David McCallum
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.
Acted in
NCISverse: The First 1,000
2024
as Self
Charles Bronson: The Spirit of Masculinity
2020
as Self (archive footage)
Batman vs. Robin
2015
as Alfred Pennyworth (voice)
NCIS: New Orleans
2014
as Donald Mallard
Son of Batman
2014
as Alfred Pennyworth (voice)
The Problem Solverz
2011
Ben 10: Ultimate Alien
2010
as Professor Paradox (voice)
Wonder Woman
2009
as Zeus (voice)
Batman: The Brave and the Bold
2008
as Merlin (voice)
Batman: Gotham Knight
2008
as Alfred Pennyworth (voice)
The Replacements
2006
as C.A.R. (voice)
Doctor Who: Origins
2006
as Self (archive footage)
NCIS
2003
as Dr. Donald 'Ducky' Mallard
Swindle
2002
as Eddie
The Education of Max Bickford
2001
Deadline
2000
Cherry
1999
as Mammy
Television: The First Fifty Years
1999
as Illya Kuryakin (archive footage)
The Titanic Chronicles
1999
as Host
Beyond Titanic
1998
as Self
Sex and the City
1998
as Duncan
March in Windy City
1998
as Daniel Paterson / Dimitri Petrovsky
Coming Home
1998
as Billy Fawcett
Death Game
1996
as Malius
JAG
1995
as Donald Mallard
The Outer Limits
1995
as Joshua Hayward
VR.5
1995
as Dr. Joseph Bloom
Ancient Prophecies II: Countdown to Doomsday
1994
as Self
Titanic: The Complete Story
1994
as Narrator (voice)
Titanic
1994
as Narrator
Ancient Prophecies
1994
as Self
Babylon 5
1994
as Dr. Vance Hendricks
Return to 'The Great Escape'
1993
as Self
Dirty Weekend
1993
as Reggie
seaQuest DSV
1993
as Frank Cobb
Heartbeat
1992
as Cooper
Hear My Song
1991
as Jim Abbott
Fatal Inheritance
1991
as Brandon Murphy
Lucky Chances
1990
as Bernard Dimes
Law & Order
1990
as Craig Holland
Cluedo
1990
as Professor Plum
The Haunting of Morella
1990
as Gideon Locke
The Return of Sam McCloud
1989
as Inspector Craig
Mother Love
1989
as Alex Vesey
Father Dowling Mysteries
1989
as Sir Robert
The Man Who Lived at the Ritz
1988
as Charlie Ritz
Monsters
1988
as The Feverman
Wall of Tyranny
1988
as Sgt. Kemper
The Wind
1986
as John
Matlock
1986
as Philip Dudley
92 Grosvenor Street
1985
The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents
1985
as Lieutenant Cavanaugh
Terminal Choice
1985
as Dr. Giles Dodson
The Corvini Inheritance
1984
as Frank Lane
Murder, She Wrote
1984
as Cyril Grantham
Murder, She Wrote
1984
as Drew Garrison
Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense
1984
as Frank Lane
Master Ninja II
1984
as Castile
The Return of the Man from U.N.C.L.E.: The Fifteen Years Later Affair
1983
as Illya Kuryakin
The A-Team
1983
as Ivan Tregorin
The Watcher in the Woods
1980
as Paul Curtis
Hart to Hart
1979
as Geoffrey Atterton
Sapphire & Steel
1979
as Steel
King Solomon's Treasure
1979
as Sir Henry Curtis
Kidnapped
1978
as Alan Breck Stewart
Dogs
1976
as Harlan Thompson
The Kingfisher Caper
1975
as Benedict Van Der Byl
The Invisible Man
1975
as Dr. Daniel Westin
The Invisible Man
1975
as Dr. Daniel Westin
Frankenstein: The True Story
1974
as Dr. Clervall
Frankenstein: The True Story
1973
as Dr. Henri Clerval
The Six Million Dollar Man: Wine, Women and War
1973
as Alexi Kaslov
The Screaming Skull
1973
as Luke
Colditz
1972
as Flt. Lt. Simon Carter
She Waits
1972
as Mark Wilson
Night Gallery
1970
as Dr. Joel Winter
Hauser's Memory
1970
as Hillel Mondoro
The File on Devlin
1969
as Kenneth Canfield
The Ravine
1969
as Sergeant Stephen Holmann
Marcus Welby, M.D.
1969
as Brian Kenny
Mosquito Squadron
1969
as Quint Monroe
Teacher, Teacher
1969
as Hamilton Cade
How to Steal the World
1968
as Illya Kuryakin
The Helicopter Spies
1968
as Illya Kuryakin
Sol Madrid
1968
as Sol Madrid
Three Bites of the Apple
1967
as Stanley Thrumm
Casino Royale
1967
as Casino Patron (uncredited)
The Karate Killers
1967
as Illya Kuryakin
The Spy in the Green Hat
1967
as Illya Kuryakin
Italy's in Season
1967
as Self
One of Our Spies Is Missing
1966
as Illya Kuryakin
One Spy Too Many
1966
as Illya Kuryakin
Around the World Under the Sea
1966
as Dr. Philip Volker
The Big T.N.T. Show
1965
as Self - Host
Please Don't Eat the Daisies
1965
as Illya Kuryakin
The Spy with My Face
1965
as Illya Kuryakin
The Greatest Story Ever Told
1965
as Judas Iskarioth
Profiles in Courage
1964
as John Adams
Vergißmeinnicht
1964
as Self
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
1964
as Illya Kuryakin
The Unknown
1964
as Tone Hobart
To Trap a Spy
1964
as Illya Kuryakin
The Great Adventure
1963
as Capt. Hanning
The Outer Limits
1963
as Gwyllm Griffiths
The Outer Limits
1963
as Tone Hobart
The Great Escape
1963
as Ashley-Pitt 'Dispersal'
Freud: The Secret Passion
1962
as Carl von Schlossen
Billy Budd
1962
as Steven Wyatt, Gunnery Officer
Wuthering Heights
1962
as Edgar
Sir Francis Drake
1961
as Lord Oakeshott
The Long and the Short and the Tall
1961
as Pvt. Sammy Whitaker
Caroline of Rijeka
1961
as Mr. George
Emma
1960
as Frank Churchill
Jungle Street
1960
as Terry Collins
The Skin of Our Teeth
1959
as Henry
Our Mutual Friend
1958
as Eugene Wrayburn
A Night to Remember
1958
as Assistant Wireless Operator Harold Bride
Violent Playground
1958
as Johnnie Murphy
Perry Mason
1957
as Phillipe Bertain
Hell Drivers
1957
as Jimmy Yately, Tom's brother
These Dangerous Years
1957
The Secret Place
1957
as Mike Wilson
Ill Met by Moonlight
1957
as Sailor on Pick Up Ship (uncredited bit)
Robbery Under Arms
1957
as Jim Marston
Armchair Theatre
1956
as Jimmy MacGrath
Armchair Theatre
1956
as Narrator
Hallmark Hall of Fame
1951
as Hamilton Cade
Hallmark Hall of Fame
1951
as Kenneth Canfield
Ancient Prophecies III: New Visions of the Future
as Self