David McCallum, 1933-2023

Actor David McCallum passed away today in New York of natural causes. His death comes six days after he turned 90. 

If one is a boomer, then one is likely to best remember McCallum for his portrayal of Ilya Kuryakin in the NBC TV series The Man From U.N.C.L.E. in which he co-starred with Robert Vaughn from 1964-1968. If one is a GenXer, Millennial or younger, then one is most likely to remember McCallum as Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard on the long running CBS TV series NCIS for the past 20 years. 

McCallum also had roles in movies such as The Great Escape and The Greatest Story Ever Told as well as starring in British TV series such as Colditz and Sapphire & Steel with Joanna Lumley as well as the short-lived NBC TV series The Invisible Man. Some of McCallum's other acting credits include appearances on Perry Mason, The Outer Limits, Marcus Welby: M.D., Night Gallery, Hart to Hart, Murder, She Wrote, Sex and The City and The A-Team where he reunited with Vaughn. An oboist by training, McCallum also recorded four instrumental albums for Capitol Records during the 1960's in collaboration with producer David Axelrod. One of McCallum's compositions, "The Edge" has been sampled by both Dr. Dre and John Legend.

McCallum's son Peter issued this statement:

He was the kindest, coolest, most patient and loving father. He always put family before self. He looked forward to any chance to connect with his grandchildren, and had a unique bond with each of them. He and his youngest grandson, Whit, 9, could often be found in the corner of a room at family parties having deep philosophical conversations.

He was a true renaissance man — he was fascinated by science and culture and would turn those passions into knowledge. For example, he was capable of conducting a symphony orchestra and (if needed) could actually perform an autopsy, based on his decades-long studies for his role on NCIS. 

After returning from the hospital to their apartment, I asked my mother if she was OK before she went to sleep. Her answer was simply, “Yes. But I do wish we had had a chance to grow old together.” She is 79, and dad just turned 90. The honesty in that emotion shows how vibrant their beautiful relationship and daily lives were, and that somehow, even at 90, Daddy never grew old.

Now that is a remarkable tribute for a man who lived a wonderful life, especially from McCallum's widow Katherine Carpenter. McCallum was first married to actress Jill Ireland for a decade. Shortly after divorcing Ireland in 1967, McCallum would marry Carpenter and remain married for 56 years. The fact that Carpenter told her son she wished she had grown old with him tells me they were still very much in love with each other. This cannot be said of most marriages. They were in it until death did them part. R.I.P.