Who is Mark Harmon

Mark Thomas Harmon (born September 2, 1951) is an American actor. As of 2007, Harmon is the star of the CBS series NCIS. He was born in Burbank, CA to the University of Michigan football All-American legend and Heisman Trophy winner Tom Harmon and actress Elyse Knox, the daughter of politician Frank Knox. He has two older sisters: actress and painter Kristin Nelson, and actress Kelly Harmon. After attending Los Angeles Pierce College as a student and quarterback, Harmon transferred to UCLA and, following in his father's athletic footsteps, was the starting quarterback for the UCLA Bruins in 1972 and 1973. He was awarded the National Football Foundation Award for All-Round Excellence in 1973.

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The seventies saw Mark Harmon appear in episodes of such shows as "Emergency!", "Laverne and Shirley", and "The Love Boat". He also starred in the TV Film "Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years" for which he received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor and as Officier Mike Breen in the TV Series "Sam".

In 1979 he was cast and appeared for one season in the TV Series "240-Robert". He also starred in the movie "Beyond The Poseidon Adventure" which was the sequel to the hit disaster movie "The Poseiden Adventure". He followed this with the role of Fielding Carlyle in the prime time soap "Flamingo Road" opposite Morgan Fairchild. Two TV Movies followed, "Goliath Awaits" and "Intimate Agony" before he signed to play the role of Dr. Bobby Caldwell in 1983 in the hit TV Series "St. Elsewhere". The role was a huge success -- he played the romeo-doctor brilliantly. He left in 1986 after his character developed HIV.

He had a change of character completely in 1986 when he played the role of serial killer Ted Bundy in "The Deliberate Stranger". 1987 saw him with a guest role of "Sam" in the hit show "Moonlighting" as well as starring in the TV Movie "After the Promise" for which he received a Golden Globe nomination. 1987/88 saw him make three movies: the teen comedy "Summer School", the action thriller "The Presidio" (co-starring with Sean Connery and Meg Ryan), and the drama "Stealing Home" (co-starring Jodie Foster). The 80s ended with a television remake of "Sweet Bird of Youth" (opposite Elizabeth Taylor) and the romantic comedy "Worth Winning".

The 90s saw various TV shows including "Reasonable Doubt" for which he received two Golden Globe nominations for Best Actor and "Charlie Grace", as well as various TV Movies ("Long Road Home", "Shadow of a Doubt" "Original Sin") as well as an uncredited role in "Natural Born Killers" as Mickey Knox in Wayne Gayle's reconstruction, a cameo in the black comedy "The Last Supper" plus he also starred in the children's film "Magic in the Water".

1996 saw him return to medical drama's - this time the role of Dr. Jack McNeil in the hit medical show "Chicago Hope" where he starred till 2000 when the series ended. While filming "Chicago Hope" he also made a cameo in "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" and made the films "First To Go" and "I'll Remember April". The new millennium has seen him star in various TV films including "For All Time", "The Amati Girls" and "The Crossfire Trail" as well as the mini series "And Never Let Her Go".

He then guest starred in hit political drama "The West Wing" playing Special Agent Simon Donovan, the role earned him another Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor. He then starred in Disney's remake of "Freaky Friday" opposite Jamie Lee Curtis and the Mandy Moore film "Chasing Liberty" as well as starring in the hit NBC Show "NCIS"