Why Marcie Warren From NCIS Looks So Familiar
In "NCIS" Season 18, former NCIS Special Agent in Charge Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon) gets to know a local journalist by the name of Marcie Warren (Pam Dawber). Though Marcie's introduction in Season 18, Episode 11 ("Gut Punch") is Dawber's first appearance in the series, she's far from a stranger to the "NCIS" crew, especially Gibbs. In fact, Dawber has been married to actor Mark Harmon since 1987, and the couple have two children together (one of which has appeared on seven episodes of "NCIS" as a younger version of Gibbs).
Additionally, Dawber is a well-known actress in Hollywood. According to IMDb, she made her on-screen debut in a 1978 TV movie called "Sister Terri." In the years since, she's appeared in a total of 40 different productions. Though none of her jobs have lasted nearly as long as Harmon's role on "NCIS" did, she remains a recognizable face among the stars of Hollywood. Here are a few other TV shows you may remember having seen Dawber in.
She played opposite Robin Williams in Mork & Mindy
One of Dawber's earliest roles remains her most well-known character. From 1978 to 1982, Dawber played alongside a then-unknown Robin Williams on all four seasons of ABC's "Mork & Mindy" (via IMDb). In the show, Dawber played the latter half of the titular couple, while Williams played Mork, a humanoid alien from the planet Ork. Throughout the series, Mindy humorously works to conceal Mork's true origins from her friends and family, while also helping Mork adjust to life on Earth. Though the two start out as friends, a romance eventually develops and the two are married in the fourth season premiere.
In speaking about her time on the series, Dawber is often quick to praise Williams' unique role on the show. "If Robin was a different kind of guy, he could have chewed me up and spit me out," Dawber once said in an interview (via Heavy). "But I loved him. It was a hit because of him, it was a hit because the timing was right, and I think it was also a hit because he and I really liked each other, so we had chemistry."
When "Mork & Mindy" ended in May of 1982, Dawber joined a number of her former co-stars, including Williams, for an animated series called "Mork & Mindy/Laverne & Shirley/Fonz Hour," essentially a spinoff and a crossover of other shows within the "Happy Days" universe. Sadly, the series was canceled after only one season (via IMDb), marking the final opportunity Dawber and Williams had to portray their famous characters.
She played Sam in My Sister Sam
After a number of years focused on TV movies, Dawber returned to the title role of a network television series on the CBS sitcom "My Sister Sam," on which she starred alongside actress Rebecca Schaeffer. In the series, Samantha "Sam" Russell (Dawber) is shocked to discover her 16-year-old sister, Patricia "Patti" Russell (Schaeffer), arrive at her door and request to move in with her. With her life as a 29-year-old freelance photographer just beginning to come together, Sam agrees to take in her younger sister. As would be expected for any production of the sitcom genre, all number of awkward and entertaining incidents ensue.
Though the series proved successful in its first season, the network's decision to alter its airtime in its sophomore season ultimately proved disastrous to its viewership numbers (via Newspapers). After severals weeks of low ratings, CBS canceled the series in May of 1988, pulling the show from the schedule and leaving a whole 12 episodes unaired (via IMDb). Tragically, "My Sister Sam" is arguably best remembered because of the death of star Rebecca Schaeffer little more than a year after the series aired its final episode.
In July 1989, 21-year-old Schaeffer was shot and killed by a 19-year-old stalker who discovered her address by a simple visit to the local DMV. In the aftermath of Schaeffer's sudden death, California moved to strengthen a number of privacy laws in order to better protect against such threats (via LA Times). In the years since, Dawber has also participated in a variety of campaigns advocating for gun control and anti-stalking laws (via Twitter).
She rejoined Robin Williams for one episode of The Crazy Ones
Dawber largely withdrew from acting after her children, Sean Thomas Harmon and Ty Christian Harmon, were born in 1988 and 1992, respectively. According to her IMDb page, Dawber did not appear in any film or television productions for more than a decade after the 2000 release of "I'll Remember April," a movie also starring Pat Morita, Trevor Morgan, Haley Joel Osment, Mark Harmon, and Yuji Okumoto (via IMDb).
However, 14 years after her apparent retirement from acting, Dawber returned to the small screen for a single episode of a CBS sitcom titled "The Crazy Ones," alongside Sarah Michelle Gellar and Dawber's former "Mork & Mindy" co-star Robin Williams. Dawber once again appeared as a love interest for Williams' character in Season 1, Episode 20 ("Love Sucks") (via IMDb). Though there was significant hype in the weeks preceding the couple's on-screen reunion (via TV Guide), the episode sadly failed to boost ratings enough to save the series. "The Crazy Ones" was canceled in May 2014 (via LA Times).
After Williams' death by suicide in August 2014 (via CNN), Dawber remembered the beloved comedian for his dedication to his craft and fondly recalled her time on set with him. "Robin was such a comedic genius," Dawber said in a 2018 interview to promote a documentary about Williams (via OnTVToday). "He made so many people happy, I think that's why everyone wants to keep revisiting his life."
If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).