Do The NCIS Actors Reach Out When Their Origins Counterparts Get Cast? The Sweet Story About David McCallum And Adam Campbell

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Adam Campbell first appeared as a young Donald “Ducky” Mallard in the TV show NCIS in 2014, playing the character originally portrayed by David McCallum. He went on to reprise the role several more times on NCIS, and recently returned to it in the new series, NCIS: Origins. I had the chance to speak with Campbell for TopMob before the premiere of his new show, “The Edge,” next year, and he shared a heartwarming story about meeting McCallum after being cast.

Similar to how Austin Stowell, who plays the young Leroy Jethro Gibbs in NCIS: Origins, spent time learning from Mark Harmon, Adam Campbell had several conversations with David McCallum before McCallum’s passing in September 2023. I asked Campbell if he felt pressure to more closely copy McCallum’s portrayal of Ducky as his character ages, and he shared that he had been able to connect with McCallum beforehand.

That’s a great question. When I started the job, David was immediately incredibly helpful. He called right away and invited me to lunch. We spent a long time discussing how I could approach the role, and he specifically advised me not to simply copy his performance. He wanted me to focus on understanding the core of the character, Ducky, and then bring my own unique personality to it, rather than doing an impression of him or even David McCallum’s portrayal.

When Adam Campbell first played Ducky, David McCallum had already been portraying the unique medical examiner for more than ten years. McCallum, along with Mark Harmon (as Gibbs), Michael Weatherly (as Tony DiNozzo), and Pauley Perrette (as Abby Sciuto), first appeared together in episodes of JAG – “Ice Queen” and “Meltdown” – which served as the initial episodes introducing NCIS. Because McCallum was so established in the role, he advised Campbell not to just copy his performance as Ducky.

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However, Adam Campbell explained that David McCallum had given him some specific instructions to keep in mind while portraying Dr. Donald Mallard. Campbell went on to share those guidelines:

He was incredibly supportive, which really relieved some of the stress I was feeling. He also gave me the freedom to approach the work in my own way, telling me to trust my instincts. David did have a few key expectations, though. He wanted me to be mindful of his experience, but also to remember that he always looks for the humor in things. He encouraged me not to shy away from finding a lighter side, even in serious moments.

Five months after David McCallum’s passing, NCIS paid tribute to him and his character, Ducky, who died peacefully in his sleep, with a special episode. On the show, Ducky is remembered by renaming his former office space. However, fans may still see more of actor Adam Campbell as Ducky. The new prequel series, NCIS: Origins, is set in 1992, which allows for stories that take place before the events of JAG. Hopefully, the prequel will find ways to bring Campbell back, perhaps even having him wear David McCallum’s original hat, and explore Ducky’s life before he joined NCIS.

You can watch NCIS: Origins on CBS Tuesdays at 9 p.m. Eastern. It airs between NCIS and NCIS: Sydney. The upcoming episode will feature Mike Franks’ brother, Mason. The following week, the show will move to 8 p.m. Eastern for a special crossover event with NCIS.

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2025-11-01 16:38