Mark Harmon explaining the worst Mistake of his Life

Mark Harmon on the Worst Mistake of His Life

Mark Harmon has rarely called anything “the worst mistake of his life,” but he’s been honest about one deep regret — missing his child’s first steps while filming a movie overseas.

“I was in the jungles of New Guinea making a not-very-good movie when my firstborn took his first steps. No job is worth missing life’s important moments.”

That moment changed how he viewed success. Harmon realized that chasing every career opportunity wasn’t worth sacrificing family time. He later chose steadier roles, like NCIS, so he could stay close to home.

Harmon has also reflected on being typecast early in his career — another mistake, he says, was letting Hollywood define him instead of trusting his own instincts.

In the end, his “worst mistake” wasn’t one bad choice but losing sight of what mattered most. As he’s put it since: “You learn what’s important — and it’s never fame.”