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Brian Dietzen said he last spoke with his longtime NCIS colleague David McCallum on McCallum’s birthday, days before McCallum died in 2023. The call was personal, and Dietzen has kept its contents private. He later co-wrote the series’ tribute episode with executive producer Scott Williams, aiming to honor McCallum with a story that made room for celebration as well as grief.
When Brian Dietzen last spoke with David McCallum
In an interview with PEOPLE’s Esther Kang, published February 19, 2024, Dietzen recalled speaking with McCallum on McCallum’s birthday, a Tuesday. McCallum died that weekend, at age 90.
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McCallum was in the hospital and, Dietzen said, was not doing well, but he was coherent during their conversation. McCallum’s wife, Katherine, passed the phone to him while he was in his hospital bed. Dietzen said McCallum had spent part of his final week speaking with family, including Katherine and their children.
Dietzen was grateful for the chance to speak with him and express his feelings. “I will say I’m so glad that I got to speak to him one last time and I got to tell him how I felt. And so that was really meaningful,” he told PEOPLE. He did not disclose what either man said in the private call.
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- Genre: TV Action & Adventure
- Number of Discs: 81
- Number of Tracks: 0
- Rating: NR
- Number of Movies: 0
How Dietzen approached the NCIS tribute
Dietzen, who plays medical examiner Jimmy Palmer, co-wrote the tribute episode with executive producer Scott Williams. In Kang’s interview, he described the goal as honoring McCallum—a television legend—by telling a good story, rather than making the episode only about mourning.
Dietzen acknowledged the cast and crew’s grief: “I think everyone in their own way was mourning this loss.” But he also wanted the episode to celebrate McCallum and the positive effect of knowing him. As he put it, “There has to be a celebration about this.”
Rank #2
- Genre: TV Action & Adventure
- Number of Discs: 24
- Number of Tracks: 0
- Playback Duration: 4128
- Rating: NR
The balance mattered: the tribute could recognize loss while also reflecting the affection and appreciation McCallum inspired among the people who worked with him. Dietzen said that when he was asked to help write it, he replied, “Absolutely, I’d be honoured to”.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.McCallum’s place in NCIS
McCallum played Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard, the medical examiner whose relationship with Jimmy Palmer connected the two characters as mentor and protégé. He joined NCIS in 2003 and became widely known for the role, according to PEOPLE.
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- NCIS NAVAL CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIVE SERVICE: Dive into the thrilling world of one of television's most popular crime dramas.
- ACTION-PACKED STORYLINES: Follows a team of special agents solving crimes connected to the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.
- BELOVED CHARACTERS: Features an iconic ensemble cast delivering compelling performances across every episode.
- GRIPPING MYSTERIES: Each episode presents intense investigations filled with suspense, twists, and dramatic reveals.
- PERFECT FOR FANS: A must-have for followers of crime procedural dramas and military-themed television series.
CBS’s official NCIS page describes the series as following a team investigating crimes involving the Navy and Marine Corps and lists seasons and episodes. Its catalog does not, by itself, confirm that this particular tribute episode is currently available in every country or through any specific subscription.
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- television-video-recordings
- NCIS: Complete Seasons 1-16 - Dvd
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