EXCLUSIVELooking Back: Mark Harmon Ready 'To Talk' About 'Wild Days As A Bachelor,' Source Spills
May 17 2021, Published 12:03 a.m. ET
He's one of the most beloved actors on TV, but Mark Harmon has spent much of his life shying away from the spotlight. Now, with his 70th birthday looming, OK! has learned that he's finally sharing secrets about his life and career.
"For Mark, getting older has been a good thing. It's loosened him up, and he's willing to talk about himself a lot more — including his wild days as a bachelor," says the insider.
The insider added that before marrying Pam Dawber in 1987, Harmon was rumored to have love affairs with gorgeous stars like Karen Carpenter and Donna Mills. "He made women swoon just by standing in the same room with them," says the insider. "And Mark wouldn't deny he had fun with it."
But when Dawber, 69, came into his life, Harmon says he happily walked away from it all.
"They have one of the most solid marriages in Hollywood and that's because they put the relationship first," explains the insider, noting that Dawber gave up a successful acting career to raise their sons [Sean, 33, and Ty, 28]. "Mark continued to work, and he's grateful Pam never made him feel bad for it."
- 'NCIS' Star Mark Harmon Doesn't Want Wife Pam Dawber To Act Full-Time As He Looks Forward To 'Kicking Back' With Her, Spills Source
- 'He Just Gives Me Attagirls': Pam Dawber Reveals What It's Like Working Alongside Husband Mark Harmon On 'NCIS'
- What Retirement? Mark Harmon Was 'Itching' To Get Back To 'NCIS' Set—And Is Ready For More
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That's not to say his career hasn't had its ups and downs. In 2018, Harmon's fallout with former NCIS cast Pauley Perrette, 52, made headlines.
"She complained about him bringing his dog to set after it bit one of the crew members," says the insider, hinting that the incident may have led to her exit from the series. "Now that years have gone by, Mark's extended an olive branch. He hopes that one day she'll come back on the show, even for a guest stint."
She might not have much time. "Of course, Mark admits there's a day he'd like to retire," says the insider. "But he's agreed to do one more season of NCIS first — he wouldn't want to let the fans down."
"Mark genuinely loves his job," an insider says of the NCIS star, adding he was "thrilled" to have Dawber recently guest star.
