(NewsReady.com) – Hollywood has lost another legend. On September 25, actor David McCallum died in New York City. The 90-year-old left behind a legacy on the big and small screens, and even touched rap music.
McCallum died from natural causes at New York Presbyterian Hospital. The actor was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1933. When he was younger, he played the oboe and won a scholarship to the University College School in London. At just 13, he was doing voices for the BBC’s Radio Drama Company. At 18, he was drafted into the military, where he served until 1954, reaching the rank of lieutenant.
When McCallum finished his military service, he went to drama school. He played a variety of roles until he landed a part in the television series “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” in 1964. The show aired on NBC, and he received two Emmy Award nominations for his work on it. The series also catapulted him to sex symbol status, and he was often mobbed by teenage girls when he traveled.
After the series ended in 1968, McCallum starred in a number of smaller roles over the next three decades. Then, in 2003, the actor landed a role as the quirky medical examiner “Ducky” on the CBS hit show “N.C.I.S.,” which repeatedly ranked as a top 10 show in the Nielsen ratings. When he died, he was still an actor on the show.
McCallum also had a link to one of the most iconic music samples of all time. In 1966, when he was in the middle of his show “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.,” Capitol Records released his sophomore album, including the song “The Edge.” Rap fans will instantly recognize the beginning chords as the intro for Dr. Dre’s song “The Next Episode.”
McCallum is survived by his wife, Katherine Carpenter, and their two children, Sophie and Peter McCallum. He’s also survived by his two kids from his first marriage, Valentine and Paul. He had eight grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son Jason, who died in 1989 from a drug overdose.
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