‘Fans Will Be Pissed Off’ When They Find Out About Mark Harmon’s Comment Regarding Gibbs’ Rules

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Mark Harmon became well-known for playing Leroy Jethro Gibbs on NCIS for almost two decades. His performance was crucial to the show’s success and led to several spin-offs. Recently, NCIS: Origins, which explores Gibbs’ beginnings, featured a crossover with the original NCIS, and Harmon made a special guest appearance – his first since leaving the series in 2021.

A key part of what made Gibbs such a compelling character was his set of Rules. Throughout his life and career, he developed these specific guidelines, which the original series frequently referenced. A recent crossover episode focused on Rule No. 11: “When the job’s over, walk away.” David J. North, a co-creator of Origins, recently shared with EW that he and Mark Harmon often discussed the Rules while working on the new episode, revealing they’re a popular topic with viewers. North went on to explain:

We recently recorded Mark’s voiceover in the studio. I was discussing Episode 5 with him, specifically how much of it revolves around rule number 11 – ‘When the job’s over, walk away.’ He mentioned that fans constantly approach him asking about those rules.

Crossover events between the various NCIS shows are now common, where a criminal investigation begins on one series and continues on another. This particular crossover was unique because it revisited a cold case from early in Leroy Jethro Gibbs’ career. A criminal had escaped justice then, but the case resurfaced with the current NCIS team, giving them a chance to finally solve it.

Mark Harmon Does Not Know Gibbs’ Rules The Way Fans Do

It’s no surprise fans are curious about the Gibbs Rules. They were a memorable part of the show, and discovering each new rule was always enjoyable. However, showrunner Steven North revealed something that fans might not like: Mark Harmon, who played Gibbs, didn’t actually memorize the rules themselves. North explained that Harmon relied on prompts during filming.

I asked him if he knew any of the people involved, or even just one of the rules. He replied that there was a rule involving a knife.

It’s easy to picture fans approaching Mark Harmon and quizzing him about Gibbs’ rules, only to find out he didn’t actually know them! After playing the role for so long, it’s understandable why people would assume he’d memorized them, but for him, they were just lines he read in the script and then forgot.

Just so you know, Rule 9 is: “Always carry a knife.” While you likely won’t need one to watch the new seasons of NCIS and NCIS: Origins every Monday on CBS, it’s always best to be prepared!

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2025-11-18 04:38