Mark Harmon and Pam Dawber had everything Hollywood could offer – but when it came to their family, they made one decision that changed everything….

The couple also made another major decision when they started having children.

Pam, who had already enjoyed considerable success as an actress on Mork & Mindy, decided she didn’t want to keep chasing fame while raising her children.

“I’m not going to chase this fame thing,” she said.

Instead, she wanted to be there for the everyday moments — driving her children to school, celebrating their birthdays, bringing cupcakes and donuts to school events and simply being present.

“I wanted to drive my kids to school, I wanted to be there for their birthdays and bring cupcakes and donuts and do the school festivals and all that, and I did,” Dawber explained.

For Mark, family eventually became just as important.

He later recalled being away filming in New Guinea when his firstborn son took his first steps.

“No job is worth missing life’s important moments,” he said.

As Mark’s career continued to grow, eventually leading him to NCIS and one of television’s most recognizable roles, the family continued to guard their privacy.

And Pam believes there was another important reason their marriage lasted.