For two decades, David McCallum‘s Dr. “Ducky” Mallard was the beloved medical examiner on NCIS. Eccentric, compassionate, and deeply loyal to Leroy Jethro Gibbs (played by Mark Harmon) and the team, Ducky often served as the squad’s moral compass and resident storyteller, offering historical context and hard-earned wisdom that extended far beyond the autopsy table. His passing in 2023 left a profound void in the series, marking the loss of not just a character but the emotional heart of the show.
But few realize that, in addition to his ability to portray the empathetic medical examiner, McCallum was also the architect of one of hip-hop’s most iconic hooks.
In the ’60s, the Scottish actor became a famous figure playing the enigmatic Russian agent Illya Kuryakin opposite Robert Vaughn‘s Napoleon Solo in the hit spy series The Man from U.N.C.L.E. In 1966, McCallum capitalized on his fame with the album Music: A Bit More of Me, featuring a lounge-jazz piece produced by David Axelrod. The album included the instrumental track “The Edge,” which found an unlikely second life decades later.
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In 2000, McCallum’s 12-note intro was sampled on Dr. Dre‘s single “The Next Episode” from his 1999 album 2001, featuring Snoop Dogg, an unexpected crossover that linked the classic actor and musician to modern hip-hop culture.
Due to its distinctive, driving percussion, “The Edge” also appeared in various hip-hop and electronic tracks including Lo Fidelity Allstars’ “Somebody Needs You,” M.I.A.’s “Missin’ Linx,” and Masta Ace’s “No Regrets.” The hook went on to become a lasting piece of pop culture with its inclusion on the soundtrack to the 2008 video game Grand Theft Auto IV and in the 2017 film Baby Driver.
In 2025, the NCIS prequel series, NCIS: Origins, aired a special tribute episode to the late actor, who passed away in 2023, titled “The Edge”. The episode featured actor Adam Campbell as a young Ducky and included McCallum’s original music as a nod to his legacy as both an actor and a musician.
