David McCallum, the star who starred in the spy drama of the 1960s The Man From U.N.C.L.E., has died at the age of 90. The iconic star died on Monday surrounded by his family at New York Presbyterian Hospital.
The Scottish-born star was left behind by his wife, Katherine McCallum, 56, his sons Paul McCallum, Valentine McCallum, and Peter McCallum, his daughter Sophie McCallum and his eight grandchildren.
The family of David McCallum described him as the “kindest, coolest, most patient and loving father”.
On behalf of the family, his son Peter said in a statement, “He always put family before self. He looked forward to any chance to connect with his grandchildren and had a unique bond with each of them.”
“He and his youngest grandson, Whit, could often be found in the corner of a room at family parties having deep philosophical conversations,” he added.
The star’s family added that McCallum, the star who starred in The Great Escape and NCIS, was known as a “true renaissance man… fascinated by science and culture and would turn those passions into knowledge.”
Peter, the son of the late star, said his father was able to “conducting a symphony orchestra and could perform an autopsy, based on his lengthy studies for his role on NCIS”.
Peter, after returning home from the hospital, asked his mother Katherine how she was feeling before she went to sleep, to which she replied, “I do wish we had had a chance to grow old together.”
“The honesty in that emotion shows how deep their gorgeous relationship and daily lives were, and that somehow, even at 90, Daddy never grew old,” Peter added.
McCallum, who was born in Glasgow in 1933, came from a musically gifted family, with his father David McCallum, Sr. a prominent violinist, and mother Dorothy Dorman a cellist.
McCallum, however, would seek acting after a local performance of Shakespeare’s King John was well received.
David McCallum, who died from natural causes, married Katherine Carpenter, actress and model, in 1967, including formerly married to singer Jill Ireland.
The late star’s career expanded after he featured in considerable theatre productions including The Lion in Winter and Julius Caesar.
His major break would be a move to America where he was cast in the role of undercover agent Illya Kuryakin in the TV series The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
McCallum accepted two Emmy Award nominations during the show’s run and also starred in classic war films The Great Escape and Mosquito Squadron.
His voice was also synonymous with Cartoon Network’s famous cartoon series Ben 10.
