David McCallum, NCIS’ Ducky, Dead at 90
David McCallum, NCIS’ Ducky, Dead at 90
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00:00 Ducky, that blood seems unusually red.
00:02 Good eye, Officer Davide.
00:05 Eryshima usually suggests that the blood is saturated
00:09 with carboxyhemoglobin.
00:10 People say to me, oh, it's so tough what you do.
00:13 You come in in the morning, you arrive, people do your hair,
00:17 do your makeup, give you breakfast, make you comfortable.
00:20 They're very obsequious and say, we're ready for you.
00:23 No, it's-- come on.
00:24 It's the best job in the world.
00:26 David McCollum, best known for his role as Ducky on NCIS,
00:30 has died.
00:31 The actor was 90 years old.
00:34 Born in Scotland, David got his start in British television,
00:37 making his mark playing the mysterious Russian agent
00:40 Ilya Kuriak in, on the 1960s hit series, The Man from UNCLE.
00:44 [EXPLOSION]
00:46 [MUSIC PLAYING]
00:48 That proves we're on the right track, at least.
00:51 After the end of UNCLE's four-season run,
00:53 David spent the following decades guest
00:55 starring in some of TV's most iconic shows.
00:57 From Murder, She Wrote--
00:59 You still with the British embassy?
01:00 Cultural attache.
01:02 Flitting between London and Moscow.
01:04 Matter of fact, I'm escorting Sergei Chalov tonight.
01:08 Midnight flight to London.
01:10 To Sex and the City.
01:11 Why is he so edgy?
01:13 I have no idea.
01:15 Until he landed the role that would bring
01:16 him back into the spotlight.
01:18 I once sewed up the arm of a lion table.
01:20 He said, the worst thing you can do
01:22 is to let your felines feel cornered, scared,
01:25 or threatened.
01:27 You mean like this, duck?
01:29 Yeah, David played Dr. Donald Mallard,
01:32 nicknamed Ducky, for 20 seasons.
01:34 Very early on, I said, you know, this show
01:36 could go to number one.
01:38 People didn't agree with me, but I was right.
01:41 Eventually becoming the longest standing member
01:43 of the original NCIS cast.
01:45 I am eternally grateful for all the people that watch.
01:48 And I love the fact that we have 20 million people.
01:50 But I don't dwell on the fact.
01:52 I dwell on the script that I'm doing
01:54 at that particular moment.
01:55 He'll survive?
01:56 Well, they're cautiously optimistic.
01:58 It is a lovely family, and I'm just
02:00 delighted to be part of it.
02:02 David is survived by his wife, Catherine Carpenter,
02:05 his four living children, and five grandchildren.
02:08 The biggest perk of being Ducky, which is really
02:12 the way I think about it, is that not only am I
02:14 doing what I love to do the most as an actor
02:17 in a wonderful character, but I'm
02:20 in a show with all the right ingredients
02:22 with wonderful people.
02:24 But at the same time, I get to learn all about pathology
02:27 and to learn about what not to do if you want
02:31 a little bit of longevity.
02:33 Having reached my 83rd year, I feel
02:37 that this show has taught me a great deal about what to do
02:40 to at least attempt to grow old.
02:43 Life is wonderful because I can play golf.
02:46 I can cook.
02:46 I can be with the grandchildren and then come here now and then
02:50 for the odd couple of hours to do Ducky.
02:53 [MUSIC PLAYING]
02:57 [MUSIC PLAYING]
03:00 you