NCIS: Origins Honors David McCallum! Young Ducky Returns!

Get ready, NCIS fans! Season two of 'NCIS: Origins' is gearing up to be an emotional rollercoaster, especially with a special episode dedicated to the memory of the beloved David McCallum, who portrayed Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard for two decades on the original 'NCIS'. McCallum sadly passed away in 2023, leaving a void in the hearts of fans and the NCIS family.

Young Ducky Returns for Heartfelt Tribute

The tribute episode, titled "The Edge," promises to be a touching homage to McCallum's legacy. Adam Campbell, who has previously played the younger version of Ducky in flashback episodes, will reprise his role. The storyline sees young Ducky heading to Camp Pendleton to shadow the NCIS team, where he unexpectedly reconnects with a young Leroy Jethro Gibbs (played by Austin Stowell). This reunion is sure to be a highlight for longtime viewers.

A Musical Tribute

Adding another layer of sentiment, the episode will feature McCallum's own music. His instrumental track, "The Edge," released in 1996, will be prominently featured. Fun fact: this track is also famously sampled in the intro to Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg's iconic hit, "The Next Episode."

Showrunners Share Their Sentiments

Showrunners Gina Lucita Monreal and David J. North expressed their deep affection for McCallum and their excitement for the episode. "We wanted to do this episode to honor the memory of our dear friend David McCallum," they said in a statement. "He was a beloved member of the 'NCIS' family for so many years, and we're incredibly lucky to have the talented Adam Campbell back to bring the younger version of this iconic character to life once again. We even got to feature David’s music in the episode. We're all very excited and can't wait for the fans to see it!"

'NCIS: Origins' season two premieres on October 14th on CBS and is narrated by Mark Harmon, the original Gibbs. Don't miss this special tribute to a true NCIS legend!