Mark Harmon grew up in Burbank, California, and graduated from Harvard High School in 1970 before going on to UCLA, where he quarterbacked the football team. After college he got into acting; his first starring role was in the prime-time soap
Flamingo Road. In 1986, Harmon became the second recipient of
People’s Sexiest Man Alive award,
due in large part to his role on St. Elsewhere. His
NCIS character was introduced, along with several others, in a two-episode arc of the popular series
JAG.