Image of DeForest Kelley

DeForest Kelley

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia 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.


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Born:
Jan 20, 1920 In Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Movie/TV Credits:
78
First Appeared:
In the movie Fear in the Night 1947-04-10
Latest Project:
Movie Star Trek: Inside the Roddenberry Vault 2016-12-05
Known For
Poster of Ride the Wind
Poster of Waco
Poster of The Dakotas
Poster of The Adventures of Jim Bowie
Filmography
Movie Star Trek: Inside the Roddenberry Vault (archive footage) 2016-12-05
Movie The Pixar Story Leonard McCoy (archive footage) 2007-08-28
Movie 40 Years of Star Trek Self 2006-01-01
Movie The Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars Viking 1 (voice) 1998-05-19
Movie Trekkies Self 1997-10-18
Movie William Shatner's Star Trek Memories Self 1995-01-01
Movie Star Trek: A Captain's Log Himself 1994-11-30
Movie Star Trek: 25th Anniversary Special Self 1991-09-28
Movie Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy 1991-12-06
Movie Star Trek V: The Final Frontier Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy 1989-06-09
Series Star Trek: The Next Generation Admiral Leonard McCoy 1987-09-28
Movie Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy 1986-11-26
Movie Star Trek III: The Search for Spock Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy 1984-06-01
Movie Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy 1982-06-04
Movie Star Trek: The Motion Picture Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy 1979-12-07
Series Star Trek Leonard McCoy (voice) 1973-09-08
Movie The Bull of the West Ben Tully 1972-05-04
Movie Night of the Lepus Elgin Clark 1972-10-04
Movie Ride the Wind Tully 1970-02-27
Series Ironside Unknown 1967-03-28
Movie Waco Bill Rile 1966-09-01
Series Star Trek Dr. McCoy 1966-09-08
Movie Black Spurs Sheriff Dal Nemo 1965-05-28
Movie Town Tamer Guy Tavenner 1965-07-07
Series Laredo Unknown 1965-09-16
Movie Apache Uprising Toby Jack Saunders 1965-12-29
Movie Where Love Has Gone Sam Corwin 1964-11-02
Series The Dakotas Unknown 1963-01-07
Movie Gunfight at Comanche Creek Amos Troop 1963-11-06
Series The Fugitive Unknown 1963-09-17
Series The Virginian Unknown 1962-09-19
Series The Gallant Men Unknown 1962-10-05
Series Cain's Hundred Unknown 1961-09-19
Series Johnny Midnight Unknown 1960-01-03
Series Coronado 9 Unknown 1960-09-06
Series Route 66 Unknown 1960-10-07
Movie Warlock Curley Burne 1959-05-15
Series Rawhide Unknown 1959-01-09
Series Riverboat Unknown 1959-09-13
Movie The Law and Jake Wade Wexler 1958-06-06
Series The Donna Reed Show Unknown 1958-09-24
Series Wanted: Dead or Alive Unknown 1958-09-06
Series Lawman Unknown 1958-10-05
Series Bat Masterson Unknown 1958-10-08
Series 77 Sunset Strip Unknown 1958-10-10
Series Have Gun, Will Travel Unknown 1957-09-14
Series Richard Diamond, Private Detective Unknown 1957-07-01
Movie Gunfight at the O.K. Corral Morgan Earp 1957-05-30
Series M Squad Unknown 1957-09-20
Series Trackdown Unknown 1957-10-04
Series Perry Mason Unknown 1957-09-21
Series 26 Men Unknown 1957-11-01
Movie The Edge of Innocence Lambert 1957-10-31
Movie Raintree County Southern Officer 1957-12-20
Series The Adventures of Jim Bowie Unknown 1956-09-07
Series Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre Unknown 1956-10-05
Movie Tension at Table Rock Jim Breck 1956-10-03
Movie House of Bamboo Charlie (uncredited) 1955-07-01
Series Gunsmoke Unknown 1955-09-10
Series The Millionaire Unknown 1955-01-19
Movie The View from Pompey's Head Jim - Hotel Clerk 1955-11-04
Series Navy Log Unknown 1955-09-20
Series Matinee Theater Unknown 1955-10-31
Movie Illegal Edward Clary (as DeForest Kelly) 1955-10-09
Series The Lone Wolf Unknown 1954-01-01
Series Studio 57 Unknown 1954-09-21
Movie Duffy of San Quentin Eddie Lee 1954-03-16
Series You Are There Unknown 1953-02-01
Movie Taxi Fred (uncredited) 1953-01-21
Series City Detective Unknown 1953-09-07
Series Cavalcade of America Unknown 1952-10-01
Movie The Men Dr. Sherman (uncredited) 1950-08-25
Movie Duke of Chicago 'Ace' Martin 1949-03-15
Movie Malaya Lt. Glenson (uncredited) 1949-12-27
Movie Canon City Smalley 1948-06-30
Series Studio One Unknown 1948-11-07
Movie Fear in the Night Vince Grayson 1947-04-10
Movie Variety Girl Bob Kirby 1947-08-29