Adam Campbell Returns as Young Ducky in Emotional ‘NCIS: Origins’ Tribute to David McCallum

Just like NCIS did in Season 21, its prequel series NCIS: Origins will pay heartfelt tribute to the late David McCallum, who portrayed the beloved Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard for two decades before his passing in 2023.

Adam Campbell will return as the young Ducky in an upcoming Season 2 episode titled “The Edge,” airing this fall. In the story, Ducky is sent to Camp Pendleton to shadow the team on a case – and in doing so, reconnects with Gibbs (Austin Stowell) after their first meeting years earlier. The episode’s title also nods to one of McCallum’s own songs, which will be featured during the tribute.

“We wanted to honor our dear friend David McCallum,” said co-showrunners and executive producers Gina Lucita Monreal and David J. North. “He was a cherished member of the NCIS family, and we’re thrilled to have Adam Campbell back to bring young Ducky to life again – and to include David’s music in the episode.”

Campbell previously played Ducky in four NCIS episodes, most memorably in Season 18’s milestone 400th episode, “Everything Starts Somewhere,” which revealed how Gibbs (then portrayed by Sean Harmon) and Ducky first met in 1980.

NCIS: Origins follows a young Gibbs in the early ’90s as he begins his career with NIS under Mike Franks (Kyle Schmid). Season 2 will pick up after the shocking car crash finale, revealing Lala’s (Mariel Molino) fate and introducing new threats that test the team’s loyalty and resilience.

Produced by CBS Studios, NCIS: Origins comes from Gina Lucita Monreal, David J. North, Mark Harmon, and Sean Harmon.