David William Smith (born September 21, 1960), known professionally as David James Elliott, is a Canadian actor. He was the star of the series JAG, playing lead character Harmon Rabb Jr. from 1995 to 2005.

Early life Elliott was born David William Smith on September 21, 1960, in Milton, Ontario, Canada, the son of Patricia Smith (née Farrow), an office manager, and Arnold Smith, a heating and plumbing wholesale contractor. He was born the second of three boys. During his teenaged years, he was part of a band, quitting Milton District High School in his final year to pursue his dream of becoming a rock star. At age 19, though, he realized this would not happen and returned to finish high school."David James Elliott Celebrity Profile" , For DJE Fans

After graduating from high school, he attended Ryerson University in Toronto, graduating in 1982. He joined the Stratford Shakespearean Festival in Ontario as a member of its Young Company.

Career Subsequently, moving to Los Angeles, he took the stage name David James Elliott, having found an actor was already named David Smith. He appeared in the film Police Academy 3: Back in Training in 1986, and subsequently in the television series Street Legal, Knots Landing as Bill Nolan, and in 1993's The Untouchables as Agent Paul Robbins. The following year, Elliott landed a recurring role on the hit series Melrose Place, playing Terry Parsons, and a guest appearance in an episode of Seinfeld as "Carl" the pro life furniture mover.

In 1995, Elliott landed the role he would hold for 10 years, as a naval aviator-turned JAG lawyer, Harmon Rabb, Jr., in the NBC/CBS television drama JAG. His tenure on JAG ended in 2005 with the series finale.

In 1996, Elliott starred in the made-for-cable movie Holiday Affair with Cynthia Gibb. This is a remake of the 1949 classic Holiday Affair, which starred Robert Mitchum and Janet Leigh. In 2005, Elliott starred in a Canadian television movie The Man Who Lost Himself, which was based on the true story of Terry Evanshen, a Canadian football player who was in a car accident and lost his memory due to severe head injuries. Nanci Chambers also appeared in this movie as a doctor. In October 2006, Elliott joined the cast of legal drama Close to Home (2005–2007) as Chief Deputy Prosecutor James Conlon. During 2008, he had a recurring role in the Canadian series The Guard. He starred in Sci Fi Channel's four-hour miniseries, Knights of Bloodsteel (2009). Elliott was cast as an Internet millionaire in Terror Trap, directed by Dan Garcia. Elliott also starred in Dad's Home (2010), as a widowed advertising executive who loses his job and becomes a stay-at-home dad for his two children.

On March 19, 2010, Elliott replaced Neal McDonough as the male lead in the television series Scoundrels. In 2010, Elliott was cast as FBI Agent Russ Josephson on CSI: NY, a recurring role as Detective Jo Danville's (Sela Ward) ex-husband, a role which he first portrayed in January 2011.

In 2012, Elliott also co-starred as Ripp Cockburn, the husband of Kristin Chenoweth's character Carlene, on ABC's comedy-drama series GCB. In 2014, Elliott appeared in Mad Men as Dave Wooster. In 2015, Elliott guest-starred in the TV drama Scorpion and played actor John Wayne in the film Trumbo.

Elliott reprised his JAG role of Harmon Rabb, Jr. for a multiple-episode arc in NCIS: Los Angeles season 10.

Personal life He married actress Nanci Chambers in 1992. She also appeared in JAG as the ambitious Lt. Loren Singer. They have a daughter, Stephanie Smith (b. 1993) and a son, Wyatt Smith (b. 2003).

