# Margo Harshman
**Margo Harshman** (born 1986) is an American actress best known as Tawny Dean on the [Disney Channel](https://www.edgepedia.org/disney-channel) sitcom *Even Stevens* and for her recurring role as Delilah Fielding on the CBS procedural *NCIS*. Her full name is Margo Cathleen Harshman.[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/harshman-margo-1986) • [2](https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=14842)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name / birth | Margo Cathleen Harshman, born 1986 in San Diego, California[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/harshman-margo-1986) |
| Breakthrough role | Tawny Dean, Louis Stevens's friend and later girlfriend, on *Even Stevens* (Disney Channel, 2000–2003)[2](https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=14842) |
| Film debut | Co-starring role as Jolie in the 1997 family film *The Elf Who Didn't Believe*[3](https://www.fandango.com/people/margo-harshman-283041) |
| *The Big Bang Theory* | Alex Jensen, Sheldon Cooper's assistant, in four episodes of season six (2012–2013)[4](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/10837/margo-harshman) |
| *NCIS* | Delilah Fielding, McGee's girlfriend and later wife, in a recurring role spanning 2013 to 2025[4](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/10837/margo-harshman) • [5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0366106) |
| Awards | Two Young Artist Award nominations in 2004, for *Even Stevens* and *The "Even Stevens" Movie*[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/harshman-margo-1986) |
## Early life and start in acting
Harshman was born in San Diego, California, and grew up in a family of five children, with two older sisters, one older brother, and one younger brother.[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0366106/bio/) Her performing career began at age two, when her grandmother entered her in a local beauty pageant where she was quickly noticed.[2](https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=14842) Her interest in acting developed through Coast Kids Theatre in San Diego, and by age 12 she was auditioning for theatrical and commercial work.[2](https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=14842)
Her early credits included commercials for the Albertson grocery chain, [Kraft Foods](https://www.edgepedia.org/kraft-foods), BellSouth, and [McDonald's](https://www.edgepedia.org/mcdonalds), plus a co-starring role as Jolie in the 1997 family film *The Elf Who Didn't Believe*.[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/harshman-margo-1986) • [3](https://www.fandango.com/people/margo-harshman-283041)
## Even Stevens
The role that defined her early career was Tawny Dean on *Even Stevens*, the Disney Channel comedy about siblings Ren and Louis Stevens; Harshman played Louis's good friend, later his girlfriend, opposite [Shia LaBeouf](https://www.edgepedia.org/shia-labeouf), appearing in 47 episodes from 2000 to 2003.[2](https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=14842) • [4](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/10837/margo-harshman) • [11](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0206511/fullcredits/) She reprised the role in *The "Even Stevens" Movie* in 2003.[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/harshman-margo-1986)
Her work on the series earned her two [Young Artist Award](https://www.edgepedia.org/young-artist-award) nominations in 2004: best young supporting actress in a television comedy or drama series for *Even Stevens*, and best young supporting actress in a television movie, miniseries, or special for *The "Even Stevens" Movie*.[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/harshman-margo-1986)
During the same period she held regular series roles on short-lived shows: Brooke Franklin on *Run of the House* (The WB, 2003) and guest appearances on the [John Goodman](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-goodman) sitcom *Center of the Universe* (CBS, 2004).[2](https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=14842) • [7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/margo_harshman)
## Guest roles on network television
Through the 2000s and 2010s Harshman built a record of guest parts across major network series, playing Harley Palmer on *Without a Trace* (2004), Maura on *Everwood* (2005), Jennifer Morris on *Grey's Anatomy* (2006), Melissa on *House* (2012), Margie Coggins on *Boston Legal* (2008), Jungle Tanya on *Modern Family* (2009), Alison Kidman on *Bones* (2013), and April Brock on *CSI: Crime Scene Investigation* (2014).[4](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/10837/margo-harshman) She also starred as Screwsie, Alex's wild younger sister, in the 2012 sitcom *Bent*, and as Lisa Rudolph in the 2013 web series *Betas*.[2](https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=14842) • [4](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/10837/margo-harshman)
