The long-running series wouldn’t exist without McCallum.
The behemoth that is NCIS is a prime example of how true it is that no series is complete without its performers. This September, the JAG spin-off will mark its 20th anniversary. It immediately established itself as a powerful force, dominating CBS’s ratings and inspiring five further spin-offs. This popularity can be largely attributed to the original, distinctive cast of NCIS and their endearing chemistry. In actuality, just one cast member—David McCallum, who passed away on Monday at the age of 90—is responsible for NCIS’ continued existence. NCIS wouldn’t exist without McCallum’s contributions, plain and simple.
How Did David McCallum Help ‘NCIS’ Get Made?
Few parts of a series are more important than correctly developing its cast. Actors must be a perfect fit for their roles, and cast chemistry should be as instantaneous as possible. After assembling their core cast of Mark Harmon, Sasha Alexander, Michael Weatherly, Pauley Perrette, Sean Murray, and David McCallum, the NCIS founders thought they had something special on their hands. However, the studio execs didn’t share their opinion. As director James Whitmore Jr. recounted to The Hollywood Reporter in an NCIS retrospective, they were hesitant to cast McCallum.
“When they cast David McCallum as Ducky, the studio said, “No way, we’re not casting this old character actor in the role,” Whitmore Jr. shared. “And Don [Bellisario] said, “If you don’t, we’re not doing the show.” He was that serious about it. The studio went with it, and of course, David McCallum is gold.”
Indeed, David McCallum was more than gold: he was lit dynamite. It’s easy to draw conclusions in retrospect but without Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard’s irreverent, witty, and amiable charm to balance Jethro Gibbs’ (Harmon) aloof cynicism and sparkle off Abby Sciuto (Perrette), NCIS would have felt sorely lacking. Ducky was part of the series’ DNA, arguably its most core emotional and entertainment-value component beyond his autopsy sessions. McCallum effortlessly stole every scene, playing off his co-stars like the seasoned professional he was. One word was all that was necessary to get people’s attention. After all, an actor’s talent does not mysteriously disappear as they get older; a “old character actor” is still an expert in their field. Don Bellisario deserves praise for seeing that McCallum was worth going to such lengths to defend. One of television’s most unstoppable franchises might have ended during pre-production without David McCallum and the part of Ducky. NCIS then returned the favor to the famed actor.
David McCallum Was a Classic TV Icon
Born in Scotland, David McCallum was a heartthrob of phenomenon proportions thanks to his role in The Man from U.N.C.L.E., which was itself a brief but intense pop culture sensation. Set during the 1960s modern day and highlighting the decade’s Cold War tensions, McCallum played secret agent Illya Kuryakin, a true international man of mystery working for the international espionage group “U.N.C.L.E.” Word-of-mouth about this serialized American cousin to James Bond and its balance between real-world solemnity and spy caper thrills made The Man from U.N.C.L.E. popular enough to draw prominent guest stars, spawn a spin-off, and inspire a 2015 film remake from director Guy Ritchie.
Much like how NCIS depended upon McCallum’s involvement, so did the character of Illya Kuryakin propel U.N.C.L.E.’s growing successes. U.N.C.L.E. was intended as a vehicle for lead actor Robert Vaughn’s Napoleon Solo, a dashingly handsome and suitably suave figure, but the Russian-born and America-loyal Illya drew the most fanfare. His sharply austere looks, inscrutable expressions, sly wit, and utterly unflappable demeanor stole the show out from under its Bond-esque lead. The series revealed nothing about Illya except his Russian heritage and that he liked jazz music, so McCallum infused his performance with ideas he had independently developed. Where Napoleon Solo was the suave charmer, Illya was the eye-catching mystery in the corner that needles the back of your mind. This was no sidekick but a character with untold depths behind those icy blue eyes. Rather than off-putting, Illya’s condescending reserve was The Man from U.N.C.L.E.’s secret weapon. McCallum’s presence gave U.N.C.L.E. a distinct edge over the rest of the espionage media boom of the 1960s; he would earn two Emmy nominations for the role. How well his go-to black turtlenecks contrasted with his bright blond hair didn’t hurt matters, either.
In fact, McCallum’s promotion to series regular likely stemmed from how the actor became an object of teenage girl affection bordering on Beatlemania levels.Illya proved to be so innocently seductive that the New York police once surreptitiously led McCallum away in a special car after an autograph signing that was so overrun by female fans that it “forc[ed] Macy’s to close off Herald Square in front of the department store.” Ilya, and consequently McCallum, are remembered by the mother of this writer as a passionate childhood crush and a very influential time in her life. It’s reasonable to suppose that McCallum helped NCIS’ ratings in some way by attracting the audience who grew up seeing him save the world every week while doing so flawlessly.
David McCallum’s Contributions to TV Are Bigger Than You Think
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. was canceled by NBC after four seasons. David McCallum contributed his equally moody and passionate talents to a number of well-liked shows after appearing in character-driven cinema dramas including A Night to Remember, Steve McQueen’s The Great Escape, and The Greatest Story Ever Told. He co-starred in legendary masterpieces including the British sci-fi masterpiece Sapphire and Steel and appeared as a guest star in everything from Babylon 5 to Murder, She Wrote.
That said, NCIS undoubtedly gifted McCallum with a career renaissance. Initially drawn to music, McCallum continued acting almost up until his death and, according to his son Peter McCallum, “could actually perform an autopsy” thanks to his years of dedicated study. McCallum told Variety in 2012 that “I’m doing [acting still] because I absolutely love what I’m doing. I’m doing what I was born to do. And I’ve done it when I joined Equity in 1946. And it’s wonderful to have this show and this character at this point in my career.”
That energy extends to his NCIS co-stars, who unanimously remember his exuberance, professionalism, and kindness. As Mark Harmon told TVLine, “I was in awe when I first met him and all of us on the show were honored to have toed a mark opposite him.” Brian Dietzen, one of McCallum’s direct co-stars, described him on Instagram as “a joy to work with. Always had a smile. Always had something new to add to the page, and ALWAYS had the ability to steal every scene he was in…he was always up for an adventure. The guy could do anything.”
After four seasons, NBC decided to cancel The Man from U.N.C.L.E. After appearing in character-driven films like A Night to Remember, Steve McQueen’s The Great Escape, and The Greatest Story Ever Told, David McCallum contributed his equally moody and passionate talents to a number of well-liked shows. He appeared as a guest star on everything from Babylon 5 to Murder, She Wrote, and he co-starred in legendary masterpieces including the British sci-fi masterpiece Sapphire and Steel.