Nook NotesPick a film
David McCallum

Actor

David McCallum

Born September 19, 1933 in Glasgow, Scotland, UKDied September 25, 202367 films

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).

Read more

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.

Start here

The best way into David McCallum's work
The Great Escape posterFirst watchThe Great Escape19637.9as Ashley-Pitt 'Dispersal'The Nazis, exasperated at the number of escapes from their prison camps by a relatively small number of Allied prisoners, relocate them to a high-security 'escape-proof' camp to sit out…View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
Son of Batman poster7.1Son of Batman2014Batman vs. Robin poster7.2Batman vs. Robin2015Wonder Woman poster7.2Wonder Woman2009Batman: Gotham Knight poster6.7Batman: Gotham Knight2008A Night to Remember poster7.7A Night to Remember1958The Greatest Story Ever Told poster6.4The Greatest Story Ever Told1965Billy Budd poster7.3Billy Budd1962The Watcher in the Woods poster5.9The Watcher in the Woods1980

Filmography

67 films as actor
  1. 2015Batman vs. RobinAlfred (voice)
  2. 2014Son of BatmanAlfred Pennyworth (voice)
  3. 2009Wonder WomanZeus (voice)
  4. 2008Batman: Gotham KnightAlfred Pennyworth (voice)
  5. 2002SwindleEddie
  6. 1999CherryMammy
  7. 1998March in Windy CityDaniel Paterson / Dimitri Petrovsky
  8. 1998Coming HomeBilly Fawcett
  9. 1996Death GameMalius
  10. 1994HealerThe Jackal
  11. 1994Shattered ImageBen
  12. 1993Dirty WeekendReggie
  13. 1991Hear My SongJim Abbott
  14. 1991Fatal InheritanceBrandon Murphy
  15. 1990The Haunting of MorellaGideon Locke
  16. 1989The Return of Sam McCloudInspector Craig
  17. 1988The Man Who Lived at the RitzCharlie Ritz
  18. 1988Wall of TyrannySgt. Kemper
  19. 1986The WindJohn
  20. 1986Az aranyifjú
  21. 198592 Grosvenor Street
  22. 1985Terminal ChoiceDr. Giles Dodson
  23. 1984The Corvini InheritanceFrank Lane
  24. 1984Master Ninja IICastile
  25. 1983The Return of the Man from U.N.C.L.E.: The Fifteen Years Later AffairIllya Kuryakin
  26. 1980The Watcher in the WoodsPaul Curtis
  27. 1979King Solomon's TreasureSir Henry Curtis
  28. 1976DogsHarlan Thompson
  29. 1975The Kingfisher CaperBenedict Van Der Byl
  30. 1975The Invisible ManDr. Daniel Westin
  31. 1974Frankenstein: The True StoryDr. Clervall
  32. 1973The Six Million Dollar Man: Wine, Women and WarAlexi Kaslov
  33. 1973The Screaming SkullLuke
  34. 1972She WaitsMark Wilson
  35. 1970Hauser's MemoryHillel Mondoro
  36. 1969The File on DevlinKenneth Canfield
  37. 1969The RavineSergeant Stephen Holmann
  38. 1969Mosquito SquadronQuint Monroe
  39. 1969Teacher, TeacherHamilton Cade
  40. 1968How to Steal the WorldIllya Kuryakin
  41. 1968The Helicopter SpiesIllya Kuryakin
  42. 1968Sol MadridSol Madrid
  43. 1967Three Bites of the AppleStanley Thrumm
  44. 1967The Karate KillersIllya Kuryakin
  45. 1967The Spy in the Green HatIllya Kuryakin
  46. 1966One of Our Spies Is MissingIllya Kuryakin
  47. 1966One Spy Too ManyIllya Kuryakin
  48. 1965Around the World Under the SeaDr. Philip Volker
  49. 1965The Spy with My FaceIllya Kuryakin
  50. 1965The Greatest Story Ever ToldJudas Iskarioth
  51. 1965To Trap a SpyIllya Kuryakin
  52. 1964The UnknownTone Hobart
  53. 1963The Great EscapeAshley-Pitt 'Dispersal'
  54. 1962Freud: The Secret PassionCarl von Schlossen
  55. 1962Billy BuddSteven Wyatt, Gunnery Officer
  56. 1962Wuthering HeightsEdgar
  57. 1961The Long and the Short and the TallPvt. Sammy Whitaker
  58. 1961Caroline of RijekaMr. George
  59. 1960Jungle StreetTerry Collins
  60. 1959The Skin of Our TeethHenry Antrobus
  61. 1958A Night to RememberAssistant Wireless Operator Harold Bride
  62. 1958Violent PlaygroundJohnnie Murphy
  63. 1957Hell DriversJimmy Yately, Tom's brother
  64. 1957These Dangerous Years
  65. 1957The Secret PlaceMike Wilson
  66. 1957Ill Met by MoonlightSailor on Pick Up Ship (uncredited bit)
  67. 1957Robbery Under ArmsJim Marston