When actors act, they're simply just doing their jobs. Of course, some take on roles that have meaning, but for many, it's their version of a 9 to 5. Mark Harmon played NCIS Special Agent and Gunnery Seargent Leroy Jethro Gibbs, a classic role he took on for 19 seasons. You'd think since he stayed on the series for as long as he did, something huge must've made him want to be a part of the show.

In reality, it was something simple. "I didn't expect to like the script as much as I did when I first read it," Harmon told ET Online in 2022. "I was reading other things, and I was also trying to stay home—young family and I wanted to try and be home more."

However, the character's name hooked him.

"I read 'Leroy Jethro Gibbs' and thought, 'Huh, I like that name.' And then for a brief second when I decided that I liked the idea of the project, the name changed." We agree that LJG is unique and sounds like a rural comedy sitcom character from the Paul Henning era of television.

Harmon said the character's name changed to Bob Johnson, which is basic compared to Leroy Jethro Gibbs. "And I went, 'No, no, it's gotta be Leroy Jethro Gibbs.' The creator said, 'No, you can't play a guy named Leroy Jethro Gibbs,' and I said, 'Why not?' And then it went back and I was happy about it."