Actor and heavily sampled composer David McCallum dies at 90

David McCallum, the actor, composer, and multi-instrumentalist best known for his central role in the 1960s spy show The Man From U.N.C.L.E., has passed away. An official account for the ongoing police procedural NCIS, where McCallum found work later in life, shared the news on X Monday evening (September 25). McCallum was 90 years old.

Born in Glasgow to two concert musicians, McCallum grew up in London and studied acting at the Royal Academy Of Dramatic Art after a stint in the British army. He had small parts in major films such as The Great Escape and The Greatest Story Ever Told before scoring the co-starring role of Russian agent Illya Kuryakin in The Man From U.N.C.L.E., which ran from 1964–1968.

McCallum’s time on The Man From U.N.C.L.E. was the most fruitful period in his musical career as well. In 1966 and ’67, he released four albums of instrumental music, all produced by the prolific David Axelrod. His catchy, groove-based tunes have been heavily sampled in hip-hop and elsewhere. His best-known (and most sampled) track, “The Edge,” was most famously used by Dr. Dre for both the iconic intro and core loop of “The Next Episode.” And his song “House of Mirrors” was clipped by DJ Shadow for his soundtrack to the 2000 documentary film Dark Days.

After his time on U.N.C.L.E., McCallum dedicated the rest of his professional life to acting. He is survived by Katherine, his wife of more than 50 years.