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes1986The Boy in BlueBoat ManUncredited Police Academy 3: Back in Training Cadet Baxter #2 The Climb Otto Kempter 1987 The Big Town Cool Guy 1988 Night Friend Cab Driver 1997 Clockwatchers Mr. MacNamee 2000 Stanley's Gig Record Store Clerk 2001 The Shrink Is In Michael 2008 The Rainbow Tribe Morgan Roberts 2009 Gooby Jack Dandridge2010 Confined Michael Peyton Terror Trap Don 2012 Rufus Hugh Wade 2014 Dawn Patrol Jim2015 Battle Scars Frank Stephens Trumbo John Wayne 2019 The Obituary of Tunde Johnson Alfred O'Connor 2021 Lansky Frank RiversI Love UsDavid Dallas Heart of Champions Mr. Singleton2022CollideP.I.2025After AllWalter Sharpe

Television Year Title Role Notes 1986 The Campbells Hardy Episode: "First Day"1987 Adderly Commando Episode: "Year of the Tiger" Mariah Fergus Episode: "Prey" Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future Jason Episode: "The Mirror in Darkness" 1988–1991 Street Legal Nick Del Gado Main role; 36 episodes1989 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Ted Episode: "In the Driver's Seat" The Hitchhiker Jason Episode: "The Cruelest Cut" 1990 China Beach Mr. Green Episode: "Phoenix"1991 Over My Dead Body Larry Chadway Episode: "Separation Is Murder" Her Wicked Ways Andrew O'Brien TV film Fly by Night Mack Sheppard Main role; 13 episodes The Hidden Room Ron Episode: "A Type of Love Story"1992 Doogie Howser, M.D. Rick O'Neill Episode: "The Show Mustn't Go On" Dark Justice Zachary Hamilton Episode: "Needy Things" Knots Landing Bill Nolan 3 episodes 1993–1994 The Untouchables Agent Paul Robbins Main role; 42 episodes1994 Golden Gate Tony Gennera TV film Seinfeld Carl Episode: "The Couch" 1994–1995 Melrose Place Terry Parsons 4 episodes1995 Big Dreams and Broken Hearts: The Dottie West Story Byron MetcalfTV film Degree of Guilt Chris Paget 1995–2005 JAG Harmon "Harm" Rabb Jr. Main role; 227 episodes 1996 Holiday Affair Steve Mason TV film 1998 Hercules Thor Episode: "Hercules and the Twilight of the Gods" (voice) 1999 Maggie Winters Jack Episode: "Girls Night Out" 2000 Buzz Lightyear of Star Command Romac Episode: "Star Crossed" (voice) 2001 Dodson's Journey James Dodson TV film2003 Yes, Dear Harmon "Harm" Rabb Jr. Episode: "Let's Get Jaggy with It" Code 11-14 Det. Kurt NovackTV film 2005 The Stranger I Married Terry Evanshen2006 Sixty Minute Man John Henderson Medium Johnny Dunham Episode: "Twice Upon a Time" 2006–2007 Close to Home James Conlon Main role; 22 episodes2008 Love Sick: Secrets of a Sex Addict Rick Hudson TV film The Guard David Renwald 7 episodes2009 Impact Alex KittnerTV miniseries Knights of Bloodsteel John Serragoth The Storm General Wilson Braxton2010 Scoundrels Wolfgang "Wolf" West Main role; 8 episodes Dad's Home Ben WestmanTV film2011 Truth Be Told Mark Crane CSI: NY Agent Russ Josephson 2 episodes 2012 GCB Ripp Cockburn Main role; 10 episodes 2013 Exploding Sun Don Wincroft TV film2014 Mad Men Dave Wooster 2 episodes 2015 Scorpion Bruce Episode: "Forget Me Nots" 2017 Mom Joe Episode: "A Bouncy Castle and an Aneurysm" 2018–2019 Impulse Bill Boone Main role; 11 episodes 2018 Believe Me: The Abduction of Lisa McVey Larry Pinkerton TV film2019 NCIS: Los Angeles Harmon "Harm" Rabb Jr. 3 episodes The Kominsky Method William Episode: "Chapter 9. An Actor Forgets" 2020 Spinning Out James Davis Main role; 10 episodes 2021–2023 Heels Tom Spade 9 episodes 2021 Zoey's Extraordinary Christmas Movie Lumber Jack TV film 2022 Call Me Kat Dan Kingbird Episode: "Call Me 'Cat's in the Cradle'"2025The Chicken SistersClayton Briggs III6 episodes 2025 Revival Wayne Cypress Main role; 10 episodes

Awards TV Guide Award - "Favorite Male Actor in a Drama"

References

External links

Milton: David James Elliott