Known For
Acting
Born
Jan 20, 1920
Died
Jun 11, 1999
Place of Birth
Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Credits
118 titles
DeForest Kelley
Biography
Jackson DeForest Kelley (January 20, 1920 – June 11, 1999) was an American actor, screenwriter, poet and singer known for his iconic roles in Westerns and as Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy of the USS Enterprise in the television and film series Star Trek. Kelley was delivered by his uncle at his parents' home in Atlanta, the son of Clora (née Casey) and Ernest David Kelley, who was a Baptist minister of Irish and Southern ancestry. DeForest was named after the pioneering electronics engineer Lee De Forest, and later named his Star Trek character's father "David" after his own. Kelley had an older brother, Ernest Casey Kelley. As a child, he often played outside for hours at a time. Kelley was immersed in his father's mission in Conyers and promised his father failure would mean "wreck and ruin". Before the end of his first year at Conyers, Kelley was introduced into the congregation to his musical talents and often sang solo in morning church services. Eventually, this led to an appearance on the radio station WSB AM in Atlanta, Georgia. As a result of his radio work, he won an engagement with Lew Forbes and his orchestra at the Paramount Theater. In 1934, the family left Conyers for the community of Decatur. He attended the Decatur Boys High School where he played on the Decatur Bantams baseball team. Kelley also played football and other sports. Before his graduation, Kelley got a job as a drugstore car hop. He spent his weekends working in the local theatres. Kelley graduated in 1938. During World War II, Kelley served as an enlisted man in the United States Army Air Forces between March 10, 1943, and January 28, 1946, assigned to the First Motion Picture Unit. After an extended stay in Long Beach, California, Kelley decided to pursue an acting career and relocate to southern California permanently, living for a time with his uncle Casey. He worked as an usher in a local theater in order to earn enough money for the move. Kelley's mother encouraged her son in his new career goal, but his father disliked the idea. While in California, Kelley was spotted by a Paramount Pictures scout while doing a United States Navy training film.
Known For
Filmography
Way of Tomorrow: The Evolution of Science Fiction Movies
Self - (archive footage)
Star Trek: Inside the Roddenberry Vault
(archive footage)
The Pixar Story
Leonard McCoy (archive footage)
40 Years of Star Trek
Self
The Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars
Viking 1 (voice)
Trekkies
Self
The Making of Star Trek Deep Space Nine Trials And Tribble-ations
Self
Star Trek: 30 Years and Beyond
Self
William Shatner's Star Trek Memories
Self
Virtuosity
Dr. Leonard McCoy (archive footage) (uncredited)
Star Trek: A Captain's Log
Self
William Shatner: Captain's Log
Self
A Conversation with DeForest Kelley
Self
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Dr. McCoy
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy
Star Trek: 25th Anniversary Special
Self
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Admiral Leonard McCoy
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy
Star Trek: The Motion Picture
Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy
The Star Trek Dream
Self
Star Trek
Leonard McCoy (voice)
Night of the Lepus
Elgin Clark
The Bull of the West
Ben Tully
Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law
Frank Slater
The Bold Ones: The New Doctors
Parrish
Room 222
Matt Silverton
Ironside
Mr. Fowler
Star Trek
Dr. McCoy
Waco
Bill Rile
Bonanza: Ride the Wind
Tully
Apache Uprising
Toby Jack Saunders
Marriage on the Rocks
Mr. Turner
Laredo
Dr. David Ingram
A Man Called Shenandoah
Egan
Town Tamer
Guy Tavenner
Black Spurs
Sheriff Dal Nemo
Where Love Has Gone
Sam Corwin
Gunfight at Comanche Creek
Amos Troop
The Fugitive
Charlie
The Dakotas
Martin Volet
The Gallant Men
The Merv Griffin Show
Self
The Virginian
Ben Tully
Cain's Hundred
Bob Tully
Route 66
Willis
Stagecoach West
Lt. Clarke
Assignment: Underwater
Barney