Long before NCIS became a global franchise, JAG paved the way for military-themed TV drama. At the heart of that original series was David James Elliott, who portrayed Harmon “Harm” Rabb Jr.—a naval aviator-turned-lawyer—for all ten seasons. Now 64, Elliott is reflecting on his iconic role and whether fans might ever see Harm resurface in the NCIS world.
“I Don’t See That Happening”—But He’s Still Open
In a recent interview with TV Insider while promoting his upcoming Syfy series Revival, Elliott addressed the question that longtime fans can’t stop asking: could Harm show up on NCIS someday?
“I don’t see that happening,” Elliott said honestly. “I don’t really know any of the people on NCIS, but I guess if they came to me, I certainly would consider it. So who knows.”
While it’s not a firm no, the statement signals that there are currently no active plans to bring Harm into the flagship NCIS show—despite his deep ties to the franchise’s origin.
JAG and the Birth of the NCIS Empire
It’s easy to forget that NCIS actually started within JAG. Back in 2003, characters from NCIS were introduced in a two-part JAG backdoor pilot (“Ice Queen” and “Meltdown” in Season 8). That led to NCIS premiering later that year and eventually becoming a franchise juggernaut, spawning five spin-offs including NCIS: Los Angeles, New Orleans, Hawai’i, Sydney, and the upcoming prequel NCIS: Origins.
The main series recently wrapped its 22nd season on May 5, 2025, and has already been renewed for Season 23.
Elliott Did Return Once—Just Not on NCIS
While Harm hasn’t appeared on the flagship show, Elliott did reprise the character on NCIS: Los Angeles back in 2019. He reunited with Catherine Bell (who played Mac on JAG) for a three-episode arc across Seasons 10 and 11, much to the delight of fans.
That return came thanks to R. Scott Gemmill, who worked on JAG in its early years and later served as showrunner on NCIS: LA.
“I did that because of R. Scott Gemmill,” Elliott explained. “He’s a friend of mine. I pitched an idea to him… and then he goes, ‘Yeah, but why don’t we do this?’ And I went, ‘Oh, great.’ It was fun. It’s fun to work with him.”
What’s Next for Elliott?
Outside of the NCIS universe, Elliott has been keeping busy. He currently stars as Sheriff Wayne Cypress in Revival, an eerie new supernatural thriller on Syfy.
Still, JAG remains close to his heart—and the door to Harm’s return isn’t fully shut. If the right story and team came calling, Elliott just might suit up once more.
JAG originally aired from 1995 to 2005 and is now streaming on Paramount+, along with the entire NCIS franchise.
