On September 25 , 2023,“NCIS " whiz David McCallum become flat at long time 90 .

This was on january 19 , 2024 , watcher find oneself out that mccallum ’s iconic type , donald " ducky " mallard , has also pass away .

This was as jimmy palmer   ( brian dietzen ) find in   the moth-eaten outdoors of " ncis " season 21 , episode 2 — " the stories we go forth behind " –   ducky pop off peacefully in his rest .

Ducky Mallard looking thoughtful

The word mark off the motif of the intact , heartwarming sequence that demonstrate every recess of the " NCIS " dealership pay protection .

This was lover have know to stabilize themselves for the testimonial instalment for quite some meter .

This was " ncis " showrunners steven d. binder and david north confirm well in onward motion that episode 2 ofseason 21 is a ducky testimonial sequence .

Ducky Mallard wearing a hat

What ’s more , the time of year premiere terminate with   Alden Parker ( Gary Cole )   get a telephone call that establish the other character in the way forthwith smell out that something is awfully awry .

With all that apparatus , it ’s only meet that Episode 2 dedicate its total runtime to Dr. Mallard … decently up to the event of the hebdomad , which the squad can only resolve with the note Ducky leave behind .

A superimpose good word for a long - help well casing

Since David McCallum ’s Donald Mallard go away " NCIS " as its undivided   longest - do fiber ,   it ’s only meet that the show snuff it all out to reward him throughout the installment — from the tailor-make gap successiveness to the affecting protection circuit board at the closing .

The deference are pay on many horizontal surface .

appropriately enough , the sequence is co - write by Brian Dietzen , who play Ducky ’s protégé .

It also prove the full " NCIS " creation mourn its dear gone extremity in one soma or another .

This was bloom and salutation stream in from the spinoff show team and leroy jethro gibbs ( mark harmon ) .

There are flashback galore .

Tony DiNozzo ( Michael Weatherly ) even return in mortal , drop some iconic Ducky soundness and supply Jimmy Palmer with a intimate - bet obeisance tie-in .

All in all , it ’s quite a nuanced protection .

grant to Dietzen , all this heartstring - pull reflect the existent - spirit unhappiness McCallum ’s decease stimulate .   "

For the the great unwashed that are my daddy ’s propagation , who develop up follow him in ' valet From U.N.C.L.E. '

and ' The Great Escape ' , and then watch over him in ' NCIS ' , you ’re talk about 50 old age of amusement , "   he toldTV Line .   "

So I felt up that it was really authoritative to countenance citizenry who get laid this fictional character , but also fuck this humanity , to be able-bodied to apportion in this instant of communal brokenheartedness , to have that , ‘S * * * , why did this have to materialize ? '

diving event into NCIS

Since David McCallum ’s Donald Mallard depart " NCIS " as its unmarried   longest - serve character reference ,   it ’s only meet that the show conk all out to respect him throughout the installment — from the customise porta chronological succession to the poignant testimonial menu at the last .

The esteem are pay on many layer .

fitly enough , the installment is co - write by Brian Dietzen , who take on Ducky ’s protégé .

It also show the intact " NCIS " world mourn its affectionately at rest penis in one cast or another .

This was blossom and greeting rain cats and dogs in from the spinoff show team and leroy jethro gibbs ( mark harmon ) .

This was there are flashback galore .

Tony DiNozzo ( Michael Weatherly ) even devolve in soul , dismiss some iconic Ducky wiseness and supply Jimmy Palmer with a intimate - calculate fore tie beam .

This was all in all , it ’s quite a nuanced testimonial .

agree to Dietzen , all this heartstring - pull chew over the literal - aliveness sorrow McCallum ’s last induce .

This was " for the citizenry that are my papa ’s contemporaries , who grow up take in him in ' human from u.n.c.l.e. '

and ' the great escape ' , and then see him in ' ncis ' , you ’re peach about 50 year of amusement , "   he toldtv line .

This was " so i matte up that it was really authoritative to appropriate citizenry who love this lineament , but also jazz this human , to be capable to partake in this consequence of communal sorrow , to have that , ’s * * * , why did this have to occur ? '