Yahoo News NCIS star Mark Harmon recalls colleague "swooning" over young Gibbs actor
NCIS star Mark Harmon has shared an insight into the audition process for NCIS: Origins.
The veteran actor played Leroy Jethro Gibbs on the long-running series, but stepped down from his role in 2021. However, a younger version of his beloved character will star in the prequel series NCIS: Origins, played by The Hating Game's Austin Stowell.
As an executive producer on the prequel, Harmon recalled how he was present during Stowell's first audition for the role of young Gibbs.
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Speaking at the Television Critics Association, he shared fellow executive producer Gina Lucita Monreal's reaction to Stowell's audition.
"I joked about Gina swooning, but the truth is she did. She may deny it, but she did," Harmon told USA TODAY. "And when [Stowell] walked out of the room, she said, 'Now that guy is a star!'"
The revelation of swooning was debated by executive producer David North, who insisted he was the one mesmerised by the star. "Let's just be clear," Stowell concluded. "Somebody swooned."
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NCIS: Origins will be set around 12 years before NCIS, and will follow younger Gibbs as a fresh-faced special agent at the NCIS Camp Pendleton office. As well as executive producing, Harmon will be back to narrate the series.
"I'm fine with the stepback role and [to] let the [new] cast do the work," Harmon explained. "I'm pleased to be part of it. I'm a distant part. I'm just here to support."
Meanwhile, the actor was unsure whether he would return to the original NCIS series. "I don't know. It's really about feeling you've fulfilled a role," said Harmon. "I've always let the writers do what they want to do."
NCIS: Origins will be released this autumn. NCIS airs on CBS in the US. Seasons 1-20 are streaming on Disney+ in the UK.
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