Long before Mark Harmon played the now-iconic role of Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs in TV series NCIS, he has been considered a hero by a teenager. Over two decades ago, Harmon saved a teen from a fire following a car crash.
Agent Gibbs saves lives every day in the hit CBS procedural drama NCIS. In real life, Harmon did just that in 1996.
It was a breezy day in January 1996. Harmon and his wife were at home when a car crashed in their street. The driver was able to get out of the car but his friend, Colin Specht, got trapped in the passenger seat of the vehicle that caught fire after it crashed.
Harmon's wife, Pam Dawber, called 911, but the actor saw the trapped teenager. He sprang into action and broke the window of the car using a sledgehammer.
In an interview with CBS New York in 2013, Harmon admitted that what he did was reckless and dangerous because the moment he broke the window, the fire got bigger. Nonetheless, he managed to pull Specht to safety.
The young Specht had already suffered from third-degree burns in over 30 percent of his body by the time he was freed by Harmon. Now, adult Specht covered his scars with tattoos to remind him of how lucky he was to be alive. He said, though he suffered a severe burn, Specht understood and grateful that Harmon took a risk of saving his life.
"He had more to lose. He had a wife, children, and a career based on his face and his looks. That's true altruism," Specht said.
Harmon, however, refused to be called a hero for his actions. He believed that if he didn't do anything in that situation, he and Specht could have died because he was standing next to the burning car. Harmon added that his two children could have also lost a father for his inaction.
Meanwhile, the Chasing Liberty actor is expected to play Agent Gibbs as long as CBS will continue to renew NCIS for more seasons. Coincidentally, Harmon is also one of the executive producers of the fan-favorite show which is currently in its 17th season. CBS has yet to make an announcement about the future of the show.
NCIS Season 17 will be taking a two-week break and is set to return with a brand new episode on March 10. NCIS airs on CBS on Tuesdays at 8:00 pm ET.
