Mark Harmon’s Mom Was A Legend From The Golden Age Of Hollywood

Thanks to the enormous success of cop drama NCIS, Mark Harmon is pretty much a household name today. But the actor’s fans might be surprised to learn that he comes from two all star parents. Even Mark himself wasn’t aware of their fame for a time! Although many might not be familiar with their names now, his parents were both hugely successful in their respective fields. His mom was even lighting up the screen in 1940s’ Hollywood.

Becoming a star

Now, some might argue that Mark is a legend himself. And it’s not hard to understand why. After making his on-screen acting debut in 1973 he went on to enjoy a solid career for the next three decades. The actor popped up in a bunch of movies and TV shows. Yet his life changed forever in 2003 when he took on the role of Leroy Jethro Gibbs.

The NCIS run

Little did he know it at the time, but Mark had just bagged a part that would keep him in a prominent position for close to 20 years. Yes, he proceeded to star in over 400 episodes of NCIS across 19 seasons, before throwing in the towel in 2021. It was a staggering run. But were his parents even more famous than him at their peak?

Meeting Mark’s parents

Mark’s mom and dad were Elyse Knox and Tom Harmon. While you probably don’t recognize those names, they both enjoyed tremendous careers in their own right. Let’s start with Elyse: she was an incredibly talented woman who enjoyed a sparkling career in the entertainment industry — although she almost followed an entirely different path.

Passion for fashion

Elyse was welcomed into the world just days before Christmas in 1917 in Hartford, Connecticut. Her parents were originally from Austria, but they had decided to move to the United States. While she was growing up, the young woman began to take a keen interest in fashion. And eventually, this passion led to an exciting opportunity in New York City.