On Monday, the news of David McCallum’s passing at the age of 90 sent shockwaves through the “NCIS” fan community. McCallum, known for his iconic role as Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard on the long-running CBS procedural series, had a prolific career that included standout performances in the 1960s as Illya Kuryakin in “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.” and later in roles like Flight Lieutenant Simon Carter on “Colditz” and Steel on “Sapphire and Steel.”
While McCallum’s contributions to television and film spanned the 1960s through the 1980s, his 20-year portrayal of Ducky on “NCIS” became a defining chapter in his career. Fans mourned his loss and wondered if he had filmed any scenes for the upcoming “NCIS” Season 21 before his passing.
Unfortunately, due to this year’s WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, no episodes of “NCIS” Season 21 had been filmed at the time of McCallum’s death. The strikes prevented both writing new scripts and filming for strike-related projects since May 2 and July 14, respectively. Consequently, McCallum did not have the opportunity to film additional scenes as Ducky during the fall or summer.
In a 20th-anniversary interview conducted before McCallum’s death, “NCIS” executive producer Charles Floyd Johnson had already indicated that McCallum was not expected to play a significant role in Season 21.
Explaining that the 90-year-old actor resided in New York and found it increasingly challenging to participate in extended shoots, Johnson mentioned the possibility of a return for four or five episodes but hinted at McCallum’s readiness to retire.
Fans, still grappling with the loss, may have to accept that McCallum’s performance in the “NCIS” Season 20 finale now serves as his retrospective final appearance as Ducky. While his absence in Season 21 may be disheartening, it doesn’t diminish the lasting impact McCallum had on “NCIS,” with Johnson praising him as “amazing from the day he came on.”
As the show moves forward, McCallum’s legacy as Ducky will undoubtedly be remembered and celebrated by fans and the creative team alike.
