Ducky Returns to NCIS and NCIS: Origins for a Historic Franchise Milestone

by

NCIS recently brought back a beloved character, Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard, in two episodes. David McCallum played Ducky for twenty years, working alongside Mark Harmon’s character, Leroy Jethro Gibbs. McCallum first appeared as the medical examiner in an early episode of NCIS, which was originally part of the show JAG.

The new show NCIS: Origins, which began in 2024, tells the story of a young Leroy Jethro Gibbs. However, the original NCIS series first started revealing Gibbs’s history. Throughout the original show, we saw younger versions of both Gibbs and Ducky. While Austin Stowell now plays young Gibbs in NCIS: Origins, Adam Campbell continues to play the younger Ducky.

Ducky Returns In Back-To-Back NCIS And NCIS: Origins Episodes

David McCallum, known for his role as Ducky, will appear in both NCIS and its prequel, NCIS: Origins, during the 2025-2026 television season. These appearances involve scenes with Director Leon Vance (Rocky Carroll), and depict Ducky visiting from the afterlife, following the established storyline in NCIS Season 21 that his character has died.

Initially, Ducky pretends to be an interrogator, portrayed by Adhir Kalyan, and keeps his true identity hidden from Leon. He doesn’t want to startle Leon, but eventually reveals who he is after informing Director Vance that Army CID Agent Dolan Thompson (Matt Cook) has killed him. He explains that he’s there to help his friend transition to the afterlife.

Ducky will be back next week in the episode “Homeward Bound.” Meanwhile, Campbell appears in flashbacks set in the 1990s, having just become the chief medical examiner at NCIS. He travels to California to assist his friend, Dr. Témet “Tango” Téngalkat, with a case involving the remains of members of the Payómkawichum tribe.

“Homeward Bound” shows the strong friendship between Dr. Tango and Dr. Mallard, who regularly talk on Wednesday nights – first about their work, and later about personal things. This explains why Ducky immediately offers to help Tango identify the remains as belonging to the Payómkawichum tribe, allowing him to ensure the man receives a respectful burial.

Ducky’s Return Marks A Historic NCIS Milestone

Ducky’s recent appearances are noteworthy. It’s the first time actor David Campbell has played young Dr. Mallard on both NCIS shows within the same television season. These appearances, happening just a week apart, signal a bigger role for Campbell across the entire NCIS franchise.

NCIS accomplished a significant feat by bringing back a beloved character in the present day, without relying on flashbacks. Ducky reveals to Vance that appearing as his younger self is a benefit of being in the afterlife, suggesting he can now manifest at any age. This is different from how the show previously brought back Campbell, which always involved flashbacks featuring Gibbs.

Young Ducky seems perfect for the NCIS prequel series. However, the character of Dr. Mallard didn’t appear on the original NCIS until later. This episode brings back Campbell’s character five years after his last appearance, showing Ducky’s visit to Camp Pendleton. The prequel also introduces younger versions of other beloved NCIS characters, including Dwayne Cassius Pride from NCIS: New Orleans, played by Shea Buckner.

David McCallum, who originally played Ducky, made guest appearances on other shows while also being on NCIS. However, Joe Campbell’s work is particularly notable because he’s portrayed the character during two different time periods. Recently, Campbell has expanded his role, acting alongside both Sean Harmon, who played a younger version of Gibbs, and Mark Harmon and Rocky Carroll as the current Gibbs and Director Vance.

Ducky has become a particularly important figure in the NCIS series recently. While he used to be the lead medical examiner, he eventually transitioned into a supporting role as Dr. Jimmy Palmer took over. Following the passing of actor David McCallum, NCIS paid tribute to both him and the character of Ducky in a special episode where Ducky passed away on screen.

5 Questions
Test Your Knowledge: Ducky’s Epic Return in NCIS History
Your Top Score
—
Attempts
—
0
0
Report Error

Found an error? Send it so it can be corrected.

Read More

2026-04-07 18:36