# David McCallum dies age 90 (NCIS and Man From Uncle) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted, celebrity-death\ **Created:** [September 25, 2023, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-mccallum-dies-age-90-ncis-and-man-from-uncle/990691 "2023-09-25T22:12:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2023, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-mccallum-dies-age-90-ncis-and-man-from-uncle/990691/21 "2023-09-26T00:11:20Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Coincidentally, CBS will run 3 episodes of classic NCIS tonight, Sept 25. Celebrating the 20th anniversary. I hadn’t read about this when NCIS Season 1 Episode 1 started airing on live TV just now. I thought it was a joke or something; George W Bush was the president on the episode, for goodness sake. Or perhaps they’re trying to fill out air time, like when they started airing old episodes of Yellowstone. ---
**Author:** ![XOldiesJock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/ec9cab/32.png) [@XOldiesJock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XOldiesJock)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2023, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-mccallum-dies-age-90-ncis-and-man-from-uncle/990691/22 "2023-09-26T01:00:56Z")
Farewell, Mr. Kuryakin. I was surprised he was 90! He always looked so young, even in his later years. I was in 7th grade when “U.N.C.L.E” premiered, and the show was insanely popular. Mr. McCallum was a major heartthrob for teenage girls at the time. I would have guessed he was only in his 20s when doing that show, but he was over 30. I recall he released a couple of LPs titled “Music: A Part of Me” or something like that, in which he arranged and conducted pop songs with an orchestra. I actually have one of them in my record collection. It belonged my wife. Yes, she was one of those teenage girls! ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2023, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-mccallum-dies-age-90-ncis-and-man-from-uncle/990691/23 "2023-09-26T01:19:20Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Ilya Kuryakin was considered super cool. God, yes. I was 12 when Man From Uncle was new. Ilya was one of my wanna-be’s. Picture a very short, skinny boy wearing a black turtleneck sweater to church. I thought I looked cool but in hindsight I suspect otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2023, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-mccallum-dies-age-90-ncis-and-man-from-uncle/990691/24 "2023-09-26T01:33:41Z")
Oh, man. I found **The Man From U.N.C.L.E.** in the late 70s - it was on late Sundays nights (I think). Illya was my favorite character. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2023, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-mccallum-dies-age-90-ncis-and-man-from-uncle/990691/25 "2023-09-26T01:33:50Z")
> [@XOldiesJock](#): > > I was in 7th grade when “U.N.C.L.E” premiered, and the show was insanely popular. Mr. McCallum was a major heartthrob for teenage girls at the time. I have a recollection of reading one of those “Teen Beat” type magazines at that time which described him being mobbed by a group of girls at a public appearance. I believe there was a mention of some of them practically tearing off his clothes. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2023, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-mccallum-dies-age-90-ncis-and-man-from-uncle/990691/26 "2023-09-26T01:34:19Z")
_The Man From U.N.C.L.E._ resulted in my first chastising for swearing. I was playing with the car, pictured with the DVD set, when a missile from the toy car flew into a bush. At five years old I said, ‘Where the hell did it go?’ My dad heard me. I was called into the garage and admonished. I went back and said to my friend, ‘Where the _heck_ did it go?’ (I did find the missile.) ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2023, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-mccallum-dies-age-90-ncis-and-man-from-uncle/990691/27 "2023-09-26T01:34:25Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > Picture a very short, skinny boy wearing a black turtleneck sweater to church. [![](https://her.ie/uploads/2015/09/23133010/Charlie-Bucket.jpg) ](https://her.ie/uploads/2015/09/23133010/Charlie-Bucket.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2023, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-mccallum-dies-age-90-ncis-and-man-from-uncle/990691/28 "2023-09-26T01:56:07Z")
imdb lists David in 4 episodes of Season 20. He’s given “credit only” in the other episodes. It’ll be interesting to see if he had already filmed any scenes for the upcoming season 21. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2023, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-mccallum-dies-age-90-ncis-and-man-from-uncle/990691/29 "2023-09-26T03:16:42Z")
Back in the '60s, David was the epitome of cool on a par with Sean Connery, Steve McQueen, and Mr Spock. I got an UNCLE gift set one Christmas—the sniper rifle, the Walther PPK with the stock, the yellow ID badge, the lot. If I were as svelte as I used to be, I’d still have a collection of black turtlenecks too. RIP, David. You will be sorely missed. 😢 **Trivia Challenge:** What real-life person did David play in 1958’s _ **A Night to Remember** _? ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2023, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-mccallum-dies-age-90-ncis-and-man-from-uncle/990691/30 "2023-09-26T03:24:05Z")
