How Old Is Mark Harmon’s Gibbs On NCIS & NCIS: Origins?

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Initially based on a previous series that is no longer remembered, “NCIS” gained prominence as the stage for Mark Harmon’s debut as Leroy Jethro Gibbs. However, it was Gibbs who became the show’s most recognized character, starting with its premiere in 2003. Harmon portrayed Gibbs across an impressive 19 seasons of “NCIS” before his departure. Despite the series continuing for three more seasons and counting since then, Harmon has yet to reappear as Gibbs. The character’s age mirrored real life, with Gibbs starting at 47 in 2003 and reaching his late-60s when Harmon concluded his run on the show in 2021.

In the year 2024, a new spin-off series titled “NCIS: Origins” was launched on CBS. This series focuses on the early days of the well-known character, Gibbs, when he was just beginning his career as an NCIS agent and was grappling with the recent loss of his wife and daughter. The storyline is set in 1991, which is 12 years prior to the commencement of events in “NCIS”. Austin Stowell assumed the role of a 37-year-old Gibbs, although Harmon appeared as the current-day Gibbs in the premiere. This places Gibbs, in the year 2024, at approximately 72 years of age.

Gibbs is around 67 years old in his final NCIS appearance

Throughout the first 14 seasons of “NCIS”, various references to Gibbs’ life events such as his birth, the loss of his wife and daughter, graduation from the academy, and other important milestones provided clues about his age. However, in the Season 15 episode “House Divided”, a clear shot of his ID revealing his birthdate was shown to the audience, making it explicit how old Gibbs is.

In the show “NCIS,” Leroy Jethro Gibbs, whose birthdate is November 21, 1954, was around 49 years old when the series started in 2003 and approximately 67 when it concluded in 2021. Interestingly, Mark Harmon, who plays Gibbs, is slightly older, having been born on September 2, 1951. This means that at the beginning of “NCIS,” Harmon was 51 years old, and by the time his final episode aired, he was 72. It’s worth noting that Harmon considered leaving “NCIS” much earlier in its run.

Gibbs is 37 years old at the start of NCIS: Origins

Origins” starts off in the early ’90s, following a 37-year-old Gibbs (the main character) as he juggles his new role as an NCIS agent and grapples with the recent loss of his family due to murder. The show has only completed one season so far, leaving uncertainty about its future length or how much of Gibbs’ life it will depict. As we move forward, we’ll see how old Gibbs (played by Harmon) becomes in “Origins.” It’s important to mention that the current-day Gibbs serves as the narrator for this prequel series. Since the “NCIS” universe progresses in real time, this Gibbs would be approximately 72 during the first season of “Origins.

It might be puzzling to you why the young character of Gibbs from “NCIS: Origins” seems so recognizable. The reason is that Austin Stowell, the actor portraying him, has a lengthy list of roles in films and TV shows to his credit. Some of his most significant roles include being part of the cast in “Whiplash” and “Bridge of Spies,” and he also played Billie Jean King’s husband, Larry, in the biopic “Battle of the Sexes.”

Remarkably, Stowell had previously acted in an episode of “NCIS: Los Angeles” as well, but not as young Gibbs. Instead, he portrayed Marine Corporal Andrew Peterson in the 2010 episode titled “Special Delivery.

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2025-02-24 00:30