Pam Dawber, known for her role in Mork & Mindy, joined the cast of NCIS in Season 18 as investigative journalist Marcie Warren, sharing the screen with her husband of over three decades, Mark Harmon, who played Leroy Jethro Gibbs. However, Dawber had one firm condition before agreeing to the role: she refused to play a romantic interest to Harmon’s character. Instead, Marcie was crafted as a sharp, no-nonsense professional who challenged Gibbs, adding a fresh dynamic to the show.
Dawber’s appearance on NCIS marked a rare return to acting for the 73-year-old, who had largely stepped away from the spotlight to focus on family life with Harmon and their two sons. Having turned down previous offers to appear on the show, she only accepted the role because she found Marcie’s character compelling and saw it as a fun opportunity to work with her husband. Her seven-episode arc across Seasons 18 and 19 was a hit with fans, who loved seeing the real-life couple’s chemistry on screen.
The condition Dawber set reflects her desire to keep their professional collaboration distinct from their personal relationship. In interviews, she emphasized that her decision to join NCIS was driven by the strength of the character, not a desire to reignite her acting career. After Harmon’s departure from the show in 2021, Dawber also exited, and with Gibbs’ storyline concluded, she has expressed no interest in returning, preferring to leave her NCIS chapter as a fond memory.
This brief stint highlighted the couple’s ability to balance their long-standing marriage with a professional collaboration, all while maintaining clear boundaries. Dawber’s condition ensured that their on-screen dynamic remained unique, giving fans a glimpse of their partnership in a new light. For now, Dawber seems content away from acting, while Harmon continues his involvement with the NCIS franchise as a narrator and executive producer for NCIS: Origins.
