David McCallum was best known in Finland from the TV series NCIS Criminal Investigators. He died on Monday surrounded by his family.
David McCallum has died on Monday at the age of 90. Photo from 2014. PDO
British actress David McCallum has died on Monday in a New York hospital at the age of 90. According to the family, McCallum died peacefully of natural causes.
– He was the kindest, cleanest, most patient and loving father. He always put family before himself, his son Peter McCallum says the family in a statement People’s by.
– He was a real Renaissance man. Science and culture fascinated him and he turned those passions into wisdom.
McCallum was best known NCIS Criminal Investigators -TV series, where he played coroner Donald “Ducky” Mallard. In the United States, he became known already in the 1960s Napoleon Solo from the TV series (eng. The Man from UNCLE), which started the spy series craze on American television. McCallum’s role as Russian spy Ilya Kuryakin lasted only four years, but the character’s fame followed him throughout his life.
– It’s been 30 years, but I can’t escape him. Ilya Kurjakin is present around the clock, McCallum said in an interview with the New York Times in 1998.
McCallum studied at London’s prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art before landing a role in the 1963 classic The Great Escape. Other roles in the war film were seen, among others Steve McQueen, James Garner and Richard Attenborough.
NCIS series executive producers Steven D. Binder and David North shared their own memories of working with McCallum.
– As much as his fans loved him, those who worked with David loved him even more. From day one it was an honor to work with him and he never let us down. He was a legend. He was also part of the family and will be missed, Binder and North said in a joint statement.