David Keith McCallum was a Scottish actor and musician known for his diverse roles in television and film. He rose to fame in the 1960s as secret agent Illya Kuryakin in 'The Man from U.N.C.L.E.' Other significant TV roles include Simon Carter in 'Colditz' and Steel in 'Sapphire & Steel.' From 2003, he gained renewed fame as Dr. Donald 'Ducky' Mallard in 'NCIS,' a role he played for 20 seasons until his death. His notable film appearances include 'The Great Escape' and as Judas Iscariot in 'The Greatest Story Ever Told.'
September 1933: Birth of David McCallum
David Keith McCallum was born on 19 September 1933 in Glasgow, marking the beginning of the life of the renowned Scottish actor and musician.
September 1933: Birth of David McCallum
David Keith McCallum was born on 19 September 1933 in Glasgow, the second son of an orchestral violinist and a cellist.
1946: BBC Radio Repertory Company
At the age of 13 in 1946, David McCallum began doing boy voices for the BBC radio repertory company, marking an early start to his career in entertainment.
1946: Equity Card Acquisition
David McCallum stated that he had actually held his Equity card since 1946, marking the official start of his professional acting career.
1947: BBC Radio Debut
David McCallum began his acting career in 1947 by doing boy voices for BBC Radio.
1951: Assistant Stage Manager Role
In 1951, David McCallum became the assistant stage manager of the Glyndebourne Opera Company, marking an early role in his career.
March 1954: Promotion to Lieutenant
In March 1954, David McCallum was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in the British Army's 3rd Battalion the Middlesex Regiment.
1956: Signed by Rank Organisation
In 1956, a James Dean-themed photograph of David McCallum caught the attention of the Rank Organisation, leading to his signing.
May 1957: Marriage to Jill Ireland
On 11 May 1957, David McCallum married actress Jill Ireland in London. They met during the production of the film Hell Drivers.
1957: Role in Robbery Under Arms
David McCallum played an outlaw in the film 'Robbery Under Arms' in 1957, contributing to his early film career.
1958: Small role in Titanic film
In 1958, David McCallum had a small role in the film A Night to Remember, which was his first project about the Titanic.
1958: Roles in A Night to Remember and Violent Playground
In 1958, David McCallum played junior RMS Titanic radio operator Harold Bride in 'A Night to Remember' and a juvenile delinquent in 'Violent Playground'.
1962: First American Film Role
David McCallum's first American film role was in 'Freud: The Secret Passion' in 1962, directed by John Huston.
1963: Role in The Great Escape
David McCallum appeared in the film 'The Great Escape' in 1963, portraying Lt. Cmdr. Eric Ashley-Pitt.
1963: Role in The Great Escape
In 1963, David McCallum played Lt. Cmdr. Eric Ashley-Pitt in the film 'The Great Escape', one of his notable early film roles.
1964: Appearance on Perry Mason
David McCallum made a guest appearance on 'Perry Mason' in 1964, playing defendant Phillipe Bertain in 'The Case of the Fifty Millionth Frenchman'.
1964: Emmy Award Nominations
David McCallum received two Emmy Award nominations during the run of 'The Man from U.N.C.L.E.' from 1964 to 1968 for his role as Illya Kuryakin.
1965: Met Katherine Carpenter
In 1965, David McCallum met Katherine Carpenter at a photo shoot for Glamour magazine.
1965: Role as Judas Iscariot
David McCallum took on the role of Judas Iscariot in the film 'The Greatest Story Ever Told' in 1965.
1965: Role as Judas Iscariot
David McCallum played Judas Iscariot in the film 'The Greatest Story Ever Told' in 1965.
April 1966: Single reached UK chart
In April 1966, David McCallum's single "Communication" reached No. 32 in the UK Singles Chart.
1966: First two albums released
In 1966, David McCallum released his first two albums, Music...A Part of Me and Music...A Bit More of Me, through Capitol Records.
