Great Escape, Man from U.N.C.L.E and NCIS star's estate revealed with huge sum left for his wife after death aged 90

The Irish Sun

30-05-2025

A LEGENDARY actor who starred on NCIS and the Great Escape has left a huge sum for his wife after he died aged 90.
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David left the whopping sum to his wife Katherine Carpenter, pictured together in 2009
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David, an original cast member of NCIS, died at the age of 90
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McCallum appeared on NCIS for 20 years and 20 seasons of the show
Credit: Handout
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McCallum (right) acted in The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Credit: Getty
McCallum's most famous role came as a secret agent in the 1960s
Now, it has been revealed that the iconic film star left nearly £100,000 when he died - all to his wife Katherine Carpenter.
Documents show his estate in England and Wales was worth £97,307 when he died.
The value of his British estate was left to his wife Katherine who was also its administrator.
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His will was made in 2010 was ratified by the Nassau County Surrogate's court, New York.
David, who was born in Glasgow, Scotland, died from natural causes and was surrounded by family in his final moments.
The seasoned actor celebrated his birthday less than a week before his death.
David had five children, from two different relationships with three from his first marriage to Jill
Ireland
- Valentine, Paul and adopted son Jason.
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Jason passed away from a drug overdose after taking a combination of painkillers and other muscle relaxants in 1989.
David also had two children when he married second wife Katherine - son Peter and daughter Sophie.
His will shows that he stipulated if his wife Katherine died before him his estate was to be left to Peter and Sophie.
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If Katherine predeceased him, the will also made provision for Paul and Valentine - his sons with Jill Ireland - who would each get $100,000.
David had a long career starring in TV series Colditz, The Invisible Man and Sapphire & Steel.
But he was probably best known for his role as mysterious Soviet agent Illya Kuryakin in The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
He was cast as Illya Kuryakin, Solo's Russian sidekick, who wore black turtleneck sweaters and had a blond haircut in the moptop style of
The Beatles
.
David received several Emmy and Golden Globe nominations before the series ended in 1968.
He also appeared alongside Steve McQueen in war movie The Great Escape.
After making
The Great Escape
, David was cast as Judas Iscariot in the 1965 John Wayne film The Greatest Story Ever Told.
More recently the Scottish-born star who lived in New York became known to a younger audience for his long-running role as a medical examiner in TV show NCIS.
David was the last remaining original cast member on NCIS and played Chief Medical Examiner Donald 'Ducky' Mallard.
The actor originally joined the show - which is a spin-off of the television show JAG - when it premiered over two decades ago in 2003.
'GIFTED ACTOR'
NCIS executive producers Steven D. Binder and David North released a statement about their longtime star at the time of his passing.
They said: 'For over twenty years, David McCallum endeared himself to audiences around the world playing the wise, quirky, and sometimes enigmatic, Dr. Donald 'Ducky' Mallard.
'But as much as his fans may have loved him, those who worked side by side with David loved him that much more."
They continued: "He was a scholar and a gentleman, always gracious, a consummate professional, and never one to pass up a joke.
"From day one, it was an honour to work with him and he never let us down. He was, quite simply, a legend. He was also family and will be deeply missed.'
NCIS studio CBS Studios also made a joint statement saying: "We are deeply saddened by the passing of David McCallum and privileged that CBS was his home for so many years.
"David was a gifted actor and author, and beloved by many around the world.
"He led an incredible life, and his legacy will forever live on through his family and the countless hours on film and television that will never go away."
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David McCallum died after a stellar film and TV career
Credit: Getty
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From left: John Leyton, David, Charles Bronson, James Garner and Nigel Stock in The Great Escape
Credit: Alamy