David McCallum’s Journey to NCIS: The Untold Story of How Ducky Almost Didn’t Happen
David McCallum, the cherished Scottish actor who played Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard on NCIS, was almost never cast on the show. Despite being a cornerstone of the series from its backdoor pilot until his passing in 2023, studio executives were initially opposed to McCallum’s casting.
Former NCIS director James Whitmore Jr revealed that producer Don Bellisario was so determined to cast McCallum that he issued an ultimatum: no McCallum, no NCIS. “The studio said, ‘No way, we’re not casting this old character actor,’” Whitmore recalled. “Don told them, ‘If you don’t, we’re not doing the show.’ He was that serious.”
Peter Golden, the former head of CBS casting, speculated that the resistance may have stemmed from McCallum’s nationality. “I think it was because David McCallum was British. The feeling was, ‘Can you do that? This is such an American show.’”
McCallum himself remembered the moment he got the role with characteristic humor. After being invited to audition by casting director Bonnie Timmermann, he met Bellisario. “Don came out, put his arm around me, and said, ‘David,’” McCallum recounted. “I realized I might have the charm.” He learned he’d landed the part while fixing a flat tire in Los Angeles, joking, “Well, I guess I’ll go get a car that works.”
McCallum’s portrayal of Ducky made him a fan favorite and a beloved figure among the cast and crew. After his death in 2023, NCIS honored him with a poignant episode titled The Stories We Leave Behind, which revisited one of Ducky’s unsolved cases.
Executive producers Steven D. Binder and David North shared heartfelt tributes to McCallum, saying, “For over 20 years, David McCallum endeared himself to audiences around the world playing 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 and a gentleman, always gracious, a consummate professional, and never one to pass up a joke.”
McCallum’s legacy as Ducky will remain a treasured part of NCIS history, a testament to the charm and talent that Bellisario fought so hard to bring to the screen.
