David McCullum

One look at his long list of success. You'd think the best book to write would be an autobiography. Not so. He chose to make it a thriller, chiller drama with a twist of mystery. From the iHeart Radio Studio I'm Unplugged and Totally Uncut with actor and now author David McCallum. David McCallum was born in Scotland and came to America in 1961. His credits include over 30 books on tape and CD, and his portrayal of Illya Kuryakin in "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.," earned him two Emmy Award nominations. His many theatre productions include "Amadeus," "Communicating Doors," "The Hunting of the Snark," "Comedians," "The Lion in Winter" and "Julius Caesar." His many television appearances include "Sapphire and Steel," "Colditz," "Trainer," "The Education of Max Bickford," on CBS, "VR5," "Motherlove," "Kidnapped," "The Invisible Man," and episodes of "The Outer Limits," "Law & Order" and "Sex and the City." He currently stars as Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard in the CBS-TV hit drama NCIS His feature film credits include "The Greatest Story Ever Told," "The Great Escape," "Mosquito Squadron," "Billy Budd," "Freud" and "A Night to Remember." In the Disney animated series "The Replacements," he is the voice of the very unconventional family car. McCallum lives in New York City with his wife, Katherine, an interior designer. They have a son and a daughter. He has two sons by a previous marriage and four grandchildren. His birth date is Sept. 19. ABOUT DAVID McCALLUM’S BOOK ONCE A CROOKED MAN DAVID MCCALLUM is best known for his roles as Illya Kuryakin from The Man from U.N.C.L.E., and Ducky on NCIS. Add to his resume crime fiction novelist! McCallum has written the highly entertaining ONCE A CROOKED MAN (Minotaur Books; On-Sale: January 12, 2016; Price: $25.99), which is perfect for fans of Elmore Leonard and Lawrence Block. Kirkus Reviews has already given a rave, praising: "a comic thriller... this good-natured debut gives the reader as good a time as it has plainly afforded its author." The Bruschetti brothers have spent a lifetime in the lucrative crime underworld, and they have carefully kept a low profile all throughout the building of their business. With only a couple men in the inner circle, they have built their empire and grown their profits. But they are getting older, have achieved wealth, and the brothers wish to retire from their nefarious work. But when New York actor Harry Murphy inadvertently overhears the Bruschetti brothers plotting to tie-up loose ends, which includes the murder of someone who has their dealings, he is stricken by conscience and decides he must act. After flying to London to warn one of the intended victims, Harry is caught in a shootout, forced into a high speed chase, and then mistaken for an agent of the Bruschetti circle. In way over his head, he is soon apprehended by the British authorities – but not before they decide to put his acting skills to work, and help flush out the Bruschettis. Easier said than done when you’re really at heart a regular guy who only wanted to land that mayonnaise commercial last week. Paired with a sexy special agent, Harry is sent back to New York and put to work, but he becomes separated from his handlers and is truly on his own. What follows is a wildly tense and entertaining game of cat and mouse before it culminates in a deadly confrontation between Harry and the men who have been dealing with danger for much longer than he has. ONCE A CROOKED MAN is a polished crime fiction debut that shows McCallum's ability to wink at the reader while spinning a fun, tense, titillating tale. PRAISE FOR ONCE A CROOKED MAN “This debut novel by actor McCallum (NCIS, The Man from U.N.C.L.E.) suggests the author has spent time enjoying the crime-and-espionage farces of Donald E. Westlake and the master of the genre, Ross Thomas. He's not embarrassed by good dumb jokes (the mobsters are named the Bruschettis) or by what ensues when Harry teams up with a flirtatious British agent whose purpose is more to be the hero's partner in backchat than in bed (though they're suited there as well). McCallum also loves plot. He has a farceur's taste for seeing how many complications he can bring to any situation. This good-natured debut gives the reader as good a time as it has plainly afforded its author.” —Kirkus Reviews “There is fascinating stuff beneath the surface… McCallum gives us glimpses of tormented lives, such as the Wall Streeter with a secret and an Englishwoman crazed with vengeance for a slight done to her father. It’s Harry’s intrusion into their lives that provokes the horrors, adding some ambiguity to the usual formula, like the fact that cops can be fond of the people they track down. Even love them. This quirky novel will appeal to readers who like a bit of subtext with their thrillers.” —Booklist “An entertaining mystery… Reminiscent of darkly comedic works in which heroes spiral continuously downward, this zany tale is oddly humorous at several junctures… Readers would likely enjoy further adventures.”—Library Journal “An entertaining novel… There are surprises galore and no question is left unanswered. He paints New York City and London with a vivid brush. Harry’s portrayal of a somewhat successful bit actor is among the best.” —RT Book Review Magazine, 4 stars