David McCallum, a Scottish actor and musician, achieved significant fame in the 1960s for his portrayal of the secret agent Illya Kuryakin in the TV series “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” He also had notable television roles as Carter in “Colditz” and as Steel in “Sapphire & Steel.”
Bio/Wiki
Age-90years
Height- 1.7 m
Weight- 80 kg
Full name-David Keith McCallum
Born- 19 September 1933
Birthplace-Glasgow, United Kingdom
Dead- 25 September 2023
Death place-New York-Presbyterian, New York, United States
Spouse-Katherine Carpenter (m. 1967–2023), Jill Ireland (m. 1957–1967)
Profession-Scottish actor and musician
Nationality-British, Scottish
Family
David Keith McCallum was born on September 19, 1933, in Glasgow. He was the second of two sons, born to David McCallum Sr., an orchestral violinist, and Dorothy (née Dorman), a cellist. At the age of three, his family relocated to London, where his father assumed the role of the leader of the London Philharmonic Orchestra. During the early years of World War II, he was evacuated back to Scotland, where he resided with his mother in Gartocharn by Loch Lomond.
Wife
On May 11, 1957, David McCallum tied the knot with actress Jill Ireland in London. Their initial meeting occurred during the production of the film Hell Drivers. However, their marriage came to a legal end in February 1967 following a separation that lasted approximately two years.
On September 16, 1967, McCallum entered into matrimony with Katherine Carpenter, a fashion model-turned-interior designer, in Valley Stream, New York. The couple’s first encounter transpired at a photo shoot for Glamour magazine in 1965. Remarkably, their union lasted for 58 years. It’s worth noting that Katherine’s father was a Marine who served in the Battle of Iwo Jima, and her brother tragically lost his life in the Vietnam War.
Children
McCallum and Ireland were parents to three sons: Paul, Jason, and Valentine (Val). Unfortunately, Jason, who was adopted, tragically passed away due to an accidental drug overdose in 1989. Later in life, David McCallum married Katherine Carpenter, and they had two children together: a son named Peter and a daughter named Sophie.
On August 27, 1999, McCallum became a naturalized United States citizen. He also enjoyed the role of being a grandfather, as he had six grandchildren. Additionally, he maintained a friendship with Tibor Rubin.
Career
In 1951, McCallum embarked on his career as the assistant stage manager of the Glyndebourne Opera Company. His journey into acting commenced with radio work for BBC Radio in 1947, where he lent his voice to young characters. He gradually transitioned to bit parts in British films during the late 1950s. His early film roles included portraying an outlaw in “Robbery Under Arms” (1957), taking on the role of junior RMS Titanic radio operator Harold Bride in “A Night to Remember” (1958), and depicting a juvenile delinquent in “Violent Playground” (1958).
McCallum’s introduction to American cinema occurred with “Freud: The Secret Passion” (1962), directed by John Huston, closely followed by a role in Peter Ustinov’s “Billy Budd.” He gained notable recognition as Lt. Cmdr. Eric Ashley-Pitt (known as “Dispersal”) in “The Great Escape” (1963) and notably portrayed Judas Iscariot in “The Greatest Story Ever Told” (1965). His television appearances included two roles on “The Outer Limits” and a guest spot on “Perry Mason” in 1964 as defendant Phillipe Bertain in “The Case of the Fifty Millionth Frenchman.”
McCallum’s breakthrough came with “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.,” originally intended as a showcase for Robert Vaughn. However, McCallum’s portrayal of the mysterious Russian agent Illya Kuryakin quickly earned him a fan following and co-star status alongside Vaughn. Despite his popularity in this role, McCallum faced challenges in replicating this level of success until he joined the cast of “NCIS.” In the interim, he became a familiar face on British television through appearances in shows such as “Colditz” (1972–1974), “Kidnapped” (1978), and ITV’s science-fiction series “Sapphire & Steel” (1979–1982), where he starred alongside Joanna Lumley. In 1975, he took on the title character in a brief U.S. version of “The Invisible Man.”
On the stage, McCallum graced Australian audiences with his performance in “Run for Your Wife” (1987–1988), a production that toured the country. Notable cast members included Jack Smethurst, Eric Sykes, and Katy Manning.
During the 1960s, McCallum recorded four albums for Capitol Records in collaboration with music producer David Axelrod: “Music…A Part of Me” (1966), “Music…A Bit More of Me” (1966), “Music…It’s Happening Now!” (1967), and “McCallum” (1968). One of his most recognized pieces today is “The Edge,” which was sampled by Dr. Dre as the intro and riff in the track “The Next Episode.” McCallum’s rendition of “The Edge” also appeared on the soundtracks for the 2008 video game “Grand Theft Auto IV” and the 2017 film “Baby Driver.”
In 2016, McCallum ventured into writing, publishing a crime novel titled “Once a Crooked Man.” The story unfolds in both New York and London, focusing on a young actor’s efforts to thwart a murder. McCallum hinted at the time that he was actively working on a second novel.
Movies and TV Show
- Hell Drivers (1957)
- A Night to Remember (1958)
- Violent Playground (1958)
- The Long and the Short and the Tall (1961)
- Jungle Street (1961)
- Freud: The Secret Passion (1962)
- Billy Budd (1962)
- The Great Escape (1963)
- The Sixth Finger (1963) – TV series
- The Forms of Things Unknown (1964) – TV series
- The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964–1968) – TV series
- The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965)
- Around the World Under the Sea (1966)
- The Spy with My Face (1965)
- One Spy Too Many (1966)
- To Trap a Spy (1966)
- The Helicopter Spies (1968)
- Mosquito Squadron (1969)
- The Spy in the Green Hat (1967)
- How to Steal the World (1969)
- Sol Madrid (1968)
- Three Bites of the Apple (1967)
- Return of the Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1983) – TV movie
- Dirty Weekend (1993)
- Mother Love (1989) – TV series
- Frankenstein: The True Story (1973) – TV movie
- Kidnapped (1978) – TV series
- King Solomon’s Treasure (1979)
- Rosamunde Pilcher’s Coming Home (1998) – TV movie
- She Waits (1972) – TV movie
- Hear My Song (1991)
- Titanic: The Complete Story (1994) – TV documentary
- The Haunting of Morella (1990)
- Coming Home (1998) – TV movie
- The Wind (1986)
- The Watcher in the Woods (1980)
- Three Bites of the Apple (1967)
- The Invisible Man (1975–1976) – TV series
- Colditz (1972–1974) – TV series
- NCIS (Since 2003) – TV series
- NCIS: New Orleans (2014–2021) – TV series
- NCIS: Los Angeles (2009–2023) – TV series
- The A-Team (1983–1987) – TV series
- Murder, She Wrote (1984–1996) – TV series
- Son of Batman (2014)
- Batman vs. Robin (2015)
Net Worth2023
As per Celebrity Net Worth, the late Scottish actor possessed an estimated net worth of $15 million before his passing.
David McCallum’s Cause of Death
David McCallum, known for his iconic role in “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” and more recently as a medical examiner on “NCIS,” has passed away at the age of 90.
McCallum died Monday of natural causes surrounded by family at New York Presbyterian Hospital.
His enduring talent and warm sense of humor will be deeply missed. McCallum also had notable roles in “Colditz,” “The Invisible Man,” and “Sapphire & Steel,” leaving a lasting legacy in the world of entertainment.
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