On the NCIS episode “16 Years”, when the NCIS team investigates the murder of a retired lieutenant who was a member of a secret society that solves cold cases, Dr. Donald “Ducky” Mallard (David McCallum) reveals that he’s a member of the society, too. NCIS showrunner and exec producer Gary Glasberg explains: “I don’t know if it is as much a secret society as it is a small group of slightly eccentric civilians, who like to get together in the wee small hours, and take on cases that others have forgotten about.” Glasberg adds, “Ducky initially gets involved [with the Sherlocks] as a means of socializing and getting out a bit.”
The head of the secret society of Sherlocks is Judith McKnight. She’s portrayed by Jessica Walter. The native New Yorker launched her career on Broadway but she’s best known for her roles on the TV shows Arrested Development (Lucille Bluth), 90210 (Tabitha Wilson), One Life to Live (Eleanor Armitage), Coach (Susan Miller), Trapper John, M.D. (Melanie Townsend McIntyre), Three’s A Crowd (Claudia Bradford), and a number of characters on The Love Boat. And then of course there’s her stellar, scary performance in the 1971 film Play Misty For Me
