Thomas Mark Harmon is an American actor and former football player, who was born on September 2, 1951. Harmon first gained recognition as a college football player at UCLA, before transitioning to acting in the early 1970s. He is perhaps best known for his lead role as Leroy Jethro Gibbs on the CBS drama series NCIS, a character he portrayed from 2003 to 2021. His other notable roles in television include Dr. Robert Caldwell on St. Elsewhere, Detective Dicky Cobb on Reasonable Doubts and Dr. Jack McNeil on Chicago Hope. Harmon has also demonstrated his acting versatility in films such as Summer School, Wyatt Earp, and Freaky Friday. In addition to his acting career, Harmon has also added producing, directing, and authorship to his credentials. Harmon earned his second Emmy Award nomination in 2002 for his portrayal of Secret Service special agent Simon Donovan on The West Wing. Besides his career, Harmon is also known for his off-screen life, such as being the son of Heisman Trophy-winning football player Tom Harmon and actress Elyse Knox. Additionally, he is married to actress Pam Dawber, with whom he has two sons.