For nearly two decades, Mark Harmon was the steady heartbeat of NCIS. As Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs, he commanded every scene with his stoic leadership, dry wit, and quiet but unshakable moral compass. To millions of viewers, Gibbs wasn’t just the head of the team—he was family. But off-screen, the man behind the character has long been one of Hollywood’s most private figures.
Now, in a rare glimpse behind the curtain, fans have been treated to a heartwarming update: Mark Harmon has become a grandfather.
A Family Announcement That Surprised Fans
The news came not from Harmon himself—true to form—but from his daughter-in-law, Courtney Prather. In late May 2025, she shared on Instagram that she and Harmon’s son, actor Sean Harmon, had welcomed their first child, a baby boy named Cooper Knox Harmon, born May 22. Alongside photos of the newborn, she captured the joy of a family milestone that NCIS fans never expected to see shared so publicly.
The update spread quickly, with longtime fans of the CBS drama offering congratulations. For many, it felt like a personal moment—after years of watching Gibbs guide his fictional “family” on screen, seeing Harmon embrace the role of real-life grandfather brought everything full circle.
A Private Life, By Design
Mark Harmon’s journey into grandfatherhood is especially poignant because of the way he and his wife, Mork & Mindy star Pam Dawber, have always approached family life. Married since 1987, the couple raised their sons Sean and Ty in Los Angeles but deliberately shielded them from the spotlight.
In interviews, Harmon has been refreshingly candid about why: “It’s not a choice,” he once said. “It’s who we are.” He has never been one for social media—“I’m not a Twitter guy or a Facebook guy”—and his sons inherited that same respect for privacy.
That’s why this rare family update feels so extraordinary. It’s not just a sweet announcement of a baby’s arrival—it’s a rare invitation into the Harmon family’s inner circle, a moment they wanted to share with the wider world.
The Gibbs Legacy Lives On Through Sean
For NCIS fans, the news carries extra weight because of Sean Harmon’s special place in the show’s history. Sean played young Leroy Jethro Gibbs in multiple flashback episodes, stepping into the shoes of his famous father and carrying the Gibbs legacy across timelines.
Mark Harmon often expressed pride in those moments. “I’m proud of him taking his work seriously and how he approaches being an actor,” Harmon once said of Sean. “But more importantly, I’m proud of who both my boys are away from the camera.”
That bond between father and son now extends to a new generation. With Sean welcoming his first child, the Harmon family story continues—rooted in the same values of integrity, hard work, and loyalty that Gibbs himself embodied on screen.
A New Chapter for a Hollywood Legend
Mark Harmon’s exit from NCIS in Season 19 marked the end of an era, but it was never truly a goodbye. He remains connected to the franchise as an executive producer and guiding force, ensuring that the show he helped build continues to thrive.
Now, as a grandfather, Harmon enters an even more personal role—one with no scripts, no cameras, and no ratings, just family. Friends of the actor describe him as happiest at home, spending time in the kitchen, doing carpentry work, or simply enjoying the quiet life he and Dawber built away from Hollywood chaos.
And now, with baby Cooper in the mix, that quiet life is filled with new joy.
Why This News Means So Much to Fans
For fans who followed Gibbs’ journey for nearly two decades, this update is more than just a celebrity family announcement—it’s a continuation of a relationship that feels personal. Gibbs was the protector, the father figure, the mentor who guided the NCIS team. Knowing that Harmon is now a grandfather in real life makes that bond feel even stronger.
It’s a reminder that while Mark Harmon may have stepped away from the screen, the man himself remains deeply rooted in the same values that made Gibbs beloved: loyalty, love, and family.
Full Circle
From Gibbs to grandpa, Harmon’s latest role is a quiet, personal triumph—one that he’ll never perform for cameras but one that may mean the most of all.
For NCIS fans, it’s proof that the legend who gave them so many unforgettable moments is still writing his own story—this time, with family at the center.
