In a 2023 interview with People, Mark Harmon shared the anticipation he felt before meeting his now-wife, Pam Dawber. Eager to connect, the actor took matters into his own hands when a mutual friend suggested a group date, asking, "Can I just call? Can I get a number and just cold call?" Harmon went ahead with this bold move, and after a brief screening, Dawber picked up the phone, ultimately agreeing to a private outing with him.
In contrast to his "NCIS" character, Harmon expressed reluctance about conforming to Hollywood's expectations regarding commitment. Before meeting Dawber, he shared in a 1986 interview with People: "I'm real monogamous by nature. When I marry, I want it to be everything this town says it can't be," alluding to Hollywood's normalization of infidelity and divorce. Harmon elaborated, "I'm not into catting around."
Dawber was smitten with the '80s heartthrob, opening up about their relationship a year after they had initially met. In her own 1987 chat with People, she confirmed that Harmon checked all the boxes for her as she prepared to move in with him. "He's fabulous," Dawber concluded. Despite their solid relationship, the couple seldom delves into discussions about the dynamics that make their connection work so well.
