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The ageless star of Navy procedural NCIS was voted America's favorite TV personality in a 2011 Harris poll, beating out the likes of Oprah and Conan O'Brien. Ratings for his hit show went through the roof. On February 1, 2011, 22.85 million people tuned in, according to The Nielsen Company. The next day CBS picked up the drama for its ninth season. Harmon's salary per episode is among the highest in Hollywood, and he earns residuals when NCIS reruns on channels like USA and ION.

Mark Harmon is the son of football great Tom Harmon and 1940s film star Elyse Knox. He is the brother of Kris Harmon, the ex-wife of Ricky Nelson. He is the uncle of Kris and Ricky's actress daughter Tracy Nelson. Finally, Harmon is the husband of Mork and Mindy star Pam Dawber. Harmon emulated his dad by playing football at UCLA, then followed in mom's footsteps by turning to acting. Harmon's first movie was the 1978's Comes a Horseman. Most of Harmon's starring film appearances are easy to take but unmemorable, such as his lackadaisical high-school teacher in Summer School (1988).

A baseball fan, Harmon was once part-owner of the minor-league San Bernardino Spirit, a team which figured prominently in his 1988 film vehicle Stealing Home. Harmon is best known for his work on 1980s TV series. He co-starred in Flamingo Road and Moonlighting, and he also played the lead role of AIDs-stricken Dr. Bob Calswell on St. Elsewhere. In mid-1995, promotional ads on the NBC television network proudly trumpeted that "Mark Harmon is back!" for a tire-screeching private eye series.

 


Earnings & Financial Data

Date

Category

Description

Amount

2012

Salary

Estimated per episode salary from NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service for his current contract

$700,000

2010

Salary

Per episode salary from NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service (Season 9)

$500,000

2009

Salary

Per episode salary from NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service until 2011

$375,000

2008

Salary

Per episode salary from NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service until 2010

$325,000

2002

Salary

Per episode salary from NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service

$500,000

1979

Sponsorship

Earnings for doing the Coors commercial

$2,000,000