4 Major New Roles: Mark Harmon’s Career Renaissance Post-Gibbs (Updated 2025)

The question on every fan's mind since Supervisory Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs sailed off into the Alaskan sunset in 2021 has been: What's next for Mark Harmon? As of December 2025, the veteran actor has not just one but four major projects that confirm a significant career renaissance, moving beyond his iconic 18-season run on NCIS. These new roles—encompassing film, television, and publishing—showcase a creative shift, with Harmon taking on a lighter comedic film role and a powerful behind-the-scenes position within the NCIS universe, all while preparing for a highly-anticipated on-screen return.

The latest updates confirm Mark Harmon is reprising a beloved character from his past in a major Disney film sequel, stepping into a completely new role as a television narrator and executive producer, and even making a brief return as Gibbs in a special crossover event. This strategic mix of acting and producing highlights his intention to maintain creative control over his projects, offering fans a fresh look at the actor's versatility and enduring star power.

Mark Harmon: A Brief Career Biography

Thomas Mark Harmon, born September 2, 1951, is an American actor, producer, and director known for his long and successful career in television and film. Before becoming a household name, Harmon was a star quarterback for the UCLA Bruins football team.

• The Untouchable Privacy 7 Secrets Of Rachel Mcadams And Jamie Lindens Life Beyond The Red Carpet E820e

• Full Name: Thomas Mark Harmon
• Born: September 2, 1951 (Age 74 in 2025)
• Hometown: Burbank, California
• Spouse: Pam Dawber (m. 1987)
• Children: Sean Harmon, Ty Christian Harmon
• Iconic Roles: Dr. Robert Caldwell (St. Elsewhere), Agent Simon Donovan (The West Wing), and most famously, Supervisory Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs (NCIS).
• NCIS Tenure: 2003–2021 (Seasons 1–19). He remains an executive producer on the main series.
• Key Nominations: Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Actor in a Television Series Drama (Reasonable Doubts) and Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television (The Deliberate Stranger).

The Full List: Mark Harmon's New Roles and Projects Post-NCIS

Mark Harmon’s post-NCIS career is a calculated move into projects that offer him both creative variety and significant influence. The following four projects represent his confirmed roles and ventures for 2025 and beyond, moving him from the intense procedural drama of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service to new genres and responsibilities.

1. Return to Comedy: Reprising Ryan in 'Freaky Friday 2'

The most surprising and exciting news for film fans is Mark Harmon's return to the big screen in the long-awaited sequel, Freaky Friday 2 (sometimes referred to as Freakier Friday).

• Role: Ryan
• Character Detail: Ryan is the husband of Tess Coleman, played by Jamie Lee Curtis. Harmon’s character was the fiancé whom Tess married at the end of the original 2003 film.
• Significance: This role is a stark contrast to the stoic, rule-breaking Gibbs. Returning to the light-hearted, comedic genre allows Harmon to showcase a different side of his acting range, which he has rarely explored in the last two decades while anchored to NCIS. It reunites him with both Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan, who are also reprising their roles.

2. Executive Producer and Narrator for 'NCIS: Origins'

While he stepped away from his full-time acting role, Mark Harmon remains deeply committed to the NCIS universe, transitioning his involvement to a powerful creative role for the new prequel series, NCIS: Origins.

• 5 Shocking Facts About Anna Congdon Penn State Sweetheart To Nfl Fiances Social Media Firestorm Cc90e

• Role: Executive Producer and Narrator
• Series Detail: NCIS: Origins explores the early years of Leroy Jethro Gibbs in the 1990s, where he begins his career at the NCIS Camp Pendleton office.
• Producer Role: Harmon is serving as an executive producer alongside his son, Sean Harmon, who previously played the younger Gibbs in flashback episodes of the main series. This role gives him creative oversight to ensure the integrity of the Gibbs character and the franchise's lore.
• Narrator Role: Harmon’s distinctive voice will guide viewers through the 1990s-set series, providing a unique connection between the past and present of the NCIS universe.

3. The Highly-Anticipated Gibbs Crossover Appearance

Fans were thrilled by the news that Mark Harmon would once again appear on screen as Gibbs. This special return is scheduled as part of a major crossover event between NCIS and NCIS: Origins.

• Role: Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Guest Star/Cameo)
• Event Details: The appearance is part of a Veterans Day crossover event, scheduled for November 11, 2025.
• Context: His onscreen appearance is a brief return to the present-day timeline of the NCIS universe, likely connecting the events of the prequel series to the current show. This return is an acknowledgement of the character's legacy and a treat for dedicated viewers who have missed the Supervisory Special Agent since his Alaskan retirement.

4. Working on a New Book Project

Beyond the screen, Mark Harmon is also expanding his creative endeavors into the world of literature. It has been confirmed that the actor is working on a new book.

While specific details about the book's genre, title, or release date remain under wraps, this project further illustrates Harmon's desire to explore new creative outlets outside of the rigorous schedule of a long-running television drama. This move into writing solidifies his post-NCIS identity as a multi-talented creative force.

• 7 Shocking Things Jessica Capshaw Revealed About Growing Up With Steven Spielberg As Her Stepfather 892ho

Why These New Roles Signal a Major Career Shift

Mark Harmon’s career trajectory in 2025 is a clear departure from his two decades as the central figure of a procedural drama. This shift is intentional and strategic, focusing on quality, variety, and creative control.

A Return to Versatility and Genre Contrast

For nearly 20 years, Harmon was synonymous with the serious, often emotionally closed-off, Leroy Jethro Gibbs. His new acting role as Ryan in Freaky Friday 2 immediately breaks that mold. Ryan is a character from a beloved family comedy, offering a lighthearted contrast to the intense, crime-solving world of the NCIS team. This choice demonstrates a deliberate effort by Harmon to remind audiences of his range, which includes early roles in films like Summer School and The Presidio.

Prioritizing Behind-the-Scenes Influence

Harmon’s role as an executive producer on NCIS: Origins is arguably his most significant new professional identity. By narrating and producing the prequel, he maintains a crucial connection to the NCIS franchise while shedding the daily demands of acting. This transition from leading man to creative steward is a common and powerful move for long-time television stars, allowing them to shape the future of the universe they helped build. Working alongside his son, Sean Harmon, also turns the project into a personal, family-driven venture, ensuring the Gibbs legacy is handled with care and respect.

Strategic Onscreen Appearances

The decision to return for a brief, special guest appearance as Gibbs is a masterclass in managing fan expectation and maintaining topical authority. These limited, high-impact cameos ensure that the character's return is a major event, not a regular occurrence that would dilute his emotional departure in Alaska. This strategy satisfies the curiosity of dedicated fans while allowing Harmon to focus his primary energy on his new, diverse slate of projects, from comedy film sets to the writer's desk.

In summary, Mark Harmon’s new roles in 2025—spanning from the film set of Freaky Friday 2 to the producer's chair of NCIS: Origins—do not just represent a return to work; they represent a carefully curated career renaissance. He is successfully balancing a return to acting in a surprising new genre with a powerful new role as a creative executive, solidifying his status as one of Hollywood's most enduring and versatile stars.