Of the many beloved cast members to come and go from NCIS, Mark Harmon’s exit may be the most notable one, but it is David McCallum’s that is the most devastating. Even now, McCallum’s character Donald “Ducky” Mallard, the medical examiner on the team, is still a fan-favorite, but due to McCallum unexpected death, Ducky’s final official appearance on the show was in the Season 20 finale. However, before his exit, Ducky had retired from his position as the medical examiner in Season 16, but continued to appear in episodes in a limited capacity as the NCIS historian. The reasons behind McCallum’s decision to reduce his screen time make sense, but ironically, these reasons are also why fans loved the character so much.
Why Did Ducky Retire as a Medical Examiner in ‘NCIS’?
At the time of Ducky’s retirement, McCallum took to social media to explain his reduced role in NCIS, explaining, “I am delighted to say that I have reached an agreement with CBS for Dr. Donald Mallard to stay with NCIS for Season 16. Once again, it will be a limited schedule. That arrangement will allow me to spend time with Katherine, our children, six grandsons and Nickie.” After dedicating 15 years of his life to his role and this show, it absolutely makes sense that McCallum would like to spend more time with his family. Subsequently, deciding to continue with the show, even in a smaller role, also showcases his dedication to the fans, and we love him even more for it.
Interestingly, in another interview with Television Academy, McCallum touches on another reason he decided to shake up his contribution to the show. “How do I see him now?” McCallum says. “He’s retired. I realized that the character was becoming a little redundant and I decided to leave the show. They said, ‘No, we’d like to make you the historian so that you’re still part of the show,’ which was very gratifying because it meant that CBS liked that I was around.” Of course, we are also thankful that CBS negotiated Ducky’s continued presence in the show, but McCallum’s description of Ducky as “a little redundant” does make us look back at the character’s journey.
Ducky Had Limited Space To Grow on ‘NCIS’
In hindsight, McCallum’s description of Ducky’s role in NCIS is accurate. Nearly every cop procedural has their resident medical examiner, who we come to know over time through brief visits to the morgue, and NCIS was no different. Over the seasons, the team would consult Ducky about autopsies, he would dole out some medical lingo, laugh at their confusion, share some witty remarks and banter, and then the scene would close. It was a fairly restrictive role that left McCallum limited room to play with, and one that was repeated episode-to-episode for years. That being said, managing to play it for 15 years is admirable.
There is also generally a lack of potential for growth, with only some episodes featuring Ducky longer than others, like when his past comes to light in Season 2, Episode 13, “The Meat Puzzle.” Further variation came into his role during his scenes with his medical assistant Jimmy Palmer (Brian Dietzen), where the two slowly formed an unbreakable bond as mentor and mentee, until Jimmy took over after Ducky’s retirement. But after 15 years, even these variations can’t really save the character of Ducky from some sentiment of redundancy, especially in the eyes of an actor. As a viewer, however, these very reasons are the foundation of why Ducky was such a successful character and so valuable to the show.
‘NCIS’ Fans Still Loved Ducky’s Charm and Comfort
Ironically, Ducky’s redundancy, borne out of repetition, was why we connected to him so much in the series. He was our rock. From the NCIS pilot, where he cheekily arrived on the plane and manipulated the Secret Service agents into giving the case to the NCIS, we could already tell he was going to be a handful. And in every scene he has appeared in since, he has proven us right. He was a refreshing contrast to Harmon’s stoic and semi-grumpy Gibbs, eagerly teasing the team members while doing his job efficiently. With a dry wit, a mischievous gleam in his eye, and a funky bow-tie, Ducky was always a pleasure when he graced our screens.
The levity with which McCallum played Ducky also provided a delightful juxtaposition to his morbid occupation, making even the morgue, filled with death and loss, a place where humor can exist. We would look forward to the show’s obligatory “let’s check out the dead body” scene, where we would get our healthy dose of Ducky. He was the unflappable constant in this serious series; the cases may take unexpected twists and turns, but we always knew Ducky was going to be around to help make sense of it all. So, even as McCallum describes his character’s role in NCIS as “a little redundant,” and may be right to do so, no one can deny that Ducky was an invaluable creature comfort in the series.
