David McCallum, famed for his role as Donald ‘Ducky’ Mallard on NCIS, has said that he will only appear in a few more episodes before his current contract expires.
The veteran actor, who has played the medical expert and team historian for 20 years, stated in a recent interview that he had “two shows left on this contract.” It is unclear whether these episodes will air in the same season.
McCallum’s character, Ducky, has been a staple of the show, but with the departure of long-time team leader Leroy Gibbs (Mark Harmon), speculation arises about potential shifts in the cast.
While the 89-year-old actor and his wife Katherine are still working, retirement plans are underway.
Despite McCallum’s diminished participation in previous seasons, showrunner Steven D. Binder hinted about the potential of Ducky appearing more frequently, especially now that filming conditions have improved with C0V1D restrictions.
Binder proposed that Ducky get more involved with the team now that the new cast members, Jessica Knight (Katrina Law) and Alden Parker (Gary Cole), have settled in.
The evolving dynamics of the show, including the need to give Gibbs a proper send-off while introducing new characters, have influenced the screen time of original cast members like Ducky.
However, fans can still expect Ducky to make appearances to aid the team in their missions, albeit less frequently than before.
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