NCIS Star David McCallum: The Caring ‘Grand-Ducky’ to 8 Grandkids – Uncover the Heartwarming Story!
David McCallum, an iconic figure in the world of “NCIS,” had been an integral part of the CBS show since its inception. Known for his role as Russian spy Ilya Kuryakin in “The Man From UNCLE,” McCallum passed away peacefully at the age of 90 at New York Presbyterian Hospital, surrounded by his family on Monday.
In a statement, his son Peter expressed the family’s grief, praising his father’s selflessness and highlighting his deep love for his role as a grandfather.
Before his “NCIS” fame, McCallum had notable roles in films such as “The Great Escape,” where he co-starred with Charles Bronson. The film brought back memories of his ex-wife Jill Ireland’s love affair with Bronson, a situation McCallum handled with grace. Despite the painful separation and having three children with Ireland, he harbored no hatred towards Bronson.
Reports suggest that Bronson had promised to marry Ireland, but McCallum had no recollection of those words. Bronson and Ireland remained married until her death in 1990 due to breast cancer.
Despite the challenges of becoming a single father, McCallum found happiness anew. In 1965, during a photo shoot for “The Man From UNCLE,” he fell in love with Katherine Carpenter, a 21-year-old model. Despite his legal marriage to Ireland, McCallum publicly revealed his relationship with Carpenter, and they married in 1967. Together for over 56 years, they had two children, Peter and Sophie.
The worst event in McCallum’s life was the death of his 27-year-old son, Jason, from an accidental overdose in 1989. McCallum avoided discussing the tragedy for years but expressed regret in 2010 for not being there to help him at the time. Despite the challenges, McCallum chose to focus on cherished memories rather than dwelling on “what if” scenarios.
McCallum, a proud grandfather of eight, was eager to share his acting knowledge with his grandchildren. His children pursued various careers, with Val being a musician in Los Angeles, Paul working as a photographer in California, and Peter serving as an advertising executive. Sophie initially worked in real estate but now focuses on raising her children.
McCallum, affectionately known as “granddaddy” by his grandchildren, preferred not to be called “grandpa.” Playfully, they occasionally teased him by using “grand-ducky,” inspired by his “NCIS” character, Donald ‘Ducky’ Mallard, a nickname he didn’t mind. Despite his passing, McCallum expressed his desire to continue appearing on “NCIS” for as long as possible.
