“NCIS” paid tribute to longtime cast member David McCallum with a special tribute episode, incorporating the death of his character, medical examiner Donald “Ducky” Mallard, into the show.

“Brian Dietzen, who plays Dr. Jimmy Palmer, co-wrote the episode, which featured Palmer showing up at Ducky’s house with coffee, only to discover him in bed, having died in his sleep.” – CNN 

Deadline noted that “NCIS on Monday paid its final respects to star David McCallum, who died September 25 at the age of 90:

“A fan favorite, McCallum was the last remaining original cast member on NCIS, in which he played an eccentric but highly efficient investigator Donald “Ducky” Mallard for two decades.”

I think Dietzen did a great job with the storyline of the episode that aired last night on CBS. It had a nice mix of clips and a current focus that centered on a Marine who was purportedly called UA  and murdered obverseas and dumped in a brothel with a lot of heroine in his system to further the career of a contactor. It took Ducky’s notes to help clear him.

Like many NCIS viewers, I started watching McCallum in 1964’s “The Man from U.N.C.L.E,” so  I’ve been seeing this actor on TV since I was in college. Robert Vaughn starred as Napolean Solo and McCallum played  Illya Kuryakin. 

Thought it was delayed until last night due to the writers’ strike, the NCIS episode was well done and probably left most viewers with the feeling that the actor and NCIS cast member had suitable honored and remembered.

-Malcolm