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David McCallum, who has been popular since 2003 as the eccentric Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard on “NCIS,” finally received a touching sendoff on Monday’s episode.
The Scottish star of the 1960s NBC series “The Man from UNCLE,” who rose to fame again on the long-running CBS show, died on September 25 at the age of 90.
The final tribute to the original NCIS cast members, affected by production delays due to Hollywood strikes, was co-written by Brian Dietzen, who played Dr. Jimmy Palmer, Ducky’s protégé for 20 years.
“We wanted to honor 60 years in this industry and 20 years on the show, a life well lived,” Dietzen told USA TODAY. “This allows our fans to grieve with us. We are all experiencing this loss.”
Dietzen spoke at McCallum’s memorial service in New York City in January and remains in frequent contact with his wife of 56 years, Katherine Carpenter.
“His TV family and his real family are feeling the pain and sadness right now,” Dietzen said. “The small consolation we can all take is that David was 90 years old and lived so many lives to the fullest in those 90 years. He lived every last breath of his life. ”
Here’s what you need to know about the ‘NCIS’ episode ‘The Stories We Leave Behind’ now streaming on Paramount+.
Ducky had another ‘NCIS’ case to solve
Although Ducky dies within the episode, it was important for the dedicated coroner to have another success on NCIS.
“The best way to honor Ducky was to have him solve his final case with the team,” Dietzen says. “He is the one who solves cases, even after death.”
The NCIS team uses Ducky’s detailed notes to exonerate a veteran who was wrongly dishonorably discharged.
“It ties into the theme of loss and what we leave behind when we die,” Dietzen says. “The stories we leave behind for our loved ones are so important.”
Jimmy finds his beloved mentor Ducky
Last week’s Season 21 premiere saw NCIS Special Agent Alden Parker (Gary Cole) receive a frantic call from Jimmy at the last moment, setting the stage for the episode.
The mystery of the phone call ends when a slightly early memorial song begins as Jimmy enters the leader’s house fresh with two cups of coffee. His smile turns to fear when he finds Ducky in bed, peacefully dying in his sleep.
why? “I wanted the audience to feel the pain of losing[Ducky],” Dietzen says. “Acknowledging and honoring grief is important in the process in order to move forward.”
“It was definitely a difficult scene to film,” says Dietzen, 46, of filming a scene featuring a hidden extra playing Ducky with a “DM” monogram emblazoned on the sleeve of his pajamas.
“DM stands for Ducky Mallard and also stands for David McCallum, so there are similarities,” he says. “I still have takes of the scene where I was just a wreck.”
Michael Weatherly’s Anthony DiNozzo returns to bid farewell to Ducky on ‘NCIS’
The big surprise in this tribute episode was the return of Michael Weatherly as Special Agent Tony DiNozzo. Weatherly left “NCIS” after 13 seasons in 2016 to star in the CBS drama “Bull,” but DiNozzo offered Jimmy support and a Ducky-inspired bow tie just before Ducky’s memorial service. I stopped by to leave.
“We all realized that DiNozzo was the perfect character for this final scene,” says Dietzen. “So it was a real honor to write the Tony DiNozzo scene.”
Ms Weatherly has previously imitated the accent and speaking style of Ms McCullum, who was born in Glasgow. In this episode, DiNozzo plays the dying Ducky.
“David is an icon, so even when we’re just talking as friends,[Weatherly]will do his best impression as David McCallum,” Dietzen said, adding that while tightening Jimmy’s tie, He was impressed by the imitation of Weatherly. “Michael said, ‘I went to boarding school, I’m fine. I can tie a bow tie.'” But he definitely practiced a few times and it turned out great. ”
Weatherly’s appearance is a one-off in an “NCIS” episode filled with Ducky flashbacks. “[Michael]was eager to help with what was essentially an in-person flashback,” Dietzen says. “Michael was also an original cast member, so this was a tribute to the NCIS team over the years. However, there are no plans for him to return.”
Jimmy turns off the lights at the last moment
Weatherly’s appearance also brightens the mood in the final moments. As the group enters the elevator for Ducky’s memorial service, Jimmy returns to the autopsy room to turn off the lights, a faint smile on his face.
“Now that Ducky and David are gone, it’s important that we show by the end that the story we have left is not the whole story,” Dietzen says. “The people he left behind will continue to live on. That’s his legacy. It’s the meaning Ducky gave them that will carry them forward and create the next chapter.”
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