Talented actor David McCallum sadly passed away this week on Monday, September 25, leaving fans of the series devastated. He was 90.
McCallum is perhaps most famously known to younger audiences for his long-running role as Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard on the smash-hit show NCIS.
Though, many won’t realize that McCallum had been a feature in show business for more than seven decades, and had acted alongside some of the greatest entertainers of all time.
Having been born in Scotland in 1933, McCallum moved to the US in 1961 to pursue his dreams of becoming a serious actor.
Becoming a household name
McCallum became a massive star and a fan favorite throughout the 1960s through his work on The Man From U.N.C.L.E, but he also managed to garner the support of a younger crowd thanks to his performance on NCIS. In 2003, he appeared on the hit show for the first time as Ducky – and he never left.
“I was working with Jim Dale on Park Avenue back in 2002 when I got a call from my agent asking me if I was interested in auditioning for the role of a lecherous doctor in a new medical drama,” McCallum recalled.
“I thought to myself, ‘Why not?’”
The rest is clearly history.
McCallum’s death was confirmed to Fox News earlier this week in a statement that revealed he passed away of natural causes at New York Presbyterian Hospital.
“David was a gifted actor and author, and beloved by many around the world. He led an incredible life, and his legacy will forever live on through his family and the countless hours on film and television that will never go away,” the statement read.
David McCallum’s great pain
Sadly, McCallum suffered a great pain that no parent should have to endure – the loss of their child.
In 1989, McCallum’s adopted son Jason – from his first marriage – was discovered lifeless at the age of 27 in his residence in Laurel Canyon. Jason’s girlfriend, Tracy Medina, made the heart-wrenching discovery as she found his body on the bathroom floor.
Despite a history of substance abuse involving heroin, cocaine, morphine, and alcohol, there were no visible signs of bodily harm or indications of foul play. A week later, the coroner’s office revealed that Jason’s death had been accidental, resulting from acute multiple drug intoxication through both ingestion and injection, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The loss of his son, Jason, is something McCallum considered the most devastating event in his life, and a topic he never liked to speak about.
However, after 21 years, he finally found the strength to open up about his feelings. He expressed deep regret for not being there for Jason during the period leading up to his death.
McCallum believed that Jason had become caught up with the wrong crowd — people involved with with the drug culture that ultimately ended his life.
After Jason’s passing, McCallum learned that his son had been about to become a father, and soon afterwards Jason’s son Tory was born.
Tory forged connections with McCallum’s other sons, and McCallum held hope that Tory would grow into a person as remarkable as Jason. Despite his profound understanding of death, McCallum has acknowledged that a person never truly comes to terms with the loss of a child — he once said “the pain is very real”.
McCallum is survived by his wife of almost 60 years, Katherine Carpenter, his five children (from a prior marriage as well as his marriage to Carpenter), and his eight grandchildren.
If you were moved by this piece, you might be interested in reading about David McCallum’s marriage to Katherine Carpenter.
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