Mark Harmon lived as a handsome bachelor with The Sexiest Man Alive title before meeting the actress Pam Dawber. Their romance was like a fairytale, as their love story is an epic one. ”
However, it didn’t occur overnight, as their relationship required some sacrifices and shared values. The NCIS” star and his wife’s marriage has lasted for over thirty-six years, with two impressive adult sons to show for it.
Mark’s Love Story With Pam
Mark and his wife are very cautious about the details they share with the public; for them, it has been their saving grace. Their privacy helped them remain out of the prying eyes of the media. However, their longtime love story effortlessly led them into the headlines.
The pair has been an example to younger generations who wish to have successful marriages. Their love spans over nearly forty years, as it initially began in 1986. How their pair first met isn’t clear except that it was at a party where they were introduced by a mutual friend.
They became inseparable and soon enough they were engaged. In the past, Pam hinted that she was only prepared to settle with the right man.
After her engagement became public, the actress confessed that they weren’t trying to be secretive but that they wished to hide their most cherished memories without having the media intrude. Their level of privacy unsurprisingly left the couple with rumors of a breakup before their romance began!
Still, the “Mork & Mindy” alum insisted on not releasing details of their relationship, except that it would be an intimate wedding ceremony. What pushed her decision even more was what she once saw at a friend’s wedding.
Pam and her partner once had a double date with Julianne and Bruce Springsteen, with the actress revealing how the musician’s wife was in tears at their glamorous wedding because of the media’s obsessive intrusion. However, after she married Mark, she had to give something up.
Pam’s Family Sacrifice
Pam has not been silent on the challenges she overcame as a Hollywood star who chose family over career. The actress had a promising career when she married Mark and gave up fame to nurture their growing family while he stayed in the spotlight.
During an interview, the actress revealed her thoughts on having a successful marriage while in showbiz. According to her, “I don’t think two people can work all the time in show business and stay married.” In addition, Pam shared her outlook on being a mother, sharing how she did Broadway, musical theater, and cartoon voice-overs, saying:
“I did everything you can do in this business, and then I had children and it’s like, ‘I’m not going to chase this fame thing.'”
While being a stay-at-home parent, Pam was completely present in her children’s lives. The star chose to live focused on motherhood like driving her children to school, surprising them with sweet treats, and teaching in their art class.
The actress confessed to it being a different life but found happiness in doing it. Her sons’ didn’t watch her onscreen credits but that didn’t matter because their father’s reputation is already overwhelming enough.
As expected, Mark’s wife never spills any details concerning her home life or children. Most of the time, Pam kept herself busy with motherhood and rarely appeared on-screen. In recent times, she’s worked on “The Odd Couple” to honor Gary Marshall, who gave her a role in the classic series.
Pam’s famous husband is also an enviable parent. After the “St. Elsewhere” star became a father for the first time in 1988, he became obsessed with spending quality time with his family.
Despite appearing in hits and enjoying the glitz and glamor of fame, Mark remained loyal to his home and always made time for his family. With their children being adults now, the actor confessed that their values are a part of their routine, stating:
“It’s not even a choice, It’s who we are. We stay home—a lot. I’m not a Twitter guy or a Facebook guy.”
He revealed that his children were also not into social media. Mark and his wife might’ve made their living in the industry but there was a part of it that he felt wasn’t natural.
The couple, who share similar ideas, have also starred together on television. Mark, who played Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs for eighteen years, acted with her in four episodes of “NCIS.” Pam was featured as Marcie Warren, an investigative journalist. Now that we’ve covered all we could about the pair, here’s some information about their children.
What Do We Know about Mark’s Son, Sean?
Sean, the couple’s first child, inherited his parents’ acting abilities. Already a professional actor, the young man’s TV appearances include playing a young agent Leroy on “NCIS,” “CSI: NY,” “Hold On,” and “Major Crimes.”
See the resemblance? Young Gibbs was played by Sean Harmon—Mark Harmon's son! pic.twitter.com/9uBgnNk0tb
— The NCISverse (@ncisverse) December 17, 2020
Alongside his acting career, Sean also works as a stuntman, with countless films to his name, including “American Reunion,” “The Sweet Taste of Redemption,” “Alone,” and “Dumb and Dumber To.” What he loved about stunt work was that he got to travel around having the most fun he’d ever had turning make-believe situations into reality.
He felt stuntwomen and men did all the real work putting their lives on the line for action movie characters without getting any credit. Pam’s firstborn son said stunt work came with a humility that he’d always admired.
He also loved that there was no other job where one’s boss would call you asking if you’d be cool with being dropped down an elevator shaft. Sean shared how he got a kick out of those calls especially when his answer is a resounding “Yes!”
In a past interview, Mark’s son revealed that he grew up in Los Angeles. He noted how both his parents were actors, as was his grandmother (father’s mother). Sean went to film school after wanting to be involved in the entertainment industry for as long as he could recall.
Mark’s first son is outspoken; although he doesn’t reveal too much, just like the rest of his family. The young actor loves sharing insight into his private life on Instagram, where he updates his photos.
In 2021, when Sean proposed to his girlfriend in Greenough, Montana, he uploaded a montage of shots that showed the lovers enjoying the green fields and horse riding. The post’s caption read:
“Ahhh here it goes! To my very literal ride-or-die, badass, babe sandwich of a partner…There is nothing in this world we can’t do together and nothing in this world I would want to do without you…Welcome to the family my love..”
On December 28, 2022, Sean shared an Instagram image of himself holding a surfboard while kissing his partner. He revealed that they got married in Playa Guiones, Costa Rica. Mark’s son shared that his wife was the “most willing accomplice” and their path to more adventures had begun.
In November 2023, Sean’s wife, Courtney Prather, uploaded several images from their special day which was on November 11, 2022. She shared photos of herself getting ready, Sean seeing her in her wedding dress for the first time, Mark walking her down the aisle, and more.
Besides his wife, Sean also posted images of his famous father. For 2016’s Father’s Day, he uploaded a picture of Mark and dedicated the post to the “man who taught me how to be a man.” He concluded his post by sharing his love for his father.
For 2023’s Father’s Day, Sean paid tribute to his father by uploading an Instagram photo of him and Mark embracing on a mountain top while wearing cowboy clothing. At the time, the pair were in Greenough, Montana. He once again declared his love for the parent.
More about Mark’s Second Son, Ty Christian
Like his brother and parents, Ty Christian, who readers can see in a picture on The Things, has a knack for the entertainment industry but chose to stay behind the camera as a screenwriter. The 1992-born star keeps a low profile but is doing remarkably well in his field.
He wrote the film “Catholic Schoolgirl Chainsaw Showdown.” Unlike Sean, Ty Christain does not share details about himself or his family. The screenwriter prefers to be with his family rather than share posts, which he deems of lesser importance.
Irrespective of their personalities and jobs, Pam and her husband love their children and are exceptionally proud of their choices. The actress supports them in living private lives and once noted how they didn’t appear in magazines.
She felt marriage was real life and plastering her children all over the media was something she wasn’t keen on.
Despite that, her husband has shown confidence in their sons’ independence and abilities. Mark once stated, “I’m proud of both our boys, and they work hard at what they do.” He found pride in them getting up in the morning and trying to do that daily.
Both Pam and Mark have shown that making compromises, especially when the couple involved is on the same page, is a basic recipe for a successful Hollywood marriage. Hoping they see many more years of happiness together!
