David McCallum
Personal Info
Known for
Acting
Gender
Male
Birthday
1933-09-19
Day of Death
2023-09-25 (90 years old)
Place of Birth
Glasgow, Scotland, UK
David McCallum
Biography
David McCallum (September 19, 1933 - September 25, 2023) was a Scottish actor and musician. He gained wide recognition in the 1960s for playing secret agent Illya Kuryakin in the television series The Man from U.N.C.L.E. His other notable television roles include Carter in Colditz (1972–1974) and Steel in Sapphire & Steel (1979–1982). Beginning in 2003, McCallum gained renewed international popularity for his role as NCIS medical examiner Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard in the American television series NCIS. On film, McCallum notably appeared in The Great Escape (1963).
He was born in Glasgow, Scotland, to David McCallum Sr., an orchestral violinist, and Dorothy (née Dorman), a cellist. He began his acting career in the early 1950s, appearing in British television shows and films. In 1957, he moved to Hollywood to pursue a career in American cinema.
His breakthrough role came in 1964 when he was cast as Illya Kuryakin in The Man from U.N.C.L.E. The show was a huge success, and he became an international star. After the show ended in 1968, he continued to act in films and television shows, but he never achieved the same level of success.
In 2003, he was cast as Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard in NCIS. The show was a critical and commercial success, and McCallum became one of the most popular members of the cast. He remained with the show for a 20-year run, and became the longest-serving cast member.
In addition to his acting career, he was also a musician. He has released several albums of folk and pop music, and he also toured extensively.
Known For
Acting
(2024)
NCISverse: The First 1,000
as Self
(2020)
Charles Bronson: The Spirit of Masculinity
as Self (archive footage)
(2015)
Batman vs. Robin
as Alfred Pennyworth (voice)
(2014)
Son of Batman
as Alfred Pennyworth (voice)
(2009)
Wonder Woman
as Zeus (voice)
(2008)
Batman: Gotham Knight
as Alfred Pennyworth (voice)
(2006)
Doctor Who: Origins
as Self (archive footage)
(2002)
Swindle
as Eddie
(1999)
Cherry
as Mammy
(1999)
Television: The First Fifty Years
as Illya Kuryakin (archive footage)
(1999)
The Titanic Chronicles
as Host
(1998)
Beyond Titanic
as Self
(1998)
March in Windy City
as Daniel Paterson / Dimitri Petrovsky
(1996)
Death Game
as Malius
(1994)
Titanic: The Complete Story
as Narrator (voice)
(1994)
Healer
as The Jackal
(1994)
(1994)
Ancient Prophecies
as Self
(1993)
Dirty Weekend
as Reggie
(1993)
Return to 'The Great Escape'
as Self
(1991)
Hear My Song
as Jim Abbott
(1991)
Fatal Inheritance
as Brandon Murphy
(1990)
The Haunting of Morella
as Gideon Locke
(1989)
The Return of Sam McCloud
as Inspector Craig
(1988)
The Man Who Lived at the Ritz
as Charlie Ritz
(1988)
Wall of Tyranny
as Sgt. Kemper
(1986)
The Wind
as John
(1985)
Terminal Choice
as Dr. Giles Dodson
(1985)
(1984)
Master Ninja II
as Castile
(1984)
The Corvini Inheritance
as Frank Lane
(1983)
(1980)
The Watcher in the Woods
as Paul Curtis
(1979)
King Solomon's Treasure
as Sir Henry Curtis
(1976)
Dogs
as Harlan Thompson
(1975)
The Kingfisher Caper
as Benedict Van Der Byl
(1975)
The Invisible Man
as Dr. Daniel Westin
(1974)
Frankenstein: The True Story
as Dr. Clervall
(1973)
The Six Million Dollar Man: Wine, Women and War
as Alexi Kaslov
(1973)
The Screaming Skull
as Luke
(1972)
She Waits
as Mark Wilson
(1970)
Hauser's Memory
as Hillel Mondoro
(1969)
Mosquito Squadron
as Quint Monroe
(1969)
The Ravine
as Sergeant Stephen Holmann
(1969)
The File on Devlin
as Kenneth Canfield
(1969)
Teacher, Teacher
as Hamilton Cade
(1968)
The Helicopter Spies
as Illya Kuryakin
(1968)
How to Steal the World
as Illya Kuryakin
(1968)
Sol Madrid
as Sol Madrid
(1967)
The Karate Killers
as Illya Kuryakin
(1967)
The Spy in the Green Hat
as Illya Kuryakin
(1967)
Three Bites of the Apple
as Stanley Thrumm
(1967)
Italy's in Season
as Self
(1966)
One Spy Too Many
as Illya Kuryakin
(1966)
Around the World Under the Sea
as Dr. Philip Volker
(1966)
One of Our Spies Is Missing
as Illya Kuryakin
(1965)
The Greatest Story Ever Told
as Judas Iskarioth
(1965)
The Spy with My Face
as Illya Kuryakin
(1965)
The Big T.N.T. Show
as Self - Host
(1964)
To Trap a Spy
as Illya Kuryakin
(1964)
The Unknown
as Tone Hobart
(1963)
The Great Escape
as Ashley-Pitt 'Dispersal'
(1962)
Freud: The Secret Passion
as Carl von Schlossen
(1962)
Billy Budd
as Steven Wyatt, Gunnery Officer
(1962)
Wuthering Heights
as Edgar
(1961)
The Long and the Short and the Tall
as Pvt. Sammy Whitaker
(1961)
Caroline of Rijeka
as Mr. George
(1960)
Jungle Street
as Terry Collins
(1959)
The Skin of Our Teeth
as Henry
(1958)
A Night to Remember
as Assistant Wireless Operator Harold Bride
(1958)
Violent Playground
as Johnnie Murphy
(1957)
Hell Drivers
as Jimmy Yately, Tom's brother
(1957)
Ill Met by Moonlight
as Sailor on Pick Up Ship (uncredited bit)
(1957)
(1957)
The Secret Place
as Mike Wilson
(1957)
Robbery Under Arms
as Jim Marston