The obituary does not mention the other McCallum role that made a big impact on us throbbing teenagers of the 1960s. He was the simple man who grew a big brain on "The Outer Limits":
"Your ignorance makes me ill and angry."
September 26, 2023
"With his mysterious air, his Beatle haircut and his trademark black turtleneck, Mr. McCallum was a magnet for teenage fans."
"Sent on a publicity junket for the show to Louisiana State University at Baton Rouge in 1965, he was mobbed by screaming female students and had to be rescued by police officers.... 'The Man From U.N.C.L.E.' ended in 1968, and Mr. McCallum retreated happily to lower-profile roles.... But everywhere he went, he said, the Russian secret agent stalked him. 'It’s been 30 years, but I can’t escape him,' he told The Times in 1998. 'Illya Kuryakin is there 24 hours a day.'"
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I always appreciated his style. That was a great look- you guys had some cool clothes. The haircut was less Beatles and more free bowl of soup but no matter.
The spy shows like that would never work today since the government is the scheming villain fighting against innocent people to achieve its goals…
He was also a great unsung Jazz musician. Check the bottom of the post.
Now if someone would return control of my television set to me...
RIP, David. My wife thought you were just IT when she was thirteen. We didn't have a set yet that received UHF stations at my house, and that's where TMFU was. I didn't know what all the excitement was about, but the girls at my school had to get together and whisper a lot the day after the show.
Illya Kuryakin!
Loved The Man from UNCLE.
They were cool. The coolest!
They were cool. The coolest!
I read this morning that he was the last surviving escapee in The Great Escape. Of course, he didn't survive his escape very long in the movie, but apparently he was the last living actor.
David McCallum was my first encounter with a famous person. I was 14 or 15 and working in the family hardware store. I didn't recognize him until I asked him if I could help him; he said he was just browsing. Very polite. He didn't buy anything.
He was apparently acting in a summer theater show locally and was just out killing time.
I’d put “The Zanti Misfits” up against “The Sixth Finger” any day of the week.
RIP David McCallum.
I will definitely check out that Outer Limits episode.
Loved Outer Limits (in re-runs) as a kid. And a little too young for the Man from U.N.C.L.E. and never got into it. Certainly liked David McCallum and sorry at his passing but glad he made it to 90. Hope I do too (in good health).
I absolutely adored Ilya Kuryakin. The navy turtlenecks. The beatle boots.
Check out what Dr. Dre did with his composition. It's amazing the Man From U.N.C.L.E. signed off on it. That shit went platinum, worldwide, and was even performed at the Super Bowl.
I bet you David thought THAT was weird.
"The obituary does not mention the other McCallum role that made a big impact on us throbbing [sub]teenagers of the 1960s"? Ashley-Pitt, aka "Dispersal," in The Great Escape.
I always remember him from the Great Escape. Gave his life to save "Big X".
About 13 (15?) years ago, my daughter was watching an early rerun episode of NCIS on cable while I was fixing dinner in the kitchen. And when I heard Ducky's voice I said - "that sounds like Illya??!"
And that's how I became a fan of NCIS - watched those reruns every night (I think they were Seasons 1 and 2) and began to watch new seasons every year. Once McCallum and Mark Harmon left, I pretty much forgot about it.
And, of course, I was one of those teen fans in highschool.
Was always fond of this guy, and like many first saw him on U.N.C.L.E. Enjoyed him on NCIS and thought many times how cool it was he was still acting after all these years.
I had no idea about his musical background, albums and all! And a son no less who played off and on with Jackson Browne and Lucinda Williams. RIP.
"Puny humans, I smash you like bugs." While we were distracted worrying about juvenile delinquency inspired by TV's Kookie Burns, we never saw the real threat: Jeff Bezos!
“Your ignorance makes me ill and angry.” - that should be your new masthead motto, Prof!
JSM
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