British actor David McCallum, who played Donald “Ducky” Mallard on “NCIS,” has died at 90. He was a delightful character to watch, but in reality, the actor’s life held a lot of thrilling details — inside his 54 years of marriage after a failed relationship.
British actor David McCallum has died at the age of 90. The actor was said to have taken his last breath peacefully, surrounded by his family at the New York Presbyterian Hospital on Monday.
His son Peter shared a statement on behalf of his family, praising his father for being a devoted father and grandfather to his eight grandchildren, not to mention his dedication to the strong and long-lasting marriage he shared with his wife of 56 years, Katherine Carpenter.
Peter shared that his 79-year-old mother was distraught by the loss and wished she still had the chance to grow older with her husband. McCallum’s producers from “NCIS” will also remember him for the respect he had for his craft, which made him the legendary actor he was.
McCallum started to gain significance in the movie industry in the 1960s. One of his major roles was in “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.,” where he starred as Illya Kuryakin. He consolidated himself as a force to reckon with following his riveting performances in several TV hits.
While his career held an impressive story, McCallum’s personal life was also intriguing from his days as the star of “The Great Escape.” He succeeded in living an exemplary life worthy of emulation, especially with his nearly six decades of marriage. Even so, he suffered from heartbreak after he lost his first wife, Jill Ireland, to Charles Bronson, a man who confidently stole her.
Ireland was a British actress who was formerly married to McCallum. She was an elegant on-screen diva, with hits like ” Shane,” “The Mechanic,” and “Death Wish II” to her name. She died at 54, in the company of her kids and husband, Bronson, at her hillside home. Before her death, she earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
McCallum and Ireland met on “Hell Drivers.” The entertainers became romantically involved and spent ten years of their lives together. They shared three adopted sons, Paul, Jason, and Valentine, during their marriage.
When they divorced, it was excruciatingly painful; the actor lost his first wife to his friend and co-star, Bronson. The pair had worked on a film titled “Great Escape.” After Bronson met McCallum’s wife, reports claimed that he expressed his desire for her by telling his friend, “I’m going to marry your wife.”
Although McCallum claimed he did not remember hearing such a statement from his friend, whether it was spoken or not, Ireland married Bronson after her divorce. It was a bitter pill to swallow for McCallum, but when he eventually did, the “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” star became a happy man. He welcomed more kids with a woman he met who changed his life.
Although the McCallum and Ireland experienced a tragedy (their son, Jason, died from an accidental overdose in 1989), they each had a happy life with their spouses.
Bronson and Ireland were married until 1990 when the actress passed away after a battle with cancer. She had suffered from the disease for six years but never gave up hope; instead, she modeled courage and optimism until the end by writing books that preached positivity.
