Did David McCallum Reveal the Sad Truth About ‘NCIS’ Co-star Cote de Pablo Before His Death?

David McCallum, widely recognized for his role as Dr. Donald ‘Ducky’ Mallard on NCIS, passed away at age 90 on September 26. He had a remarkable career in both acting and music, even contributing to the iconic hip-hop song “The Next Episode” by Dr. Dre.

During his tenure on NCIS, McCallum became a beloved cast member. However, when Cote de Pablo, who portrayed Ziva David, left the show during the 11th season, he was reportedly furious about her decision. De Pablo’s departure required extensive rewrites of the show’s first five episodes.

In a Reddit AMA, McCallum expressed his astonishment at De Pablo’s exit, speculating that she may not have been up to the demands of her character. De Pablo herself later explained that she left because she felt her character wasn’t being treated with the respect she deserved.

David McCallum had a lasting impact on the entertainment world, both as an actor and musician, and he will be dearly missed by fans and colleagues.