‘NCIS’ Star David McCallum Dead at 90: ‘A Scholar and a Gentleman’

David McCallum, who was best known for his role as Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard NCIS, died. He was 90 years old.

The actor died “peacefully” of natural causes on Monday surrounded by family at New York Presbyterian Hospital, CBS reported.

“He was the kindest, coldest, most patient and loving father. He always put his family before himself. He looked forward to every opportunity to bond with his grandchildren and had a unique bond with each of them,” his son Peter McCallum said in a statement on behalf of the family. “He and his youngest grandson, Whit, 9, could often be found in the corner of the room at family parties having deep philosophical conversations.”

The statement continued: “He was a true Renaissance man — he was fascinated by science and culture and turned those passions into knowledge. For example, he was capable of conducting a symphony orchestra and (if necessary) could actually perform an autopsy, based on his decades of study for his role in NCIS.”

Sonja Flemming/CBS

“After I returned from the hospital to their apartment, I asked my mother if she was okay before she went to sleep. Her answer was simple: ‘Yes. But I wish we had the chance to grow old together.’ She is 79 years old, and Dad just turned 90. The sincerity in that emotion shows how alive their beautiful relationship and everyday life was, and that somehow, even at 90, Dad has not aged.”

Tribute to celebrities who died in 2023

Michael Yarish/CBS via Getty

NCIS executive producers Steven D. Binder and David North also shared their memories of working with McCallum.

“For more than twenty years, David McCallum has delighted audiences around the world playing the wise, quirky and sometimes enigmatic Dr. Donald ‘Ducky’ Mallard,” they said in a statement. “But as much as the fans loved him, those who worked side by side with David loved him much more. He was a scholar and a gentleman, always kind, a consummate professional and never missed a joke.”

They shared, “From day one it was an honor to work with him and he never let us down. He was, quite simply, a legend. He was also family and will be greatly missed.”

‘NCIS’ producers recall they thought Mark Harmon’s departure in 2021 was the ‘death knell’ for the show

Courtesy of CBS

In its own statement, CBS wrote of the news: “We are deeply saddened by the passing of David McCallum and privileged that CBS was his home for so many years. David was a gifted actor and writer, and was loved by many around the world.”

“He led an incredible life, and his legacy will live on forever through his family and the countless hours of film and television that will never fade,” the statement continued. “We will miss his warmth and endearing sense of humor that lit up every room or soundstage he set foot on, as well as the brilliant stories he often shared of a life well lived. Our hearts go out to his wife Katherine and his entire family, and all those who knew and loved David.”

Previously announced NCIS The 20th anniversary marathon scheduled for CBS’ primetime slot on Monday will now feature an “In Memoriam” card honoring McCallum.

‘NCIS’ is failing! The long-running CBS franchise will debut its first international edition with ‘NCIS: Sydney’

After studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and working for several years in repertory theater in the United Kingdom, the Scottish-born actor moved to America in 1961. He was cast as Illya Kuryakin in The man from STRICA opposite Robert Vaughn. He earned two Emmys and a Golden nomination for this role.

He recalled in an interview for the Emmys in January 2023: “I was out of work and I had bills to pay, and [my friend, actor] Charlie Bronson knew it was. He said, ‘Why don’t we have lunch in the warehouse at MGM and see what happens?’ So we left. When you’re a kid from Glasgow who watched movies growing up, and suddenly you find yourself in this cathedral that is the MGM store, with all the pictures on the wall and people walking around that you saw on the screen — I was just blown away.”

“I met Sam Rolfe [creator of The Man From U.N.C.L.E.] at that lunch, and I think the seed was sown. Then my agent called me and said: ‘You have been offered three television series. One is to play Alexander the Great. The second is to play Judas Iscariot – I just played Judas The greatest story ever told — ‘And the second thing is called Solo, which is based to some extent on the Bond books.’ It wasn’t called Solo in the end, because it conflicted with Bond’s rights, it did Man from UNCLE”

NCIS Fans will remember McCallum as Chief Medical Examiner Donald “Ducky” Mallard who is a close friend of Mark Harmon’s Leroy Jethro Gibbs and became a father figure to the cast of characters on the procedural. He recalled in his interview with the Emmys how his character developed his signature look.

“Well, Don [Bellisario, creator of NCIS] insisted on that hat. He said, “He must wear a hat.” I said, “We’re shooting in two minutes.” He said, ‘Well, take the hat,'” he said. “I went to the dressing room and found it [stone-colored Fedora-shaped safari hat]which is still, twenty years later, Ducky’s hat.”

“Now Ducky is retired. I decided to leave the show, and they said, ‘No, we’d like to cast you as a historian,’ which was very gratifying because it meant that CBS liked that I was there.”

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

On the big screen, he took on roles in The greatest story ever told, The Great Escape, A squadron of mosquitoes, Billy Budd, Freud and A night to remember.

It has also been featured in television shows including The Education of Max Bickford, Sapphire and steel, Colditz, Coach, VR5, Mother’s love, Kidnap, External borders, Law and order and Sex and the cityand was a voice actor on the Toon Disney show Substitutions.

Off screen, McCallum has recorded three albums of instrumental interpretations and originals and published a novel Once a Crooked Man in 2016.

There are no immediate plans for a memorial mass – instead a celebration of life service will be held at a future date. Donations may be made to the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation.

The actor left behind his wife of 56 years, Katherine McCallum, sons Paul, Valentine and Peter McCallum, daughter Sophie McCallum and eight grandchildren: Julia McCallum, Luca de Sanctis, Iain de Sanctis, Stella McCallum, Gavin McCallum, George McCallum , Alessandro de Sanctis and Whit McCallum.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education