David McCallum
Born
September 19, 1933
Died
September 25, 2023 (90 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Glasgow, Scotland, UK
David McCallum (September 19, 1933 - September 25, 2023) was a Scottish actor and musician. He gained wide recognition in the 1960s for playing secret agent Illya Kuryakin in the television series The Man from U.N.C.L.E. His other notable television roles include Carter in Colditz (1972–1974) and Steel in Sapphire & Steel (1979–1982). Beginning in 2003, McCallum gained renewed international popularity for his role as NCIS medical examiner Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard in the American television series NCIS. On film, McCallum notably appeared in The Great Escape (1963).
He was born in Glasgow, Scotland, to David McCallum Sr., an orchestral violinist, and Dorothy (née Dorman), a cellist. He began his acting career in the early 1950s, appearing in British television shows and films. In 1957, he moved to Hollywood to pursue a career in American cinema.
His breakthrough role came in 1964 when he was cast as Illya Kuryakin in The Man from U.N.C.L.E. The show was a huge success, and he became an international star. After the show ended in 1968, he continued to act in films and television shows, but he never achieved the same level of success.
In 2003, he was cast as Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard in NCIS. The show was a critical and commercial success, and McCallum became one of the most popular members of the cast. He remained with the show for a 20-year run, and became the longest-serving cast member.
In addition to his acting career, he was also a musician. He has released several albums of folk and pop music, and he also toured extensively.
NCISverse: The First 1,000
Self
2024
Batman vs. Robin
Alfred Pennyworth (voice)
2015
Son of Batman
Alfred Pennyworth (voice)
2014
Wonder Woman
Zeus (voice)
2009
Batman: Gotham Knight
Alfred Pennyworth (voice)
2008
Doctor Who: Origins
Self (archive footage)
2006
Swindle
Eddie
2002
Cherry
Mammy
1999
Television: The First Fifty Years
Illya Kuryakin (archive footage)
1999
March in Windy City
Daniel Paterson / Dimitri Petrovsky
1998
Death Game
Malius
1996
Ancient Prophecies II: Countdown to Doomsday
Self
1994
Titanic: The Complete Story
Narrator (voice)
1994
Ancient Prophecies
Self
1994
Return to 'The Great Escape'
Self
1993
Dirty Weekend
Reggie
1993
Hear My Song
Jim Abbott
1991
Fatal Inheritance
Brandon Murphy
1991
The Haunting of Morella
Gideon Locke
1990
The Return of Sam McCloud
Inspector Craig
1989
The Man Who Lived at the Ritz
Charlie Ritz
1988
The Wind
John
1986
92 Grosvenor Street
1985
Terminal Choice
Dr. Giles Dodson
1985
The Corvini Inheritance
Frank Lane
1984
Master Ninja II
Castile
1984
The Return of the Man from U.N.C.L.E.: The Fifteen Years Later Affair
Illya Kuryakin
1983
The Watcher in the Woods
Paul Curtis
1980
King Solomon's Treasure
Sir Henry Curtis
1979
Dogs
Harlan Thompson
1976
The Kingfisher Caper
Benedict Van Der Byl
1975
Frankenstein: The True Story
Dr. Clervall
1974
The Six Million Dollar Man: Wine, Women and War
Alexi Kaslov
1973
The Screaming Skull
Luke
1973
She Waits
Mark Wilson
1972
Hauser's Memory
Hillel Mondoro
1970
The File on Devlin
Kenneth Canfield
1969
The Ravine
Sergeant Stephen Holmann
1969
Mosquito Squadron
Quint Monroe
1969
Teacher, Teacher
Hamilton Cade
1969
How to Steal the World
Illya Kuryakin
1968
The Helicopter Spies
Illya Kuryakin
1968
Sol Madrid
Sol Madrid
1968
Three Bites of the Apple
Stanley Thrumm
1967
The Karate Killers
Illya Kuryakin
1967
The Spy in the Green Hat
Illya Kuryakin
1967
One of Our Spies Is Missing
Illya Kuryakin
1966
One Spy Too Many
Illya Kuryakin
1966
Around the World Under the Sea
Dr. Philip Volker
1966
The Big T.N.T. Show
Self - Host
1965
The Spy with My Face
Illya Kuryakin
1965
The Greatest Story Ever Told
Judas Iskarioth
1965
The Unknown
Tone Hobart
1964
To Trap a Spy
Illya Kuryakin
1964
