Pam Dawber

Pam Dawber married actor Mark Harmon on March 21, 1987, in a private ceremony. The couple has been blessed with two sons, Sean Thomas Harmon and Ty Christian Harmon.

She is a national spokeswoman for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

Pamela Dawber was born on October 18, 1951 in Detroit, Michigan to Thelma M. (née Fisher) and Eugene E. Dawber. She was the eldest of the two daughters born to the couple. While Eugene Dawber was a commercial artist, Thelma ran a stock photo agency.

She attended an elementary school in Goodrich before enrolling at North Farmington High School. She then gained admission at Oakland Community College (OCC). However, she dropped out of college soon after being bit by the modelling bug.

Interestingly, early on, Pam Dawber entertained the idea of having a singing career. However, it was during her years at OCC that Dawber took to modelling. Walking on the ramp for a couple of local fashion shows gave her a clearer vision of what she wanted to do with her life. Studies soon took a backseat as she started pursuing modelling professionally.

Wanting to take modelling to a next level, Dawber moved to New York City. TherE, she served as a fashion model for Wilhelmina Models. Soon after that, she made her entry in the world of acting. Her early stints were for commercials.

It was her screen test for the titular role of ‘Tabitha’ in the self-titled situational comedy spin-off from ‘Bewitched’ that changed the fate of Pam Dawber. Ironic as it may seem to be, though she failed to make it to the show, her screen test was so much lauded that ABC TV enrolled her in its ‘talent development’ program. Under it, participants were paid a stipend until they found themselves appropriate roles.

Pam Dawber did not have to wait for long for her first successful television breakthrough. Garry K Marshall saw her at the talent development program and was keen on having her onboard for his upcoming show, ‘Mork & Mindy’, irrespective of her having ‘no’ acting experience. She did not even audition for the role.

The sitcom ‘Mork & Mindy’ became extremely popular and was loved by the audience. Pam played the character of Mindy McConnell, the comedic foil and eventual love interest for the extraterrestrial Mork from the planet Ork. The show lasted for four seasons, from 1978 to 1982.

The best ever work from Pam Dawber’s kitty came in when she was cast for the role of Mindy for Garry Marshall’s ‘Mork & Mindy’. With no acting experience to hold on to, Dawber did not let the anxiety of performing in her first ever big project in the lead role come in between her performance. She instead took the television industry by storm with her acting talent, making the show a runway success. Both Pam Dawber and Rin Williams who played the alien Mork became overnight stars. The show was hugely successful and earned Dawber her first People’s Choice Award as well. It ran for four seasons from 1978 to 1982.