How David McCallum Almost Missed Out on Becoming NCIS’s Beloved Ducky
Fans of NCIS fell in love with David McCallum as Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard, the quirky and wise chief medical examiner who joined the series from its backdoor pilot and remained a beloved fixture until his death in 2023. However, McCallum’s journey to the role was far from smooth, as studio bosses initially opposed his casting.
Former NCIS director James Whitmore Jr revealed that producer Don Bellisario had to fight for McCallum, threatening to cancel the show when the studio pushed back. “When they cast David as Ducky, the studio said, ‘No way, we’re not casting this old character actor.’ Don told them, ‘If you don’t, we’re not doing the show.’ He was that serious. And of course, David McCallum is gold,” Whitmore shared in a Hollywood Reporter interview.
Peter Golden, CBS’s former head of casting, speculated that the studio’s hesitation stemmed from McCallum’s British background, given the show’s American identity. Despite this, McCallum impressed Don Bellisario and the casting team, winning the role after multiple auditions. Reflecting on the experience, McCallum recounted the moment Bellisario embraced him and said, “David…” – a sign that he’d landed the part.
McCallum learned he got the job while fixing a flat tire in Los Angeles, joking, “Well then, I’m going to go get a car that works.”
After his passing in 2023, NCIS honored McCallum and his character with a poignant episode titled The Stories We Leave Behind, which revisited one of Ducky’s unresolved cases.
Executive producers Steven D. Binder and David North paid tribute to McCallum, stating, “For over 20 years, David McCallum endeared himself to audiences around the world as Dr. Donald ‘Ducky’ Mallard. As much as his fans loved him, those who worked alongside him adored him even more. He was a scholar, a gentleman, and a consummate professional.”
