Summary
Mark Harmonplayed Leroy Jethro Gibbs onNCISseasons 1 to 19, and it’s impossible to imagine the CBS procedural without this singular character. WhileHarmon sadly didn’t come back toNCISin a recent season 22 episode, a character had a dream about Gibbs, which was the next best thing.Gibbs manages to be gruff and caring, often in the same scene, and nothing gets by him. It’s also fun seeing him as a wise mentor figure to the show’s other popular and clever characters.
Harmon has had a long career, and although viewers will always associate him with hisNCISSpecial Agent, he has taken on some other compelling characters. There’s one role in particular that fans will want to check out.
Mark Harmon Played Simon Donovan On The West Wing Season 3
Mark Harmon starred inThe West Wingseason 3 as a Secret Service agent named Simon Donovan. Simon has one thing in common withHarmon’sNCIScharacter Leroy Gibbs: a military background. Gibbs was in the Marine Corps, and Simon was in the Army. Simon also received a college military scholarship.
Harmon played Simon in four episodes ofThe West Wingseason 3, which aired in 2002, and in 2003, he began his successful run onNCIS. The actor stayed on the CBS procedural until heleft inNCISseason 19, which aired in 2021. Whilefans wish Harmon would return to the show, it’s fun to go back and see some of the memorable roles he played earlier in his career. Both Simon and Gibbs are tough, confident, and direct characters who don’t suffer fools and who don’t hesitate to spring into action when necessary. After watching the actor take on Gibbs for so many years, it’s easy to see why he was cast on the political drama.
Harmon mostly shared scenes withAllison Janney, who played press secretary C.J. Cregg, as Simon was assigned to protect her. Since C.J. is one of the strongest characters on the TV drama, she holds her own with every character, including the Secret Service agent. It’s fun seeing Simon and C.J.’s dynamic.
In 2023,Mark Harmon appeared onThe Viewand, according toMonsters and Critics, he talked about his time onThe West Wingand sounded positive about it. He also praised Janney. Harmon said:
“With Aaron Sorkin, great words, and he comes at you with kind of an idea, ‘Hey look, we’ve got a detail, it’s a serious threat, don’t know much more than that, you wanna do it?’ And then you show up on set and you have 17 pages of dialogue and your working with Allison Janney, who never makes a mistake. Ever."
Harmon also discussed hisWest Wingcharacter in a 2011 interview withThe AV Club. He said he had been asked about portraying a journalist onthe political TV series, but that didn’t work out, and he was given Simon instead. He praised Janney’s acting talent again and said he only got a small amount of information about the role. He was told:
“This guy’s a Secret Service agent, he’s investigating a real threat to C.J., and we don’t know where this is headed.”
Mark Harmon Fans Can Watch The West Wing On Max
The West Wingseasons 1 through 7 are streaming on Max, and while Mark Harmon is only in season 3, there are plenty of other excellent performances to appreciate. If fans are already watchingEllie’s memorable story inThe Last of Usseason 2on Max, they can also catch up on Aaron Sorkin’s political drama.
As Harmon said onThe View,Allison Janney’s turn as press secretary C.J. Cregg is particularly great. She’s intelligent, committed to her career, and compassionate. AfterThe West Wingended in 2006, Janney took on several TV roles, including voicing Charlene Doofenshmirtz in a few episodes ofPhineas and Ferband playing Grace Penn onthe Netflix series about spies calledThe Diplomat. She is best known for her movie roles, from Ms. Perky in10 Things I Hate About YouLaVona Golden inI, Tonya.
