30 Years Before Gibbs, Mark Harmon Played an Officer in Failed ‘Emergency!’ Spinoff

Actor Mark Harmon has had one of the most prolific careers in Hollywood, remaining a familiar face on both the big and small screens for the past four decades. He dominated the 1980s after his breakout role as Dr. Robert Caldwell on NBC’s St. Elsewhere and his beloved turn as Freddy Shoop in the classic comedy Summer School.

In the 1990s, roles on Reasonable Doubts and Chicago Hope kept him in the public eye, while his appearances on The West Wing and his charming turn in 2003’s Freaky Friday continued his momentum in the early ’00s. But it was his long-running role as Leroy Jethro Gibbs on NCIS that brought him the most widespread recognition, transforming him into a television icon and anchoring one of the most successful franchises in network history.

But over 50 years ago, back in the Me Decade, a baby-faced Harmon almost starred in his own show…