Legendary Actor David McCallum, Known for NCIS and The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Passes Away at 90
David McCallum was a Scottish-American actor and musician who had a long and successful career in television and film. He was best known for his roles as Illya Kuryakin in The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard in NCIS. He died at the age of 90 on September 25, 2023, in New York City. He is survived by his wife, four children, six grandchildren, and millions of fans around the world. He was a gentleman, a legend, and a source of joy and entertainment for many generations.
What Was the Caused of David McCallum's Death?
David McCallum, the legendary actor who starred in The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and NCIS, died of natural causes on September 25, 2023. He was 90 years old and had celebrated his birthday a week before his death. He passed away peacefully in his sleep in his home in New York City.
David Mccallum died at the age of 90 on September 25, 2023. McCallum is remembered as a gentleman and a versatile performer by his family, friends, and fans. He had a long and successful career in television and film, spanning seven decades and earning him many awards and honors. He was also a musician and a philanthropist who supported various causes.
Early Life & Career
David Keith McCallum’s parents were both musicians who played the violin and the cello. He was born in Glasgow in 1933 and moved to London with his family when he was 3 years old. There, his father joined the London Philharmonic and Royal Philharmonic orchestras. Young David learned to play the oboe at the Royal Academy of Music.
His acting career started in 1947 when he did boy voices for BBC Radio and he appeared in minor roles in British films from the late 1950s. He played a royal who died young in his first acting role in Whom the Gods Love, Die Young. The actor starred as Lt. Wyatt in Billy Budd (1962), which was a critically acclaimed performance. He had made almost a dozen movies in the United Kingdom before that.
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
In 1964, McCallum moved to Hollywood to star as Illya Kuryakin, a Russian secret agent working for the United Network Command for Law and Enforcement (U.N.C.L.E.), alongside Robert Vaughn’s Napoleon Solo, in the hit television series The Man from U.N.C.L.E. The show was a huge success, running for four seasons and spawning eight feature films.
David Mccallum was a Scottish actor and musician. McCallum’s character became a pop culture icon, especially among young women who admired his blond hair, blue eyes, and cool demeanor. He received more fan mail than any other actor in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s history, including such popular MGM stars as Clark Gable and Elvis Presley.
Other Roles & Projects
McCallum kept working in TV and film after The Man from U.N.C.L.E. finished in 1968, starring in shows like Colditz (1972–1974), Sapphire & Steel (1979–1982), The A-Team (1983), and JAG (1995–2005). He also followed his passion for music, making four albums of instrumental music and working with musicians such as Brian Wilson and Nancy Sinatra.
Not only that, he started playing Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard, the quirky medical examiner and friend of Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon), on the CBS series NCIS in 2003. He stayed on the show until 2023, its 20th season, and became one of the longest-serving cast members of any television drama. McCallum earned several awards for his role, including a TV Land Award for Favorite Crimestopper Duo (with Mark) in 2010.
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Inside His Personal Life
McCallum was married twice. His first wife was Jill Ireland, an actress he met on the set of Hell Drivers (1957). They had three sons together: Paul McCallum, Jason McCallum (who was adopted and died from a drug overdose in 1989), and Val McCallum. He introduced Ireland to Charles Bronson in 1963 when they were both working on The Great Escape (1963). She left him and married Bronson later that year.
David McCallum was pictured alongside his wife, Katherine Carpenter. The late actor and musician wed his second wife, Katherine Carpenter, in 1967. They had a son and a daughter: Peter McCallum and Sophie McCallum. McCallum and his wife supported charities that helped the United States Marine Corps: Katherine’s father was a Marine who fought in the Battle of Iwo Jima, and her brother died in the Vietnam War.
David McCallum's Legacy
David McCallumcolleagues and fans admired and loved McCallum for his kindness, humor, talent, and professionalism. In 2016, he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Queen Elizabeth II also awarded him an Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2019 for his drama contributions.
McCallum's legacy will endure as that of one of the most versatile and long-lasting actors of his generation, having brought joy and entertainment to countless individuals worldwide through his unforgettable performances. The emptiness left by his absence will be profoundly experienced by all who were fortunate enough to have shared moments with him.
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