Brian Dietzen Shares his Thoughts on the Heartfelt ‘NCIS’ Homage to the Late David McCallum

Fans of “NCIS” know David McCallum as the quirky and much-loved chief medical examiner, Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard. Since his debut in 2003, he’s been a staple of the show.

Sadly, we said goodbye to him in the latest episode which aired on Monday—an emotional tribute to the actor who passed away on September 25th at 90.

This final homage to the last of the original “NCIS” crew was penned by none other than Dietzen—Dr. Jimmy Palmer himself—after production was delayed due to Hollywood strikes.

While speaking to USA Today, Dietzen said,

“We wanted to honor a life well-lived, 60 years in this business and 20 years on our show. This allows fans to grieve with us. We’ve all experienced this loss.”

Reflecting on McCallum’s January memorial service in New York City, Dietzen talked about how he’s stayed in close touch with McCallum’s wife, Katherine Carpenter, who was married to the actor for 56 years.

He acknowledged the shared sense of loss between the TV family and McCallum’s real-life family.

“The small comfort all of us can take is David was 90, and lived so many lives to the fullest within those 90 years. He took advantage of every last breath.”

The episode, “The Stories We Leave Behind,” is currently available on Paramount+. It features Ducky cracking one final case with the NCIS team—helping to exonerate a veteran who was wrongfully dishonorably discharged—using notes he had left behind.

In the previous week’s Season 21 opener, we were left hanging with a cliffhanger call to special agent Alden Parker (played by Gary Cole) from Jimmy. The tribute episode picks up shortly before this, with Jimmy walking into Ducky’s house, only to find him peacefully passed away in his sleep.

Shooting this scene was no easy feat for Dietzen, who remarked on the emotional weight of portraying such a profound loss.

The episode also brought back Michael Weatherly as Special Agent Tony DiNozzo, who left the show in 2016. His return was a delight for Dietzen to write, especially given Weatherly’s knack for imitating McCallum’s iconic accent. Weatherly’s one-time appearance served as a live-action flashback, paying homage to the earlier “NCIS” days.

As the episode wraps up, the team goes to honor Ducky’s memory, and we leave Jimmy alone as he switches off the lights in the autopsy room, a small smile on his face. Dietzen reflects,

“With the passing of Ducky and David, it’s important by the end that we show that the stories we leave behind are not everything. The people he left behind will continue. That’s his legacy. It’s what Ducky has meant to them that will push them forward and make the next chapters.”