NCIS fans moved by touching tribute to Ducky star David McCallum in season 22

NCIS has launched its 22nd season and has once again paid tribute to David McCallum who was behind Donald "Ducky" Mallard from the very beginning.

Although David McCallum intended to bring back his character Ducky in season 21, his untimely death in September 2023 at the age of 90 left fans and the NCIS cast heartbroken.

In a moving gesture, the celebrated CBS series honoured the late actor in an episode titled The Stories We Leave Behind, with the NCIS team delving into a retrospective cold case as a salute to their beloved associate.

Season 22 sees NCIS return with a familiar ensemble, including Agent Jessica Knight (portrayed by Katrina Law), who resumed her role following a brief break from the squad. 

However, what caught audiences off-guard was yet another earnest commendation to McCallum and his iconic character in the third instalment of the newest series, The Trouble With Hal.

The show began with Agent Nick Torres (Wilmer Valderrama) proposing the conversion of Ducky's vacated office into a workout area, sparking a debate within the ranks.

Concerns emerged regarding whether Jimmy Palmer (Brian Dietzen) would consent to changes in the office. Nevertheless, he expressed that he believed his old mentor would approve of repurposing the space.

Kasie Hines (Diona Reasonover) later uses the office for meditation and Director Leon Vance (Rocky Carroll), keen on retaining Duckys old files, insists the filing cabinets should stay untouched for their invaluable content.

The decision was ultimately made to dub it the "Dr Donald Mallard Memorial Multi-Purpose Room".

However, when Vance mentioned concerns that the name might be a tad lengthy, Jimmy's suggestion of "just Ducky's" led to his boss remarking: "As in 'meet me at Ducky's'", effectively sealing the room's fate with this catchy moniker.

Fans were quick to notice this adorable homage, flooding social media with their appreciation for the show's gesture.

Expressions of fan devotion were clear, with one enthusiast penning: "Thanks for giving us some more Ducky love (Ducky's) #NCIS 'those we leave behind' Palmer's respect and love for his mentor."

Another offered praise, saying: "'Meet me at Ducky's Place...' A perfect tribute to our beloved Dr Mallard."

A different admirer shared: "Ducky's office is now a multi purpose room. I love it", while another affirmed: "They're calling it Ducky's! I'm obsessed."

NCIS season 22 continues every Monday on CBS.