NCIS stars Michael Weatherly and Mark Harmon worked together on the hit show from 2003 to 2016 – when Michael left the drama – and while they appear to have a lot of respect for each other now, it wasn’t always easy. Learn more…
Michael revealed in 2020 that he and his co-star were not always close. He explained in an interview that they were coming to the show from very different places, with Mark giving him a “look” during an interview when he joked about his rubber gun and fake badge.
“Mark Harmon and I were on different poles,” he explained to The Futon Critic. I was Antarctica, he was the North Pole, and we were just looking down there, wondering, ‘What’s up with your polarity? What exactly is going on? For me, the water goes down the drain the other way.'”
“And he was confused by my presence right from the start,” he added. When CNN Showbiz Today or one of those shows asked what the best part of doing the pilot was during the upfronts, I said, ‘I got a rubber gun and a fake badge.'”
Michael explained Mark’s reaction to his joke, saying, “Harmon looked at me like, ‘That is your CNN answer?'” [Laughs.] And I felt like a small child who had had one too many bowls of Count Chocula.”
Everything changed for Michael after he became the lead in the show Bull, and he opened up about finally understanding Mark’s stance on the show after becoming a leading man himself, admitting that the experience was “illuminating.”
“It’s been very illuminating and given me a lot of insight and regard for what Mark Harmon was doing all those years,” he said. “I was thinking to myself, ‘How come he doesn’t have as much fun as the rest of us?'” He also stated that he learned a great deal from his co-star.
Michael has previously hinted that he may return to NCIS at some point. In response to a fan who wrote, “We all would rather look at you and Ziva reuniting and enjoying that moment,” he said, “Stay tuned… for this could be an interesting year for such’moments’!” We sincerely hope so!
Meanwhile, Mark left the show in 2021 and previously discussed why he thought it was so successful on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. “We were in Hollywood, working late, 9.30 p.m., 95% of the cast working, and we all got together and went out to dinner.”
“You’ve got a bunch of people who love their job, and there’s a responsibility in that, and there has been for a number of years, because you work with these people every day, and it only works when people want to be there.” I’m proud to have been there for 17 years, but I’m even more proud of the crew.”
One person commented on the lovely interview, “Says a lot about the chemistry between the cast when he says the best moment wasn’t on set but when they all sat down and a meal, it’s such a simple thing and I love it,” while another added, “I adore Mark Harmon.” Grounded, principled, and a fantastic husband. I couldn’t ask for anything more.”
More photos from Michael’s time on NCIS
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