A TV show has announced a special tribute to honor a late cast member following his recent passing.David McCallum, renowned for his roles in NCIS and the 1960s spy series The Man From U.N.C.L.E., passed away at the age of 90 in September, just a week after celebrating his milestone birthday. The Scottish actor, who was an original cast member of NCIS, portrayed Dr. Donald Horatio “Ducky” Mallard in over 450 episodes since the series began in 2003. His portrayal of the character won him international acclaim and made him a beloved figure among fans.
The upcoming 21st season of NCIS will premiere on February 12, with a special tribute to McCallum scheduled for the second episode on February 19. CBS has released the official synopsis for this episode, which reads: “As NCIS mourns the loss of Ducky, the agents find comfort in working on one of his unfinished cases involving a woman whose father was dishonorably discharged from the Marines.”
NCIS co-showrunners and executive producers Steven D. Binder and David North spoke about the tribute, stating, “Everyone at NCIS felt it was important to do an episode that honors such a legendary actor, not to mention a dear friend. In the episode, the team will learn of Ducky’s passing and reflect on their memories of him as they grieve. True to Ducky’s meticulous and compassionate nature, even after he’s gone, he still manages to solve one last crime with the team.”
McCallum, who played the chief medical examiner and later an NCIS historian, earned his nickname “Ducky” as a playful reference to his surname. His character became a cherished part of the series.
In response to McCallum’s passing, Binder and North released a joint statement paying tribute to the actor. “For over 20 years, David McCallum endeared himself to audiences around the world playing the wise, quirky, and sometimes enigmatic Dr. Donald ‘Ducky’ Mallard,” they said. “But as much as his fans may have loved him, those who worked side by side with David loved him that much more. From day one, it was an honor to work with him, and he never let us down. He was, quite simply, a legend.”
In addition to his work on NCIS, McCallum was widely recognized for his role as secret agent Illya Kuryakin in The Man From U.N.C.L.E., and for his appearances in Sapphire & Steel alongside Dame Joanna Lumley and in the 1963 film The Great Escape.