Muse Watson has been working in the industry for decades — appearing in everything from theater, to television, to films. Though his character has died on NCIS, he manages to still get to play the character of Mike Franks from time to time — and we always love him for it!
From where he grew up to a cause that’s very close to his heart, here are five fast facts you need to know about the actor who made Mike Franks so legendary on NCIS.
In the Beginning
Watson was born on July 20, 1948, in Alexandria, Louisiana. He was able to attend Louisiana Tech on a music stipend where he played in the marching band (while Terry Bradshaw was the football quarterback), but he eventually transferred to Berea College in Kentucky. In 2001, they gave him the Distinguished Alumnus Award.
Early Heartbreak
Watson’s parents split when he was young, but his father started suffering from diabetes when the actor was a little boy. In fact, his dad ended up passing away due to complications with his diabetes at just 36 years old.
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Theater Background
Watson’s first time on stage was in Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, which happened while he was in college. He’s also been in theater shows such as Hamlet, A Streetcar Named Desire, Burn This, and Man of La Mancha. In fact, he founded the East Tennessee Conservatory for the Arts to promote awareness of the arts in the region.
Close to His Heart
Watson has a daughter with autism and he does a lot of work for that community because he wanted parents to know that they’re not alone. He is also a chairman of Stars for Autism, which raises money. He is a big believer in getting help as early as possible because it can make all the difference.
SNL Guest
Though he’s never hosted the show, Watson did make an appearance on Saturday Night Live back in 1998 as a guest with Sarah Michelle Gellar. They both appeared in a sketch and he parodied his role in the movie they did together, I Know What You Did Last Summer.
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