David McCallum NCIS

SUMMARY

  • David McCallum stepped down from NCIS, feeling Ducky’s character was becoming redundant after nearly two decades of iconic performances.
  • The NCIS team honored Ducky by transitioning him to a historian role, keeping his presence alive with a fresh storyline.
  • Ducky’s farewell in season 21’s tribute episode was a heartfelt sendoff, honoring McCallum’s legacy with flashbacks and emotional moments.

After decades of stealing the spotlight on NCIS, David McCallum decided it was time to call it quits as Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard. The charming, bow-tie-wearing coroner had been a fan-fave, but McCallum felt like the character had run its course.

CBS StudiosDavid McCallum from NCIS | Credits: CBS Studios

While Ducky’s quirky wisdom and endless war stories brought a unique vibe to the show, it’s hard not to feel the void his exit left. 

David McCallum explains why he scaled back on his NCIS role: Ducky’s time had come

CBS StudiosDavid McCallum from NCIS | Credits: CBS Studios

After playing Ducky Mallard for nearly two decades, David McCallum knew it was time for a change. The legendary NCIS medical examiner stepped back, saying his character was becoming a little redundant.

Ducky had already passed on the chief medical examiner role to Jimmy Palmer (Brian Dietzen) back in 2018, but McCallum wasn’t ready to totally disappear. McCallum explained the change in a candid interview (per Express.co.uk): 

Now he’s retired, I sort of realised the character was becoming a little redundant… I sort of decided to leave the show, and they said, ‘No, we’d like to make you the historian so you’re still a part of the show.’

So what did the NCIS team do? They kept Ducky around as the team’s historian—still part of the squad but in a new role. McCallum said the producers were on board, offering him a new, fresh storyline. He alluded, 

Because it meant that CBS liked that I was around. So I became the historian in a great episode…And one of the things Steven Binder did, an extraordinary writer, he actually at one point had Ducky imagining his younger self.

And they even let him imagine his younger self in an epic episode, with Adam Campbell playing the younger Ducky. With Mark Harmon gone and Ducky’s role trimmed, we definitely saw some changes, but don’t count these characters out just yet. Maybe we’ll get more throwbacks to their younger days as the NCIS legacy rolls on.

The heartfelt farewell to David McCallum’s Ducky in NCIS season 21: A tribute to an iconic legacy

CBS StudiosA still from NCIS | Credits: CBS Studios

What happened to David McCallum’s Ducky on NCIS Season 21? Here’s the deal: Ducky passed away peacefully in his sleep, and fans got hit with a wave of feelings in Episode 2, The Stories We Leave Behind. 

The episode was a full-on tribute to the iconic character, with flashbacks and appearances from old crew like Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly). Jimmy Palmer (Brian Dietzen) even co-wrote the episode, making it even more personal (per Looper). 

It was a goodbye to a legend. As Dietzen said, this episode gave fans a chance to grieve together, reflecting the real-life sadness of McCallum’s passing. Heartstrings were definitely pulled.

Watch NCIS on Hulu & Apple TV.

David McCallumMark Harmon

Written by Heena Singh

Articles Published: 725

Heena Singh is a writer at FandomWire, spent the last two years making waves in entertainment journalism. With a knack for digging up blockbuster celebrity scoops and an uncanny nose for the latest buzz, Heena’s articles bring a fresh and fun perspective to life. When she’s not conquering writing challenges, you’ll find her curled up in bed, peacefully sleeping.