David McCallum

Photo of David McCallum

Biography

N.C.L.E" (CBS, 1965-68) and later as the avuncular Donald "Ducky" Mallard on "NCIS: Naval Criminal Service Investigation" (CBS, 2003). The Scottish-born McCallum worked his way up the ranks in British film and television before bursting onto the American scene with "U.N.C.L.E." His cool charm and blonde good looks made him an immediate TV idol, but failed to translate into stardom after the show left the air. McCallum settled into a steady …
Read More »

Job Title

Actor

Born

September 19, 1933

Career Milestones

Achieved teen idol status, co-starring (with Robert Vaughn) as the Russian Illya Kuryakin in "The Man From U.N.C.L.E.", A popular spoof of the James Bond ethos

Co-starred in "Colditz", a critically and commercially successful BBC-TV series sets at a German POW camp during WWII

Directed plays for the Army

Starred in the NBC sci-fi adventure series "The Invisible Man"

1951

Began acting career in English repertory theater

1957

First notable British feature credits, "The Secret Place", "Robbery Under Arms", "Hell Drivers"

1957

Signed a seven-year film contract with the Rank Organization

1958

Played radio operator harold Bride in "A Night to Remember"

1962

First US film, John Huston's "Freud"

1963

Breakthrough feature supporting role, "The Great Escape"

1963

Did memorable guest shots on the stylish sci-fi series "The Outer Limits" in the episodes "The Sixth Finger" and "The Forms of Things Unknown"

1964

Featured as Judas Iscariot in George Stevens' "The Greatest Story Ever Told" (released 1965)

1966

Guest-starred as Illya Kuryakin in "The Moonglow Affair", a TV special that served as the pilot for the spinoff "The Girl From U.N.C.L.E."

1966

Prominently featured in "The Big T.N.T. Show", a concert film that included performances by Ike and Tina Turner, Joan Baez and Ray Charles; introduced acts and conducted the Ray Charles band

1967

Co-wrote music and lyrics and sang title song for the feature "Three Bites of the Apple" (also starred)

1969

Starred in "Teacher, Teacher", an acclaimed "Hallmark Hall of Fame" movie, as a teacher recovering from alcoholism

1974

Directed "The Explorers: Charles Montague Doughty", a segment for BBC-TV's "Ten Who Dared"

1975

Starred in the TV-movie pilot "The Invisible Man"

1983

Reprised the role of Illya Kuriakin for the CBS TV-movie pilot "The Return of the Man From U.N.C.L.E.: The Ffifteen Years Later Affair"

1991

Played a small but important supporting role in the Irish feature "Hear My Song"

1995

Had recurring role as the scientist father of Lori Singer in "VR.5", a Fox sci-fi series

1998

Appeared alongside Mary-Louise Parker in Off-Broadway production of Alan Ayckbourn's "Communicating Doors"

1999

Had featured role of Emperor Joseph in the Broadway revival of "Amadeus"

2001

Had a recurring role as Walter Thornhill in "The Education of Max Bickford" (CBS)

2003

Cast as Dr. Donald 'Ducky' Mallard on "NCIS" (CBS)

Awards

1965

Golden Globe Award for Actor in a Television Series in The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

1965

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievements In Entertainment in The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

1966

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Continued Performance By an Actor In a in The Man From U.N.C.L.E.