Mark Harmon and Pam Dawber were spotted enjoying a casual Sunday outing in Los Angeles, sharing a carefree ice cream date that offered a rare glimpse of the NCIS icon away from the camera glare. The 73-year-old actor was pictured with his now completely white hair and eyebrows, smiling as he picked up a milkshake while leaving a neighborhood shop. Dawber, also 73, appeared relaxed in khaki cargo pants and a low bun as she carried a soft-serve cone and strolled beside her husband.
Harmon’s low-key appearance comes as fans continue to reflect on his long-running run as Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs. He stepped away from NCIS in 2021 after 18 seasons, a move he described in a 2024 interview with TVLine as a matter of timing and personal fulfillment rather than a dramatic exit. While the door remains open to the possibility of a future cameo or ending, Harmon has emphasized that feeling complete with a role is what guides such decisions.
In a surprising pivot, Harmon has kept himself in the public eye with a cameo in the upcoming Freakier Friday, a sequel to the beloved Freaky Friday. He reprises his role as Ryan, the husband of Tess (played by Jamie Lee Curtis), a character he first inhabited in the 2003 Disney classic. The cameo fits into his broader pattern of selective projects after prioritizing time with family.
Speaking of family, Harmon and Dawber’s long marriage remains a standout in Hollywood. The couple wed in 1987 and raise two sons, Sean and Ty. Sean has followed paths in acting and stunt work, while Ty has found his own voice as a screenwriter. Dawber, renowned for Mork & Mindy, stepped back from acting to focus on family but returned in 2021 to appear in seven episodes of Harmon’s final NCIS season as journalist Marcie Warren.
Harmon’s career choices have often reflected a family-first philosophy. He previously explained that returning to television was partly about being able to be home for weekend pancakes with his kids, a sentiment that resonates with many viewers who value stability and balance in a demanding industry.
This sighting underscores a lasting, supportive partnership between Harmon and Dawber and highlights how longtime collaborators can evolve—staying part of the public conversation while prioritizing personal moments and family. If anything, the ice-cream date offered a hopeful reminder that enduring love and shared ordinary moments can still take center stage, even for two of Hollywood’s most recognizable faces.