Casting for a television series isn’t just about finding the right actors for the moment – it’s about assembling a team that can grow together for years. Unlike film or stage, TV creators must consider not only talent but temperament. A difficult actor can derail a long-running production, so casting decisions are made carefully, though compromise is often unavoidable.
When NCIS was being developed as a spinoff of JAG in 2003, creator Donald P. Bellisario refused to compromise on one key choice: David McCallum as Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard. Despite McCallum’s iconic status as Illya Kuryakin from The Man from U.N.C.L.E., CBS executives pushed back, citing his age – 70 at the time – and even his British background as concerns.
Director James Whitmore Jr. recalled Bellisario’s firm response: “If you don’t cast David McCallum, we’re not doing the show.” That stance won out, and McCallum went on to become one of NCIS’s most beloved and enduring characters.
The success of NCIS proved Bellisario right. McCallum’s portrayal of Ducky became a cornerstone of the show until the actor’s passing in 2023 at age 90. The takeaway? When you’ve earned the studio’s trust – as Bellisario had with hits like Magnum P.I. and JAG – sometimes standing your ground is the smartest move of all.
