David McCallum is dead. He played on “NCIS” for years.

“He was the kindest, coolest, most patient and loving father,” his son Peter McCallum wrote in a family statement reported by CBS. “He always put his family before himself.”

David McCallum is dead. The unforgettable medical examiner from “NCIS” was 90 years old

McCallum died of natural causes, surrounded by his family, at New York Presbyterian Hospital. “David was a talented actor and author, beloved by many people around the world,” the station said in a statement. “He had an incredible life, and his legacy will live on forever through his family and in the countless hours of movies and TV shows that will never fade away. We will miss his warmth and endearing sense of humor that lit up every room or stage he entered, and brilliant stories that he often shared” – these were the words the station said goodbye to the actor.

Scottish-born McCallum received his professional breakthrough in the US (after several roles on British television) with a role in the 1960s spy series “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.” He starred as Agent Illya Kuryakin alongside Robert Vaughn’s suave spy, Napoleon Solo. McCallum earned two Emmy nominations for the series.

David McCallum in 1966 Photo Anonymous/AP Photo

He starred in the films “The Great Escape” and “A Night to Remember”, the NBC series “The Invisible Man”, and his last and extremely popular role was that of medical examiner Donald “Ducky” Mallard. This eccentric professional was the investigative patriarch of the series “NCIS”, which for years was the most watched series on American television. Since 2003, there have been nearly 500 episodes divided into 20 seasons, and McCullum, from the 19th season, was the only cast member who played in the production from the first episode.

McCallum is survived by his wife of 56 years, Katherine McCallum, as well as three sons (Paul McCallum, Valentine McCallum and Peter McCallum), a daughter, Sophie McCallum, and eight grandchildren.