**The Big Bang Theory.** In season six of *The Big Bang Theory* she played Alex Jensen, a young assistant hired by [Sheldon Cooper](https://www.edgepedia.org/sheldon-cooper), in four episodes broadcast across 2012 and 2013.[4](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/10837/margo-harshman) Contemporary press coverage at the time of her casting framed the character as a new presence around Leonard and Penny's relationship.[8](https://www.sensacine.com/actores/actor-104883/)
## NCIS and later work
Harshman's longest-running television role is Delilah Fielding, the girlfriend and later wife of Special Agent Timothy McGee, on *NCIS*. A 2014 CBS press release described her character as McGee's girlfriend, a Department of Defense employee, in the episode "Page Not Found".[9](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-studios/shows/ncis/releases/?view=40958-mcgees-girlfriend-delilah-turns-to-the-ncis-team-after-finding-new-evidence-in-a-controversial-case-her-bosses-closed-on-a-rebroadcast-of-ncis-at-a-sp) IMDb lists the role as running from 2013 to 2025 over 20 episodes.[5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0366106) TVmaze's episode-level credits list 21 appearances, including "Killer Instinct" dated April 14, 2025, and "Irreconcilable Differences" dated April 28, 2025; the latter is marked uncredited.[4](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/10837/margo-harshman) Credit databases agree that her most recent located television work is in these April 2025 episodes; they do not confirm newer projects.[10](https://www.documentarytube.com/blog/what-happened-to-margo-harshman-after-the-big-bang-theory/)
Her 2022 guest appearance as Mia in an episode of *How I Met Your Father* drew attention from viewers who recognized her from earlier roles.[4](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/10837/margo-harshman)
## Film work
Harshman's film credits range from studio comedies to independent features: *Hiding Victoria* (2006), *Simon Says* (2006), *Rise: Blood Hunter* (2007), the romantic drama *Keith* (2008), *From Within* (2008), *[College Road Trip](https://www.edgepedia.org/college-road-trip)* (2008), *Fired Up* (2009), and the sorority horror film *[Sorority Row](https://www.edgepedia.org/sorority-row)* (2009), in which she played Chugs.[7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/margo_harshman) • [2](https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=14842) Later films include *Toxin* (2015), *Love on the Vines* (2017), and *Exposure* (2023).[7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/margo_harshman) On Rotten Tomatoes' compilation, *Keith* is her highest-rated film at 82 percent and *College Road Trip* her lowest at 13 percent.[7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/margo_harshman)
## Personal life
Harshman married Austen Hooks in 2017; she filed for divorce on November 29, 2018, after an eight-week separation.[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0366106/bio/) Her mother, Janelle Harshman, died on May 14, 2014, after a 20-year battle with breast cancer.[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0366106/bio/) Off screen she has worked as a volunteer, serving as a spokesperson for the [Special Olympics](https://www.edgepedia.org/special-olympics) and volunteering for the [Make-A-Wish Foundation](https://www.edgepedia.org/make-a-wish-foundation).[2](https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=14842)
## References
1. [Harshman, Margo 1986–, Encyclopedia.com](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/harshman-margo-1986)
2. [Margo Harshman, TVSA](https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=14842)
3. [Margo Harshman Overview, Fandango](https://www.fandango.com/people/margo-harshman-283041)
4. [Margo Harshman, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/10837/margo-harshman)
5. [Margo Harshman, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0366106)
6. [Margo Harshman Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0366106/bio/)
7. [Margo Harshman Movies & TV Shows List, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/margo_harshman)
8. [Margo Harshman, SensaCine](https://www.sensacine.com/actores/actor-104883/)
9. [NCIS press release: Margo Harshman Guest Stars as Delilah Fielding, Paramount Press Express](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-studios/shows/ncis/releases/?view=40958-mcgees-girlfriend-delilah-turns-to-the-ncis-team-after-finding-new-evidence-in-a-controversial-case-her-bosses-closed-on-a-rebroadcast-of-ncis-at-a-sp)
10. [What Happened to Margo Harshman After The Big Bang Theory?, DocumentaryTube](https://www.documentarytube.com/blog/what-happened-to-margo-harshman-after-the-big-bang-theory/)
11. [imdb.com](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0206511/fullcredits/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 2000s onward › Surnames H to Ha*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 19, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license