1966: Fan Frenzy for Illya Kuryakin
In 1966, David McCallum's portrayal of Illya Kuryakin on 'The Man from U.N.C.L.E.' sparked a Beatles-like frenzy among fans, leading to a pirate radio hit record 'Love Ya, Illya'.
February 1967: Divorce from Jill Ireland
In February 1967, David McCallum's marriage to Jill Ireland legally ended after a separation of approximately two years.
September 1967: Marriage to Katherine Carpenter
On 16 September 1967, David McCallum married fashion model-turned-interior designer Katherine Carpenter in Valley Stream, New York.
1967: Third album released
In 1967, David McCallum released his third album, Music...It's Happening Now!, on Capitol Records.
1968: End of The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
The television series 'The Man from U.N.C.L.E.', in which David McCallum played Illya Kuryakin, concluded in 1968.
1968: Fourth album released
In 1968, David McCallum released his fourth and final album with Capitol Records, titled McCallum.
1968: Role in Sol Madrid
David McCallum played the title role in the 1968 thriller 'Sol Madrid', marking a significant performance in his film career.
1972: Role in Colditz
David McCallum started his role as Simon Carter in the television series 'Colditz' in 1972.
1972: Role as Simon Carter in Colditz
In 1972, David McCallum began his notable role as Simon Carter in the television series 'Colditz', further cementing his reputation in television acting.
1973: Recorded H. P. Lovecraft tale
In 1973, David McCallum recorded "The Rats in the Walls," a tale by H. P. Lovecraft, for Caedmon Records.
1974: End of Colditz
The television series 'Colditz', featuring David McCallum as Simon Carter, ended in 1974.
1974: End of Colditz Series
The television series 'Colditz', in which David McCallum played Simon Carter, concluded in 1974.
1975: Role in The Invisible Man
David McCallum played the title character in the U.S. television series 'The Invisible Man' in 1975.
1975: Role in The Invisible Man
In 1975, David McCallum played the role of scientist Daniel Westin in the television series 'The Invisible Man'.
1976: Recorded another Lovecraft tale
In 1976, David McCallum recorded a "slightly abridged" version of "The Dunwich Horror" by H. P. Lovecraft for Caedmon Records.
1978: Role in Kidnapped
In 1978, David McCallum appeared in the British television series 'Kidnapped'.
1979: Role in Sapphire & Steel
David McCallum began his role as Steel in the ITV science-fiction series 'Sapphire & Steel' in 1979.
1979: Role in Sapphire & Steel
David McCallum took on the role of Steel in the television series 'Sapphire & Steel' in 1979, showcasing his versatility as an actor.
1979: Final Lovecraft tale recorded
In 1979, David McCallum recorded "The Haunter of the Dark," another tale by H. P. Lovecraft, for Caedmon Records.
1982: End of Sapphire & Steel
The television series 'Sapphire & Steel', featuring David McCallum as Steel, concluded in 1982.
1982: End of Sapphire & Steel
The television series 'Sapphire & Steel', featuring David McCallum as Steel, ended in 1982 after a successful run.
1983: Return of the Man from U.N.C.L.E.
In 1983, David McCallum and Robert Vaughn reprised their roles as Illya Kuryakin and Napoleon Solo in the television film 'Return of the Man from U.N.C.L.E.'.
1986: Reunion in The A-Team
In 1986, David McCallum reunited with Robert Vaughn in an episode of 'The A-Team' titled 'The Say U.N.C.L.E. Affair', featuring numerous references to 'The Man from U.N.C.L.E.'.
1987: Stage Performance in Australia
David McCallum appeared on stage in Australia in the play 'Run for Your Wife' from 1987 to 1988, touring the country with other cast members such as Jack Smethurst, Eric Sykes, and Katy Manning.
1988: Stage Performance in Australia
David McCallum continued his stage performance in Australia for 'Run for Your Wife' into 1988.
1989: McCallum starred in miniseries and TV episode
In 1989, David McCallum starred alongside Diana Rigg in the TV miniseries Mother Love and appeared as an English literature teacher in an episode of Murder, She Wrote.
1989: Death of adopted son Jason
In 1989, David McCallum's adopted son Jason died from an accidental drug overdose.
