NCIS Star Brian Dietzen's Photos With Ducky Actor David McCallum Might Make You Cry

The death of "NCIS" star David McCallum was heartbreaking for his colleagues, but his memory won't be forgotten. Since his passing, the CBS drama's cast and crew have honored the legacies of the actor and his beloved character, Donald "Ducky" Mallard, with changes to the "NCIS" opening credits, heartfelt social media posts, and an emotional Season 21 tribute episode. Brian Dietzen, who plays Jimmy Palmer, also paid his respects to his late co-star by sharing some behind-the-scenes photos on his Instagram account.

The first photo shows Dietzen and Mallard posing in their characters' NCIS medical examiner uniforms. The second depicts Dietzen hugging his co-star while he cuts into a corpse, and the gross imagery of a cadaver isn't enough to ruin the picture's heartfelt sentimentality. The third image shows Mallard and Dietzen in a dark room illuminated by torchlight, while the fourth is arguably the most emotional as it shows the main cast standing next to an empty chair where Mallard should be.

This wasn't the only way Dietzen honored the late actor. He also co-wrote Ducky's tribute episode, "The Stories We Leave Behind," and it was a responsibility he didn't take lightly.

Going into the Ducky tribute, Brian Dietzen understood he wasn't just penning a story for himself. The "NCIS" star knew he had to satisfy the show's mourning fan base and create an engaging episode with drama and strong character work. Despite this pressure, the experience helped Dietzen cope with his grief, as he explained in an interview with Variety.

"When you lose a friend, and then you process your grief by writing something immediately, that's to be consumed by the masses — not writing and journaling about what you're feeling, but writing something for performance, for public consumption ... it was very strange in a way. But also very cathartic."

Sadly, Leroy Jethro Gibbs didn't return to say goodbye to his old friend, much to the ire of some fans. That said, there's a reason actor Mark Harmon couldn't be part of the "NCIS" Ducky tribute episode, though he might have been there if circumstances allowed him to. Still, the episode was generally very well received, as viewers tuned in with tissues to bid farewell to a character who played an instrumental part in the show's long-term success.