NCIS will bid farewell to the late David McCallum in a special memorial episode scheduled for February 19 on CBS.

According to TVLine, Brian Dietzen, who plays Dr. Jimmy Palmer on the drama, will co-write the episode, which will explain Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard’s absence. Scott Williams, an executive producer, also contributed to the episode’s writing.

NCIS co-showrunners and executive producers, Steven D. Binder and David North, emphasized the significance of crafting an episode to pay tribute to the iconic actor and cherished friend. In a statement provided to TVLine, they expressed the collective sentiment within the NCIS team.

In the episode, the team will learn of Ducky’s death and reflect on their memories of him while grieving. Ducky’s thorough and sensitive character means that even after he’s gone, he manages to solve one more case with the team.

The showrunners have stated that there will be a really meaningful and memorable moment that viewers will not want to miss.

McCallum died on September 25 at the age of 90. McCallum, a fan favorite, was the last remaining original cast member on NCIS, where he played an eccentric but extremely efficient investigator with a talent for psychological profiling for 20 years.

For almost 20 years, David McCallum charmed himself to audiences all over the world as the intelligent, funny, and occasionally enigmatic Dr. Donald ‘Ducky’ Mallard, according to Binder and North.

However, those who worked alongside David adored him even more than his admirers did. He was a scholar and a gentleman, always polite, a great professional, and never passed up a joke. It was a privilege to work with him from the start, and he never failed to deliver. He was simply a legend. He was also a family member and will be much missed.