The Great Escape
Ashley-Pitt 'Dispersal'
1963
Freud: The Secret Passion
Carl von Schlossen
1962
Billy Budd
Steven Wyatt, Gunnery Officer
1962
The Long and the Short and the Tall
Pvt. Sammy Whitaker
1961
Caroline of Rijeka
Mr. George
1961
Jungle Street
Terry Collins
1960
A Night to Remember
Assistant Wireless Operator Harold Bride
1958
Violent Playground
Johnnie Murphy
1958
Hell Drivers
Jimmy Yately, Tom's brother
1957
The Secret Place
Mike Wilson
1957
Ancient Prophecies III: New Visions of the Future
Self
Charles Bronson: The Spirit of Masculinity
Self (archive footage)
2020
NCIS: New Orleans
Donald Mallard · (2 episodes)
2014
The Problem Solverz
(26 episodes)
2011
Ben 10: Ultimate Alien
Professor Paradox (voice) · (3 episodes)
2010
Batman: The Brave and the Bold
Merlin (voice) · (1 episode)
2008
The One Show
Self · (1 episode)
2006
The Replacements
C.A.R. (voice) · (75 episodes)
2006
NCIS
Dr. Donald 'Ducky' Mallard · (457 episodes)
2003
The Education of Max Bickford
(1 episode)
2001
Deadline
(1 episode)
2000
The Titanic Chronicles
Host
1999
Beyond Titanic
Self
1998
Sex and the City
Duncan · (1 episode)
1998
Coming Home
Billy Fawcett · (1 episode)
1998
JAG
Donald Mallard · (2 episodes)
1995
The Outer Limits
Joshua Hayward · (1 episode)
1995
VR.5
Dr. Joseph Bloom · (5 episodes)
1995
Healer
The Jackal
1994
Titanic
Narrator · (4 episodes)
1994
Babylon 5
Dr. Vance Hendricks · (1 episode)
1994
seaQuest DSV
Frank Cobb · (1 episode)
1993
Heartbeat
Cooper · (1 episode)
1992
Lucky Chances
Bernard Dimes · (3 episodes)
1990
Law & Order
Craig Holland · (1 episode)
1990
Cluedo
Professor Plum · (6 episodes)
1990
Mother Love
Alex Vesey · (4 episodes)
1989
Father Dowling Mysteries
Sir Robert · (1 episode)
1989
Monsters
The Feverman · (1 episode)
1988
Wall of Tyranny
Sgt. Kemper
1988
Matlock
Philip Dudley · (2 episodes)
1986
The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Lieutenant Cavanaugh · (1 episode)
1985
Murder, She Wrote
Cyril Grantham · (1 episode)
1984
Murder, She Wrote
Drew Garrison · (1 episode)
1984
Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense
Frank Lane · (1 episode)
1984
The A-Team
Ivan Tregorin · (1 episode)
1983
Wogan
Self · (1 episode)
1982
Hart to Hart
Geoffrey Atterton · (1 episode)
1979
Sapphire & Steel
Steel · (34 episodes)
1979
Kidnapped
Alan Breck Stewart · (13 episodes)
1979
The Invisible Man
Dr. Daniel Westin
1975
The Invisible Man
Dr. Daniel Westin · (13 episodes)
1975
Frankenstein: The True Story
Dr. Henri Clerval · (2 episodes)
1973
Colditz
Flt. Lt. Simon Carter · (28 episodes)
1972
Night Gallery
Dr. Joel Winter · (1 episode)
1970
Marcus Welby, M.D.
Brian Kenny · (1 episode)
1969
Italy's in Season
Self
1967
Please Don't Eat the Daisies
Illya Kuryakin · (1 episode)
1965
Profiles in Courage
John Adams · (1 episode)
1964
Vergißmeinnicht
Self · (1 episode)
1964
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Illya Kuryakin · (105 episodes)
1964
The Great Adventure
Capt. Hanning · (2 episodes)
1963
The Outer Limits
Gwyllm Griffiths · (1 episode)
1963
The Outer Limits
Tone Hobart · (1 episode)
1963
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self · (1 episode)
1962
Wuthering Heights
Edgar
1962
The Mike Douglas Show
Self · (3 episodes)
1961
Sir Francis Drake
Lord Oakeshott · (1 episode)
1961
Emma
Frank Churchill · (6 episodes)
1960
The Skin of Our Teeth
Henry
1959
Our Mutual Friend
Eugene Wrayburn · (12 episodes)
1958
Perry Mason
Phillipe Bertain · (1 episode)
1957
These Dangerous Years
1957
Ill Met by Moonlight
Sailor on Pick Up Ship (uncredited bit)
1957
Robbery Under Arms
Jim Marston
1957
Armchair Theatre
Jimmy MacGrath · (1 episode)
1956
Armchair Theatre
Narrator · (1 episode)
1956
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Hamilton Cade · (1 episode)
1951
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Kenneth Canfield · (1 episode)
1951
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Nominee · (1 episode)
1944