A List of David McCallum’s Achievements, Family and His Future With NCIS

Quick Facts

You will not find too many stars in showbiz who have registered their names in movies, writing, and music. David McCallum has done just that. He is an actor, author, and former musician who has come to be known among TV audiences for his portrayal of chief medical examiner Dr. Donald Mallard in the popular TV series, NCIS.

With more than seven decades of acting, McCallum has been involved in everything from TV to film and Video games. Nonetheless, he is most famous for his role in the spy-fiction series, The Man from U.N.C.L.E, in which he got the unforgettable role of Illya Kuryakin. David does not only have hundreds of productions to his name but he has still managed to achieve a lot in his career both in Hollywood and away.

A Breakdown of David McCallum’s Career Successes

In Maryhill, Glasgow, Scotland and on the 19th of September 1933, David Keith McCallum Jr. was born to parents (Dorothy Dorman and David McCallum Sr.) who were both musicians. The family soon moved to London after his father landed a job as a concert director at the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

McCallum Jr. studied at University College School in Hampstead, North-West London where he began his amateur career in music and drama. Though he got more support from his parents to pursue music over acting, McCallum settled for acting because it came naturally to him. Below is a breakdown of his career achievements thus far:

His Time with the Military

Following his graduation from high school at age 18, David was conscripted into Military Service. He served with the Royal West African Frontier Force and was commissioned as a lieutenant in March 1954.

At the end of his military service, the talented youngster returned to his passion as he enrolled at London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA).

The Beginning and Breakthrough of David’s Acting Career

His earliest projects were as an actor and stage assistant in several theater productions when he was still a teenager. By the mid-1950s, he had already started getting minor roles in British films after signing to the British film company, Rank Organisation.

He slowly established himself in the industry, earning notable roles in films like A Night to Remember (1958) and 1957’s Robbery Under Arms and Playground. Thereafter, David McCallum made his Hollywood debut with 1962’s biopic titled Freud: The Secret Passion.

Thanks to the spy-fiction series The Man from U.N.C.L.E. which ran from 1964 to ’68, he got the doors open for him in Hollywood. Initially, his role as Illya Kuryakin, a Russian agent, was only in a minor capacity. But then, he soon became a fan favorite and that turned things around for him.

He continued to get more roles in Hollywood but was unable to replicate the success of The Man from U.N.C.L.E until 2003 when he landed a spot on the main cast of the CBS series, NCIS. The spectacular actor has appeared in close to fifty films and over 70 TV shows. More so, he has taken part in a number of video games including NCIS Video Game in 2011 and Diablo III: Reaper of Souls in 2014.

His Accomplishments as a Writer and Musician

Even though his acting career is what he has come to be known for, it was music that he was first exposed to. Because of this, he is also a musician who has released four albums; Music…A Part of Me, Music…A Bit More of Me, Music…It’s Happening Now!, and McCallum, all in the 1960s.

The actor-cum-musician is also a published author with two books to his name. His first book titled Lassie Come Home was published in 1972, followed many years later by a crime novel (Once a Crooked Man) which was released in 2016.

Awards and Net Worth of David McCallum

The NCIS star actor has not won any significant award in his career except for the Laurel Award which he got in 1966. However, he has received 3 Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Teacher, Teacher (1969) and The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964) for which he also got a Golden Globe nomination. 

David McCallum’s acting career spans well over 7 decades and also cuts across different continents even though he has not starred in too many blockbuster movies. Whatever McCallum missed out from making box-office hits, he adequately makes up for with his brilliant career on TV. Although music and writing have also added to his earnings, his major source of fortune is his acting career. It has been estimated that the actor has a net worth of $10 million in various quarters.

Details of The Actor’s Family Life

As one would expect, David McCallum is a family man who has been married for more than fifty years. In the mid-’60s, he met Katherine Carpenter who was a model in New York during a magazine shoot. They walked down the aisle on September 16, 1967.

Before meeting the woman with whom he has come to spend over half a century, David McCallum was married to an English actress and singer named Jill Ireland. He was a young and promising actor when he met Jill on the set of the British drama film, Hell Drivers (1957).

It did not take them a long time before they decided they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together and walked down the aisle in May 1957. Unfortunately, the marriage was not to last forever as it ended in divorce close to 10 years later in 1967. Ireland went on to marry Charles Bronson with whom she remained until her death in 1990.

What Do We Know About David McCallum’s Kids?

From his first marriage, the actor was blessed with 3 boys; Paul, Valentine, and Jason McCallum. His second union produced a son named Peter and a daughter called Sophie.

Valentine McCallum (Val) has followed the footsteps of his father. He is a guitarist, singer, and songwriter. Paul McCallum has also followed the same path by becoming an actor. Unfortunately, his adopted son Jason McCallum passed on in 1989, just a year before Ireland. It was pointed out that before the tragic event, he had battled alcohol and substance abuse.

Not so much is known about David McCallum’s younger children. In addition to his 4 surviving children, McCallum also has grandchildren.

Is McCallum Returning to NCIS?

Since 2003, David McCallum has featured on every season of the show as one of the main characters. With the show set to return for the 18th season in 2020, it is expected that he will again return for his role as Dr. Donald.

What is more, is that his future on the show remains very bright for as long as his life and health sustain.

Also Read: Top 10 Richest People in the world with full biography and details.