Who Is the Star of NCIS
Mark Harmon has been the lead actor on NCIS since the series premiered in 2003, playing Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs. He became the central figure of the show and one of the most recognizable faces in American television crime dramas. His portrayal of Gibbs helped define the procedural tone of the franchise and made him a household name. Forbes has covered his career as part of broader reporting on long-running TV franchises.
Before NCIS, Harmon built a career in both film and television, with early roles in projects such as Freaks and Geeks and Chicago Hope. He later transitioned into producing and directing while maintaining a consistent on-screen presence. His background in sports, including time as a quarterback at UCLA, added a layer of physicality to his acting roles.
Mark Harmon Salary and Earnings from NCIS
During the later seasons of NCIS, Mark Harmon reportedly earned around 525,000 per episode, placing him among the higher-paid actors in broadcast television. Over the course of the series, his cumulative earnings from the show reached tens of millions of dollars. These figures reflect both his central role and the longevity of the series on CBS.
His earnings from NCIS are frequently cited in industry reports alongside other long-running procedural leads. Comparisons with cast members from shows like Law and Order and Criminal Minds often reference his pay as a benchmark for network drama actors. Such data points are commonly tracked by entertainment and business outlets.
Career Highlights and Current Status
Mark Harmon announced his departure from NCIS after season 19, with his final appearance airing in 2021. The character of Leroy Jethro Gibbs was written out of the show in a way that honored the long-running storyline. His exit marked the end of an era for the franchise and led to a transition in the series' lead dynamics.
Since leaving NCIS, Harmon has maintained a lower public profile, focusing on private life and occasional production work. He has not taken on a new regular broadcast role, though he remains associated with the NCIS brand through reruns and streaming availability. The NCIS franchise continues to expand with spinoffs such as NCIS Hawaii and NCIS Origins, keeping the Gibbs legacy relevant to new audiences. SEC filings and public company data sometimes reference media companies tied to the production and distribution of the NCIS series.