More Than A Decade Later, Sterling K. Brown Still Thinks About His NCIS Guest Spot And How Mark Harmon Treated Him

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Many actors might concur that breaking into show business can be challenging. Nevertheless, securing guest spots on television series, such as those listed in the 2025 TV lineup, can significantly aid this process. This was one of the methods Emmy winner and Oscar nominee Sterling K. Brown utilized to build his career before his success with This Is Us and American Crime Story. Even more than a decade after appearing in a single episode of NCIS, the star of Washington Black still reflects on how leading actor Mark Harmon interacted with him.

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What Did Sterling K. Brown Say About His Guest Role On NCIS And Mark Harmon?

2016 marked a breakthrough year for Sterling K. Brown, who had been working in Hollywood for approximately fifteen years prior. His critically acclaimed and award-winning performances as Randall Pearson in This Is Us and Christopher Darden in American Crime Story caught the attention of audiences, with fans still asking him for hugs even three years after these shows ended.

Brown played a recurring character on Army Wives from 2007 to 2013, but he also spent his days working on various other shows such as Supernatural, NYPD Blue, JAG, ER, Alias, Without a Trace, Person of Interest, and NCIS. It’s interesting to note that among these many roles, one particular episode from the highly successful series NCIS in 2013 stood out for him, mainly due to his experience working with Mark Harmon at the time. As he shared with People magazine, this specific encounter left a significant impression on him.

In another setting, I had the pleasure of appearing as a guest on NCIS. It’s often commented that Mark Harmon was one of the kindest individuals ever encountered. During lunchtime, I found myself perched on a rock, and he approached, inquiring, “Why are you sitting on this rock?” To which I replied, “Well, it’s comfortable.” He then proceeded to move a chair over, placing it beside him and his companions, inviting me to join them. This simple act of kindness created an atmosphere where one felt appreciated and welcomed.

It’s possible that joining a series where the cast has worked together for a considerable time might be intimidating, and at its worst, one may even feel excluded or insignificant. In fact, as Brown mentioned earlier in his interview, he has experienced sets where it was evident that “these people couldn’t care less if I’m here or not” because he didn’t feel welcomed.

It’s understandable that he would distance himself from Harmon, who had been on the show for eleven seasons by then, and avoid getting too close to the main actors, especially after being contacted by the actor. As those who worked with Harmon on the procedural have shared, such as Scott Wolf (who felt welcome due to the lead) and Rocky Carroll (who attributed him to fostering a team environment and keeping everyone motivated), the star took it upon himself to ensure that Brown felt included in the group.

Excited by the renewal of Sterling K. Brown’s Paradise and Justin Hartley’s Tracker, I was thrilled to witness the cast of This Is Us extending their reach.

This resulted in him forming a connection with Harmon (who departed during Season 19), allowing him to seek guidance from the accomplished actor, renowned for his role on St. Elsewhere in the early 80s. Subsequently, Brown added:

One time, he said to me, “So many people grumble about their jobs and the hours.” He added, “There’s nothing wrong with enjoying what you do.” This sentiment has always been a remark that stayed with me and felt true. In response, I thought, yes, indeed, there is no problem with loving my work. I believe I can carry this mindset forward.

As a movie enthusiast, I can’t stress enough the importance of finding the bright sides in everything, and this certainly applies to our daily work grind. Hearing that Brown enjoyed his stint on NCIS and gained valuable insights is music to my ears. Those pearls of wisdom he gleaned continue to resonate with him even today.

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2025-07-24 20:14