons from September 26, 1991, to April 27, 1993. His character was a tough yet compassionate police detective who worked closely with Assistant District Attorney Tess Kaufman (Marlee Matlin). One of the things that made Reasonable Doubts stand out was the dynamic between Cobb and Kaufman. Kaufman, like actress Marlee Matlin, is deaf.
With Harmon’s character being the only available few officers who know sign language, he’s assigned to work with Kaufman. Mark Harmon’s Detective Dickie Cobb, served as Kaufman’s partner and interpreter, adding a layer of trust and complexity to their relationship. Their performances earned them Golden Globe Awards nominations for Best Actor and Best Actress.
Chicago Hope
Mark Harmon joined the Primetime Emmy-winning medical drama series Chicago Hope in its third season in 1996. Harmon was cast as Dr. Jack McNeil, a brilliant yet unconventional orthopedic surgeon with a complex personal life. The character earned a reputation for being rugged and rebellious, as he often challenged hospital protocol. By the mid-90s, although Mark Harmon was already a well-known television actor, his casting on Chicago Hope helped solidify his rising profile. Harmon’s character stayed on the show until its final season.
NCIS
Mark Harmon in NCIS needs little to no introduction, as his role as NCIS Supervisory Special Agent and Special Agent in Charge Leroy Jethro Gibbs is what he’s most famous for amongst today’s TV audiences. Harmon first played Leroy Jethro Gibbs in two episodes of the Donald P. Bellisario-created legal series JAG. Bellisario had first seen Mark Harmon play Secret Service special agent Simon Donovan in a guest role in The West Wing.
Bellisario chose Harmon to lead the cast of his next project, NCIS, which he co-created with Don McGill. Harmon’s Gibbs character is a former Marine sniper turned Senior Special Agent and team leader at the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. The character is known for its no-nonsense attitude, calm demeanor, and strong moral compass. Gibbs was a mentor to his team and was a central figure throughout the character’s time on NCIS.
With the show’s success, Mark Harmon’s Leroy Jethro Gibbs is one of American television’s most beloved characters in the show’s history. Harmon played Gibbs from the NCIS inception in 2003 to 2021. He reprised the character in NCIS: New Orleans (2014–2021) and NCIS: Origins (2024). If you enjoyed reading about Mark Harmon’s television career journey, here’s a look at Josh Brolin’s impressive acting career.
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