Elyse Knox, Mark Harmon, Pam Dawber and son Sean Harmon during ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ Los Angeles Performance in August 2006.Photo:Ron Wolfson/WireImage
Ron Wolfson/WireImage
One thing Mark and Dawber were on board about was that the boys were their top priority, and being home with them was a big reason he took on his longest role ever.
“The decision to do [NCIS] was because I was traveling a lot doing movies and other things andI was trying to stay home morewith a young family," he told PEOPLE in 2023. “It was important to be able to make pancakes on Saturday morning."
While their children keep a relatively low profile, they followed their parents into show business — Ty tried his hand at screenwriting, and Sean is a stuntman and actor. “I’m proud of both our boys, and they work hard at what they do and I’m proud that they get up in the morning and try to do that every day,” theGhosts of Honoluluauthor toldEntertainment Tonightin 2020.
Here’s everything to know about Mark Harmon and Pam Dawber’s two children, Sean Harmon and Ty Christian Harmon.
Sean Harmon, 35
Sean Harmon portraying young Gibbs on ‘NCIS’.FOX
FOX
Mark and Dawber welcomed their first child, a son named Sean Harmon, on April 25, 1988, in Burbank, California, one year after they married. Not much is known about Sean’s childhood, but he knew at a young age he wanted to follow in his famous parents’ footsteps.
“I grew up in Los Angeles,” Sean toldStunt Hustle. “Both of my parents are actors and my grandmother before my dad. I went to film school here and have pretty much wanted to be involved in the industry for as long as I can remember.”
One of Sean’s first forays into acting came when he appeared onNCISas a young version of his dad’s character, Gibbs. He stepped into the role in 2008 for season 6 episodes of the CBS procedural drama. Since then, Sean has appeared a handful more times throughout the years, most recently in 2020 for aseason 18 episode.
According to Mark, the father-son collaboration began when a director asked if Sean could play young Gibbs. “I’m proud of him taking his work seriously and how he approaches being an actor — not just on this show, [but] just what he has chosen to try to do in his life’s work,” he said.
Pam Dawber and son Sean Harmon participate in the Mark Harmon star ceremony on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in October 2012 in Hollywood, California.Albert L. Ortega/Getty
Albert L. Ortega/Getty
“I think it was easier for me to make adjustments to what I already knew to make it work on camera,” he said. “It’s easier to break what’s fixed than it is to fix what’s broke!”
Sean has a close relationship with his father, sharing touching tributes to him onInstagram. “For the man who taught me how to be a man,” he posted on Father’s Day 2016 alongside a photo of Mark receiving his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. “Love you dad, and I’m comin for the one next to yours.”
Ty Christian Harmon, 31
Mark and Dawber welcomed their second child, Ty Christian Harmon, in Los Angeles on June 25, 1992. Unlike his family, who have spent their careers in front of rolling cameras, he has experience behind the scenes as a screenwriter. Ty worked with his brother on a short film calledCatholic Schoolgirl Chainsaw Showdownin 2012.
Ty comes from a long line of actors, singers and athletes. Mark’s mother was actress Elyse Knox, and his father was Heisman Trophy-winning football player and broadcasting icon Tom Harmon. Mark’slate sister Kristinwas also previously married to singer Ricky Nelson, whose parents were sitcom stars Ozzie and Harriet Nelson.
Despite his busy career, it was important for Mark to be around for his kids — and he’s grateful thatNCISallowed him to do that. Speaking withETabout his sons' upbringing, he touched on what matters to him and Pam as parents.
“Separate from anything as an actor, you hopefully take pride in who people are individually away from any camera just as people, as citizens,” he said. “And both our boys have done well and hopefully made smart choices and are doing well daily… we have a lot of reasons to be proud of both of them.”
For her part, Dawber also takes “pride” in her boys. “More than anything, she’s a mom, and there’s a pride there involved in that,” Mark toldETabout her relationship with her sons.
Away from film work, Ty is married to his wife, Madeline Harmon, whomhe wedin February 2021, afterdating for five years.
source: people.com