Without googling: Jack Thayer? ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2023, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-mccallum-dies-age-90-ncis-and-man-from-uncle/990691/31 "2023-09-26T03:31:54Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Ilya Kuryakin was considered super cool. And Napoleon Solo, as I recall, was not. Funny how sidekicks are almost always “cooler” than the main character: Ilya Kuryakin, Mr Spock, Artemus Gordon, Chester Goode, Pancho Miguel Fernando Gonzalez de Conejo, Tonto… If you want to make it big on TV, always audition for the role of the sidekick! ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2023, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-mccallum-dies-age-90-ncis-and-man-from-uncle/990691/32 "2023-09-26T03:32:59Z")
Good guess, but no. He was on the _Titanic_, though. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2023, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-mccallum-dies-age-90-ncis-and-man-from-uncle/990691/33 "2023-09-26T03:47:50Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Ilya Kuryakin, Mr Spock, Artemus Gordon, Chester Goode, Pancho Miguel Fernando Gonzalez de Conejo, Tonto… Alexander « Scotty » Scott – best not to mention him … ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2023, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-mccallum-dies-age-90-ncis-and-man-from-uncle/990691/34 "2023-09-26T03:48:02Z")
Here’s a gift link to the NY Times obituary (no login required) [https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/25/arts/television/david-mccallum-dead.html?unlocked\_article\_code=uVWQU6fdl5r\_ykQIVesY8W2IglcRMOo1wD\_-ofcBIbnWqnHJB4SRKFYZ9t\_Suxa9dXym7FDRJTwNCDs-KS0ZuE7IIetJz5hsE1dMVetqGW8IdPReGFO4LdzF0N\_q-mmdlCzDFmNYvV3J76FbNct\_58mKHVmzlqN9he1f13GdfBPFLB0rWpVH1hQfRYwOP5eR5NdOFako5UPwAUYP7J3lQ7Hm8LTWqu4A7IAjqGqg6sN43Azmr241uz-Qg8zNMt4VhQJCQBuTIpWJFJ9Pde-yziOCxZqY50eKptG0tBW2E5b2PP0\_oIrHedJ41Xxib5J4GiKQmhEAZEdJWqkMGZ8iqcEnw5s&smid=url-share](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/25/arts/television/david-mccallum-dead.html?unlocked_article_code=uVWQU6fdl5r_ykQIVesY8W2IglcRMOo1wD_-ofcBIbnWqnHJB4SRKFYZ9t_Suxa9dXym7FDRJTwNCDs-KS0ZuE7IIetJz5hsE1dMVetqGW8IdPReGFO4LdzF0N_q-mmdlCzDFmNYvV3J76FbNct_58mKHVmzlqN9he1f13GdfBPFLB0rWpVH1hQfRYwOP5eR5NdOFako5UPwAUYP7J3lQ7Hm8LTWqu4A7IAjqGqg6sN43Azmr241uz-Qg8zNMt4VhQJCQBuTIpWJFJ9Pde-yziOCxZqY50eKptG0tBW2E5b2PP0_oIrHedJ41Xxib5J4GiKQmhEAZEdJWqkMGZ8iqcEnw5s&smid=url-share) And @terentii I don’t know his name, but it’s the wireless operator. I didn’t know this piece of trivia but my husband did. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2023, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-mccallum-dies-age-90-ncis-and-man-from-uncle/990691/35 "2023-09-26T03:50:44Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > So _The Great Escape_ tontine is down to John Leyton and William Russell. Thanks for that. I was beginning to think that I was the only person who remembered him in that film. I never watched the Man from UNCLE or NCIS, so that movie was how I knew him. And he did well in that film. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2023, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-mccallum-dies-age-90-ncis-and-man-from-uncle/990691/36 "2023-09-26T03:51:44Z")
The boy in the photo is a lot better looking than I was, AND hair that long was still 6 years away for middle class American straight-arrow me. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2023, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-mccallum-dies-age-90-ncis-and-man-from-uncle/990691/37 "2023-09-26T03:54:30Z")
That’s right: Junior Wireless Operator Harold Bride. He suggested to Jack Phillips, the Senior WO, that he send the SOS distress code instead of CQD. Bride survived the sinking but had to be wheeled into the US Senate’s inquiry in New York. IIRC, he was only 20 at the time. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2023, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-mccallum-dies-age-90-ncis-and-man-from-uncle/990691/38 "2023-09-26T03:57:23Z")
Looking at David’s filmography, I see he was in _ **The Hell Drivers** _ as well. So he did actually play opposite both Sean Connery and Steve McQueen. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2023, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-mccallum-dies-age-90-ncis-and-man-from-uncle/990691/39 "2023-09-26T04:07:01Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Funny how sidekicks are almost always “cooler” than the main character:…, Artemus Gordon, Only in the TV show, in the film he was a doofus. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2023, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-mccallum-dies-age-90-ncis-and-man-from-uncle/990691/40 "2023-09-26T04:08:48Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > Thanks for that. I was beginning to think that I was the only person who remembered him in that film. [_The Great Escape_.] And ironically, _The Great Escape_ is playing on TCM as I type this! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-mccallum-dies-age-90-ncis-and-man-from-uncle/990691.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-mccallum-dies-age-90-ncis-and-man-from-uncle/990691.md?page=3)