Actor Austin Stowell got real about working with the famous Mark Harmon on the latest NCIS project. The star said Mark was great to work with and even offered some special advice.
Austin Stowell is well-aware that he has big shoes to fill as he takes on the role of young Leroy Jethro Gibbs on NCIS: Origins.
The new NCIS spin-off follows the detective in his early days of crime-solving, giving fans a peek into his past. The iconic character was originally played by Mark Harmon who left the original CBS series in 2021 without making a comeback. However, he passed the baton to Austin for the new series.
Mark helped develop the show, acting as a producer alongside his son. Plus, he contributed his voice for narration, giving the story another added element of depth. According to Austin, he also helped the young actor on set.
When he offered Austin some advice, he shied away from anything in regards to his actual acting. The ac tor told US Weekly: “He was vocal about — maybe not what to do — but certainly [he was] guiding me more in terms of posture and mindset, things that I’ve learned to inhabit all the more over time.”
While Austin thought taking on the character was a “daunting task,” he did find support from Mark who he described as someone who is “welcoming” and “leads by example.” He added: “He’s really such a wonderful leader for us because he makes everybody feel so comfortable.”
Mark helped with the decision to bring Austin onto the set in the first place, a decision he stands behind. “We dress alike,” Mark laughed, adding more seriously: “When he walked into the room. You felt the room bump a little bit.”
NCIS: Origins is hotly anticipated by fans, but the actor insisted that there is not prior knowledge needed to enjoy the story. They’ve embraced and emphasized making the story their own, while still doing the character justice. Austin added: “There’s been a formula to NCIS for a long time and that works. But it’s our job to push the limit so with this new show, we are trying to get a little bit more into perspective. We are getting at what makes these characters who they are, how they became the characters that we see on the show 20 years later.”