Legendary television star David McCallum died on September 5 at the age of 90. McCallum gained acclaim as an actor in the late ’40s and became a household name co-starring in The Man from U.N.C.L.E. He then maintained a steady fanbase in NCIS, a show whose stars are now mourning and honoring his memory.
McCallum was the last of the original cast of NCIS to stay onboard the series as Donald “Ducky” Mallard, the worldly, talkative medical examiner often partnered with the awkward but well-meaning Jimmy Palmer (Brian Dietzen). Deitzen is among the numerous stars reacting to McCallum’s passing online that remember him as a talented colleague and source of inspiration.
Former ‘NCIS’ mainstays remember David McCallum
David McCallum made every moment count, in life and on set. Let’s raise a jug and celebrate a funny fantastic authentic man. I’ve only got 3 autographs. Connery, Tony Bennett and McCallum. I felt the same way as Steve McQueen in this picture from The Great Escape: Wow! It’s David… pic.twitter.com/ve6hFvFkQD
— Michael Weatherly (@M_Weatherly) September 25, 2023
Premiering on September 23, 2003, NCIS just celebrated its 20th anniversary; from the beginning, the charge was led by Mark Harmon, who stayed with the show until 2021. “David lived a great, full, long life,” said Harmon in tribute to McCallum, as reported by TVLine. “I was in awe when I first met him and all of us on the show were honored to have toed a mark opposite him. My condolences go out to Katherine and his family.” McCallum and his wife Katherine had been married since ’67.
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Another mainstay, Michael Weatherly, had worked with McCallum at the Navy Yard since the beginning too. He wrote on Twitter, “David McCallum made every moment count, in life and on set. Let’s raise a jug and celebrate a funny fantastic authentic man. I’ve only got 3 autographs. Connery, Tony Bennett and McCallum. I felt the same way as Steve McQueen in this picture from The Great Escape: Wow! It’s David McCallum! No one did it better. We were lucky to have him bring us Ducky. Let’s send all the love in the world to his beautiful family. Rest In Peace David.”
A newer generation of ‘NCIS’ stars mourn David McCallum
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The cast of NCIS has changed over the years in ways big and small. Dietzen’s Palmer is now an indispensable part of the medical team down in the morgue but he did not join the cast until a year into the show’s run. But from that point on, he and Ducky were two halves of a hole, allowing Dietzen to work closely with the acting veteran, who continued work until the end of his life.
David McCallum was a mentor, a great scene partner, a wonderful father and husband, and he was my dear friend,” he said on Instagram, accompanied by several photos. “He was a joy to work with. Always had a smile. Always had something new to add to the page, and ALWAYS had the ability to steal every scene he was in!… The friendship and respect people saw between Ducky and Jimmy over the years mirrored the relationship we’d developed off camera.”
Lauren Holly, who joined the show as Director Jenny Shepherd, called McCallum “the kindest man” and said “Thank you for being you.”
McCallum died of natural causes and is survived by his wife, as well as their four children and eight grandchildren.
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