NCIS reveals synopsis for late actor David McCallum’s tribute episode as his Ducky character will ‘solve one last crime with the team’
- Writers for the long-running CBS series have revealed details about McCallum’s tribute episode airing February 19
- McCallum had just turned 90, six days before he died of natural causes in September
- The actor played Dr. Donald ‘Ducky’ Mallard in more than 450 episodes of all 20 seasons of the long-running series
NCIS writers revealed how the beloved CBS show will pay tribute to late actor David McCallum in the upcoming season.
McCallum – who died of natural causes in September at the age of 90 – played Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard appeared in more than 450 episodes across all twenty seasons of the long-running series.
Season 21 kicks off on February 12, with a special tribute dedicated to Ducky airing during the second episode on February 19.
On Thursday, CBS released the episode’s official synopsis, which read: “As NCIS mourns the loss of Ducky, the agents find solace in working on one of its unfinished cases involving a woman whose father was dishonorably discharged from the Marines.” ‘
The network also released a gallery of photos from the episode.
NCIS writers revealed how the beloved CBS show will pay tribute to late actor David McCallum in the upcoming season
McCallum – who died of natural causes in September at the age of 90 – played Dr. Donald ‘Ducky’ Mallard in more than 450 episodes spanning all 20 seasons of the long-running series
In December, showrunners Steven D Binder and David North announced TV line: ‘Everyone at NCIS felt it was important to create an episode that honors such a legendary actor, not to mention a dear friend.’
“In the episode, the team learns about Ducky’s passing and reflects on their memories of him as they grieve,” she added.
“And true to Ducky’s meticulous and compassionate nature, even after he’s gone, he still manages to solve one last crime with the team,” they teased.
They also added that actor Brian Dietzen, who plays Ducky’s protege Jimmy Palmer in the series, is writing the episode with executive producer Scott Williams.
The showrunners wouldn’t confirm any surprise cameos for the episode, though they did tease, “There will also be a very touching and special moment that you won’t want to miss.”
The showrunners also released a moving statement following the beloved actor’s death in September.
‘For more than twenty years, David McCallum endeared himself to audiences around the world as the wise, idiosyncratic and sometimes enigmatic Dr. to play Donald “Ducky” Mallard,” they began.
“But as much as his fans loved him, those who worked side by side with David loved him even more,” she added.
Season 21 kicks off on February 12, with a special tribute dedicated to Ducky during the second episode on February 19.
On Thursday, CBS revealed the episode’s official synopsis, which read: “As NCIS mourns the loss of Ducky, the agents find solace in working on one of its unfinished cases involving a woman whose father was dishonorably discharged from the Marines.” ‘
The network also released a gallery of photos from the episode
In December, showrunners Steven D Binder and David North revealed to TV Line: ‘Everyone at NCIS felt it was important to create an episode that honors such a legendary actor, not to mention a dear friend’
‘From day 1 it has been an honor to work with him and he has never let us down. He was simply a legend,” they concluded.
Longtime NCIS star Mark Harmon added in a statement in September: “David has lived an amazing, full and long life. I was in awe when I first met him and all of us at the show were honored to have made a point against him. My condolences go out to Katherine and his family.”
McCallum’s career spans decades. Even before he won hearts as Ducky, he made an impression in 1961 with the role of Illya Kuryakin in the TV series The Man from UNCLE.