Mark Harmon Receives Walk of Fame Star

NCIS star Mark Harmon received the 2,482nd star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Monday, honoring the career of an actor who has starred in eight series since 1978 and received two Emmy nominations.

CBS Corp. CEO and President Les Moonves was among those joining Harmon at the ceremony in front of Dillon's Irish Pub on Hollywood Boulevard. It came six days after the CBS drama began its 10th season.

"I'm extremely thankful," Harmon said. "I don't take any of this easily. ... I'm really fortunate to get up every morning and go do a job I love going to."

Harmon's first series starring role came in the short-lived 1978 Jack Webb-produced CBS police drama Sam, in which he portrayed a Los Angeles Police Department officer paired with a Labrador.

Harmon was a cast member of the acclaimed NBC medical drama St. Elsewhere during its first three seasons and the CBS medical drama Chicago Hope in its final four. He also starred in 240-Robert, Flamingo Road, Reasonable Doubts and Charlie Grace.

Harmon received an outstanding guest actor in a drama series Emmy nomination in 2002 for his portrayal of Secret Service Special Agent Simon Donovan on The West Wing.

His first Emmy nomination—for a supporting actor in a comedy or drama special—came in 1977 for his portrayal of a wounded soldier in the ABC made-for-TV movie Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years.

Harmon's made-for-television movie and miniseries credits include The Deliberate Stranger, in which he portrayed serial killer Ted Bundy; From the Earth to the Moon, in which he portrayed astronaut Wally Schirra, Sweet Bird of Youth; Centennial; and Dillinger.

Harmon made his movie debut in the 1978 Western Comes a Horseman. He portrayed the fiance of Jamie Lee Curtis' character in the 2003 remake of Freaky Friday, the president of the United States in the 2004 romantic comedy Chasing Liberty, and a co-host of a morning news show in the 2009 comedy Weather Girl. His other movie credits include Wyatt Earp, Stealing Home, The Presidio and Summer School.

Born Sept. 2, 1951, in Burbank, the son of 1940 Heisman Trophy winner- turned-sportscaster Tom Harmon and actress Elyse Knox, Harmon initially gained fame as UCLA's quarterback in the 1972 and 1973 seasons, including helping lead the Bruins to an upset victory over two-time defending national champion Nebraska in his first game.

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