David McCallum, the beloved Scottish actor known for his role as Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard on NCIS, almost didn’t make it onto the show. Despite becoming a fan favorite and remaining a key part of the cast until his death in 2023, studio executives initially opposed his casting.
Former NCIS director James Whitmore Jr. revealed that producer Don Bellisario was so determined to have McCallum in the role that he threatened to cancel the show if the studio blocked his casting. “When they cast David McCallum as Ducky, the studio said, ‘No way, we’re not casting this old character actor,'” Whitmore recalled. “Don said, ‘If you don’t, we’re not doing the show.'”
The studio eventually relented, and, as Whitmore put it, “David McCallum is gold.” Former CBS casting head Peter Golden suggested that the studio’s hesitation might have stemmed from McCallum’s British nationality, as the show was considered a quintessentially American series.
David himself fondly remembered the moment he landed the role. After several auditions, he met Don Bellisario, who put his arm around McCallum and said, “David…”—a moment the actor realized might have sealed his fate. McCallum humorously recalled learning he’d gotten the part while fixing a flat tire in Los Angeles, joking, “Well then, I’m gonna go get a car that works.”
After McCallum’s passing in 2023, NCIS honored him with an episode titled The Stories We Leave Behind, centered around one of Ducky’s unsolved cases as a tribute. Executive producers Steven D. Binder and David North shared heartfelt words about McCallum, saying, “For over 20 years, David McCallum endeared himself to audiences around the world as the wise, quirky, and sometimes enigmatic Dr. Donald ‘Ducky’ Mallard. As much as his fans loved him, those who worked with him loved him even more. He was a scholar, a gentleman, a consummate professional, and never one to pass up a joke.”
