After over two decades of being a constant presence on “NCIS,” Mark Harmon surprised fans by abruptly leaving the procedural in Season 19. While the rest of the cast carried on the renowned CBS show, Harmon revealed in a People interview that he isn’t taking things easy.
Contrary to a complete departure, Harmon stayed on as an executive producer for Season 20, maintaining a role behind the scenes. He clarified, “I left the show, I didn’t retire.” This transition also brought forth new opportunities, including a passion project where he collaborated on a historical nonfiction book titled “Ghosts of Honolulu: A Japanese Spy, a Japanese American Spy Hunter, and the Untold Story of Pearl Harbor.” Harmon worked on the book alongside Leon Carroll Jr., a former NCIS special agent who became a technical advisor for the long-running show.
Despite the shift in focus, Harmon is applying the lessons learned from his time on “NCIS” to his future ventures. He emphasized the importance of learning from history, stating, “I’ve always thought you can learn from history. Things have a habit of repeating themselves.”
At 72, Harmon demonstrates that he’s far from wanting to relax after the success of “NCIS.” While the show provided constant and dependable work, it also left him exhausted and with little time for other pursuits. Harmon expressed that, for a long time, he was simply tired. He missed the camaraderie on set, the shared meals, and hearing about people’s lives outside of the program. However, he acknowledged that it was a job.
While Harmon may miss the “NCIS” set, his former co-stars have also expressed their admiration for him, highlighting the positive working relationship they enjoyed over the show’s duration.
Now, with more time on his hands, Harmon can spend quality moments with his family. He emphasized his fortunate position, saying, “I’ve got time to do whatever I want. I can organize a meal with the boys and a vacation. I’m so fortunate that I never wake up thinking that.”
“The Untold Story of Pearl Harbor: A Japanese Spy, a Japanese American Spy Hunter, and the Ghosts of Honolulu,” the book co-authored by Harmon, is set to be released on November 14, 2018. Beyond that, Mark Harmon is ready to explore new opportunities.