“NCIS: Origins” paid tribute to the beloved Donald “Ducky” Mallard in its latest episode, bringing actor Adam Campbell to help memorialize the medical examiner played by David McCallum.
Episode 3, titled “The Edge,” introduced Young Ducky (Campbell) to the NIS team at Camp Pendleton as an outsider from D.C. assigned to assess the team’s need for a full-time medical examiner. The assignments sparked some animosity at the start, especially from Franks (Kyle Schmid) and Lala (Mariel Molino), out of fear his visit would bring restructuring or job losses among the team. But just like the Ducky “NCIS” fans grew to love throughout his run on the flagship series, Campbell’s Ducky quickly won over his new friends with his loving demeanor.
The episode also served as a tribute to McCallum, who died in 2023. Beyond bringing Campbell back into the franchise — after last appearing on “NCIS” as Young Ducky in 2020 — the 1990s-set spinoff featured McCallum’s iconic song “The Edge.”