1991: McCallum played gambler in TV series
In 1991, David McCallum played the role of gambler John Grey, one of the principal characters in the television series Trainer.
1992: Continuation of role in TV series Trainer
In 1992, David McCallum continued his role as gambler John Grey in the television series Trainer.
1994: Narration of Titanic documentaries
In 1994, David McCallum narrated the acclaimed documentaries Titanic: The Complete Story for A&E Networks.
1998: Interview on The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
In a 1998 interview, David McCallum recalled his experience playing Illya Kuryakin on 'The Man from U.N.C.L.E.', discussing his initial perception of the character and his rise to co-star status.
August 1999: Naturalized as U.S. citizen
On 27 August 1999, David McCallum was naturalized as a United States citizen.
2002: Val McCallum's career highlight
In 2002, David McCallum's son Val McCallum began playing on and off with Jackson Browne, marking a significant point in his music career.
2003: Starring role in NCIS
Beginning in 2003, David McCallum starred in the CBS television series NCIS as Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard, the team's chief medical examiner.
2003: Role in NCIS
In 2003, David McCallum began his role as Dr. Donald 'Ducky' Mallard in the American television series 'NCIS', which he played for 20 seasons.
May 2005: James Earl Ash Lecture
On 19 May 2005, David McCallum appeared at the 21st Annual James Earl Ash Lecture, presenting "Reel to Real Forensics" alongside Cmdr. Craig T. Mallak, comparing real-life forensic work with that on NCIS.
2006: Expert in forensics for NCIS
In 2006, according to a behind-the-scenes feature on the NCIS Season 1 DVD, David McCallum became an expert in forensics to play Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard, attending medical examiner conventions and potentially becoming a technical adviser for the show.
2008: Music featured in Grand Theft Auto IV
In 2008, David McCallum's piece "The Edge" was featured on the soundtrack of the video game Grand Theft Auto IV.
November 2010: Interview with Alan Titchmarsh
In an interview with Alan Titchmarsh broadcast on 3 November 2010, David McCallum revealed that he had held his Equity card since 1946.
2011: Val McCallum's collaboration with Lucinda Williams
From 2011 to 2016, Val McCallum, David McCallum's son, played with Lucinda Williams, continuing his musical career.
April 2012: Contract extension with NCIS
In late April 2012, it was announced that David McCallum had reached an agreement on a two-year contract extension with CBS-TV for his role in NCIS, ensuring he would remain on the show past his eightieth birthday.
May 2014: Further NCIS contract extension
In May 2014, David McCallum signed another two-year contract extension with CBS-TV for his role in NCIS.
2016: Published crime novel
In 2016, David McCallum published a crime novel entitled Once a Crooked Man, set in New York and London, centered on a young actor trying to foil a murder.
2016: Limited schedule on NCIS
In 2016, David McCallum signed an extension for NCIS, beginning a limited schedule in 2017 and thereafter renewing his contract on a seasonal basis.
2017: Music featured in Baby Driver
In 2017, David McCallum's piece "The Edge" was featured on the soundtrack of the film Baby Driver.
2017: NCIS contract renewal
Starting in 2017, David McCallum renewed his contract for NCIS for each season separately, continuing his long-standing role on the show.
2021: Last remaining original NCIS cast member
With Mark Harmon's departure from NCIS in the fall of 2021, David McCallum became the last remaining member of the original cast until his death in 2023.
September 2023: Death of David McCallum
David McCallum died at the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in New York City on 25 September 2023, six days after his 90th birthday.
September 2023: Death of David McCallum
David McCallum passed away on 25 September 2023, bringing an end to the illustrious career of the actor known for his roles in 'The Man from U.N.C.L.E.' and 'NCIS'.
2023: Death of David McCallum
In 2023, David McCallum passed away, marking the end of his tenure as the last remaining original NCIS cast member.
February 2024: NCIS tribute episode
On 12 February 2024, NCIS aired a tribute episode dedicated to David McCallum, and the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation set up donations in his name.