Mark Harmon is one remarkable winner on the big screens and in reality. However, the “NCIS” star would not have had it easy without the support of his excellent partner, Pam Dawber, who gave up her fame to care for their family. Inside the couple’s incredible love tale.
“NCIS” star Mark Harmon was a handsome bachelor who was awarded the sexiest man alive before meeting the notorious series actress Pam Dawber. The pair made fairytale romance a reality with their epic love story.
This did not happen in a day, as their relationship involved a few sacrifices and shared values. Their marriage has lasted for thirty-five years, with two impressive adult sons to show for it.
MARK HARMON’S LOVE STORY WITH PAM DAWBER
Harmon and his wife of many years are very private about the details they spew to the public; for them, it has been their saving grace recipe, helping them stay out of the prying eyes of the media.
However, with a love story as old as theirs, they effortlessly make it to the headlines and have been an example to younger generations who intend to record a successful Hollywood marriage.
What appears as a heavenly love spanning nearly four decades began in 1986. Not much is known about their first meeting (they are indeed private), except they met at a party where a mutual friend introduced them.
Mark Harmon visits SiriusXM Studios on September 22, 2014. | Photo: Getty Images
Whether or not the spark was instantaneous does not matter. The couple has created what appears to be an inseparable bond. It did not take long before the pair became engaged, and Dawber proudly hinted that she was prepared to settle with Mr. Right.
Following news of her engagement, the actress confessed that they are not trying to be secretive but want to conceal their cherished memories without the media’s intrusion.
Actress Pam Dawber poses for a portrait in 1978. | Photo: Getty Images
With their level of privacy, it was not a surprise that the couple was rumored to have broken up before their romance began. Still, the “Mond & Mindy” alum remained adamant about not releasing details of their affair, except that it would be an intimate wedding ceremony.
This decision was also backed by what she witnessed at a friend’s wedding. Dawber and Harmon had double-dated the couple, Julianne and Bruce Springsteen. At their glamorous wedding, the actress revealed that the bride was in tears because of the media’s obsessive intrusion.
Pam Dawber and Mark Harmon during 21st Annual AFI Lifetime Achievement Awards Honors Liz Taylor at Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, United States. | Photo: Getty Images
PAM DAWBER’S SACRIFICE
Dawber has not been silent on the challenges she overcame as a Hollywood star who chose family over career. The mother of two was a promising actress when she married Harmon, another Hollywood powerhouse, but somehow, she gave up her fame to nurture the family while her husband remained in the spotlight.
During an interview, the mother of two revealed her thoughts on having a successful marriage while in showbiz.
Portrait of American actor Mark Harmon for the TV show ‘Flamingo Road,’ Burbank, California, February 9, 1982. | Photo: Getty Images
According to her, “I don’t think two people can work all the time in show business and stay married.” In addition, Dawber shared the honest terms of being a mother. She explained,
“I got to do Broadway. I got to do musical theater. I got to do cartoon voices. I did everything you can do in this business, and then I had children and it’s like, ‘I’m not going to chase this fame thing.’”
Actress Pam Dawber and husband actor Mark Harmon attend the Stuntmen’s Association of Motion Pictures 52nd Annual Awards Dinner on September 14, 2013. | Photo: Getty Images
While staying at home, the mother of two was fully involved in her children’s lives. She decided to live like a noncelebrity and focused on the typical motherhood duties like driving the boys to school, teaching in their art class, and surprising them with sweet treats.
Dawber admitted that it was a different life but she upheld the role in sheer happiness. Taking the back seat from the spotlight also reflected how she operated at home.
Mark Harmon and Pam Dawber during The 15th Annual People’s Choice Awards at Disney Studios in Burbank, California, United States. | Photo: Getty Images
The actress’s boys are yet to see her onscreen credits but it does not matter because their father’s reputation is already overwhelming enough. As expected, Harmon’s wife never spills any detail concerning her home or kids.
Mostly, she concerns herself with being a mother and seldom makes on-screen appearances. In recent times, the “Mork & Mindy” alum worked on “The Odd Couple” to honor Gary Marshall, who gave her a role on the classic series.
Mark Harmon and Pam Dawber during The 15th Annual People’s Choice Awards at Disney Studios in Burbank, California, United States. | Source: Getty Images
Dawber is not the only one particular about the family. Her famous husband is also an enviable family man. After becoming a father for the first time in 1988, the “St. Elsewhere” star became obsessed with spending time with his family.
Despite appearing in hits and enjoying the glitz and glamor of fame, Harmon remained loyal to his home and always made time for family. Now that the boys are grown, the actor admitted that such values are a part of their routine. In his words:
“It’s not even a choice, It’s who we are. We stay home—a lot. I’m not a Twitter guy or a Facebook guy. Our sons aren’t into that either. Pam and I have both made a living in this business, and still, there’s a part of that that’s just not natural.”
While the couple shares similar ideas, they have also been seen on TV as co-stars. Harmon, who played Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs for eighteen years, acted with his beloved partner in four episodes. Dawber featured as Marcie Warren, an investigative journalist, thorough with special agent Gibbs.
WHO IS MARK HARMON’S SON SEAN?
Sean is the apple that did not fall too far from the tree, as the couple’s first child inherited his parents’ acting skills. Already a dominant actor, the young man’s TV appearances include playing young agent Gibbs on ” NCIS,” “CSI: NY,” “Hold On,” and “Major Crimes.”
Alongside playing the scripts, Sean works as a stuntman, with countless films to his name, including “American Reunion,” “The Sweet Taste of Redemption,” “Alone,” and “Dumb and Dumber To.”
Harmon’s first son is outspoken; although he avoids revealing too much, as the family code states, the young actor loves to share some of his privacy on Instagram, where he updates his photos.
In 2021, when Sean proposed to his girlfriend in Greenough, Montana, he uploaded a montage of shots that showed the lovers enjoying the green fields and horse riding.
The caption that accompanied the post read: “Ahhh here it goes! To my very literal ride or die, badass, babe sandwich of a partner…There is nothing in this world we can’t do together and nothing in this world I would want to do without you…Welcome to the family my love..”
WHO IS MARK HARMON’S SECOND SON TY CHRISTIAN?
Like his brother and parents, Ty Christain, who readers can see in a picture on The Things, has a knack for the entertainment industry but chose to stay behind the camera as a screenwriter. The 1992-born keeps a low profile but is doing remarkably well in his field. He wrote the film “Catholic Schoolgirl Chainsaw Showdown.”
Unlike Sean, Ty Christain does not share details about himself or his family. The screenwriter prefers to be with his family rather than share posts, which he deems of lesser importance.
Irrespective of their personalities and jobs, Dawber and her husband, love their kids and are exceptionally proud of their choices. The actress supports privacy, and she once said:
“Notice you don’t see us in the magazines. When you’re married, that’s real life. And to go and plaster your kids… I’m sorry. I’m not for that.”
On the other hand, Harmon is confident in his sons’ abilities and independence. The father of two stated that “I’m proud of both our boys, and they work hard at what they do. And I’m proud that they get up in the morning and try to do that every day.”
Pam Dawber as Marcie Warren and Mark Harmon as NCIS Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs, in March 2021. | Photo: Getty Images
Both Dawber and Harmon have shown that making compromises, especially when the couple involved is on the same page, is a basic recipe for a successful Hollywood marriage. Cheers to their thirty-five years (100 years in the Hollywood calendar) as a force!