Mark Harmon and Austin Stowell Discuss Portraying Leroy Jethro Gibbs in NCIS

Austin, TX, October 13, 2026 — The enduring legacy of NCIS character Leroy Jethro Gibbs is being discussed by the actors who have brought him to life across different stages of his career. Mark Harmon, the long-time star of the series, and Austin Stowell, who recently portrayed a younger version of the iconic agent, have shared insights into their respective portrayals. The discussion highlights the character’s significant impact and the continuity required to represent him effectively, as reported by CBS News.

Mark Harmon, who embodied Special Agent Gibbs for nearly two decades, has spoken about the evolution of the character and the challenges of maintaining his presence on screen. His departure from a regular role in NCIS paved the way for exploring Gibbs’s past in greater detail.

Austin Stowell took on the role of a younger Gibbs in flashbacks during the show’s 19th season. This casting allowed viewers to see the origins of the character, offering a new perspective on the man known for his stoic demeanor and dedication to his team. Stowell’s portrayal aimed to capture the essence of Gibbs during his early days as an agent, setting the stage for the established character Harmon played for so long.

The series, a staple in procedural crime drama television, has consistently drawn audiences with its compelling characters and intricate storylines. The narrative approach of revisiting or extending a character’s timeline through different actors is a strategy employed to deepen audience engagement and explore complex character arcs.

Further details on the specific discussions and insights shared by Harmon and Stowell were not provided in the initial report from CBS News regarding their perspectives on portraying different eras of Leroy Jethro Gibbs.

Story summarized from the original created by Google News on news.google.com, see more information here.