The actor talks trailers, boats, and remodeling with his wife, and reveals his favorite escape

On his Airstream trailer. It’s a 1972, 24-footer. I got itoff a horse ranch in Arizona. I originally figured I’d just replacethe cabinet fronts. But it got more expensive. I put in a custombird’s-eye maple and white-birch interior and the paintedcheckerboard floor. By film-set standards, the trailer is actuallypretty small. But it’s completely practical.

On carpentry. I used to hang out in my dad’s workshop onweekends. Later, when I was starting out as an actor, I became aroofer and a framer to make money. But what I really enjoyed wasfinish work. I like the longevity of it: If you do it right, itwill be around a lot longer than you are.

On renovating houses. I rebuilt my own house before I wasmarried. It had 3-foot stone walls―it had been a toolshed inthe 1930s. It took about two years. Our current house was acomplete redo. Probably everybody except us would have torn itdown. But if you give a house a chance to talk to you, you learnthings.

On renovating with wife Pam Dawber. My wife and I do thiswell together because we have similar tastes.

On the boat his NCIS character, Leroy Jethro Gibbs, isbuilding. It’s actually a real boat, with real plans. In pastshows, we learned he built other boats. I doubt he will ever finishthis one.

Mark Harmon lives near Santa Monica, California and stars asspecial agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs on NCIS. Past television roles include Dr. Jack McNeil on Chicago Hope and Dr. Robert Caldwell on St. Elsewhere. His films include Freaky Friday and Chasing Liberty.

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