DeForest Kelley | |
|---|---|
 Publicity photo of DeForest Kelley asDr. McCoy from the television programStar Trek | |
| Born | Jackson DeForest Kelley (1920-01-20)January 20, 1920 Toccoa, Georgia, U.S. |
| Died | June 11, 1999(1999-06-11) (aged 79) Los Angeles, California |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1940–1998 |
| Spouse | |
Jackson DeForest Kelley (January 20, 1920 – June 11, 1999) was an American actor, screenwriter, poet, and singer. He was known for his roles in film and televisionWesterns and achieved international fame as Dr.Leonard "Bones" McCoy of theUSS Enterprise in the television and film seriesStar Trek (1966–1991).
Kelley was born inAtlanta, Georgia. His mother was Clora (née Casey) and his father was Ernest David Kelley, a Baptist minister of Irish ancestry.[1][2][3][4] Kelley was named after pioneeringelectronics engineerLee de Forest. He later named hisStar Trek character's father "David" after his own father.[citation needed] Kelley had an older brother, Ernest Casey Kelley.[5] Kelley was immersed in his father's mission at his father's church inConyers, Georgia.[6]
Before the end of his first year at Conyers, Kelley was regularly putting to use his musical talents, and often sang solo in morning church services.[7] Kelley wanted to become a doctor like his uncle, but his family could not afford to send him to medical school. He began singing on local radio shows,[1] including an appearance onWSB AM in Atlanta. As a result of Kelley's radio work, he won an engagement with Lou Forbes and his orchestra at theParamount Theater.[8]
In 1934, the family left Conyers forDecatur, Georgia. He attended theDecatur Boys High School, where he played on the Decatur Bantams baseball team. Kelley also playedfootball and other sports. Before his graduation in 1938, Kelley got a job as adrugstorecar hop. He spent his weekends working in the local theaters.[8]
He made his film debut in the chorus ofNew Moon (1940), and nearly secured the lead role inThis Gun for Hire (1942), butAlan Ladd was chosen instead.[9]
DuringWorld War II, Kelley served as an enlisted man in theUnited States Army Air Forces from March 10, 1943, to January 28, 1946, assigned to theFirst Motion Picture Unit with the rank ofprivate first class. After an extended stay inLong 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 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 aParamount Pictures scout while appearing in aUnited States Navy training film.[10]
In 1945, Kelley married Carolyn Charlotte Meagher Dowling.[11]
Kelley's acting career began with the feature filmFear in the Night in 1947.[12] The low-budget movie was a hit, bringing him to the attention of a national audience and giving Kelley reason to believe he would soon become a star. His next role, inVariety Girl, established him as a leading actor and resulted in the founding of his firstfan club. Kelley did not become a leading man, however, and his wife Carolyn and he decided to move to New York City. He found work on stage and on live television, but after three years in New York, the Kelleys returned toHollywood.[13]
In California, he received a role in an installment ofYou Are There, anchored byWalter Cronkite.[14] He played ranch owner Bob Kitteridge in the 1949 episode "Legion of Old Timers" of the television seriesThe Lone Ranger. This led to an appearance inGunfight at the O.K. Corral asMorgan Earp (brother toBurt Lancaster'sWyatt Earp),[15] which in turn led to three movie offers, includingWarlock withHenry Fonda andAnthony Quinn.[16]
DeForest Kelley appeared in three episodes of the television seriesScience Fiction Theatre. In 1957, he had a small role as a Southern officer inRaintree County, a Civil War film directed byEdward Dmytryk, alongsideElizabeth Taylor,Montgomery Clift, andLee Marvin.[17][18] He also appeared in leading roles as a U.S. Navy submarine captain in the World War II-set television series,The Silent Service. He appeared in season one, episode five, "The Spearfish Delivers", as Commander Dempsey, and in the first episode of season two, "The Archerfish Spits Straight", as Lieutenant Commander Enright. His futureStar Trek co-starLeonard Nimoy also appeared in two different episodes of the series around the same time.[19]
Kelley appeared three times in various portrayals of thegunfight at the O.K. Corral; the first was in 1955, asIke Clanton in the television seriesYou Are There. Two years later, in the 1957 filmGunfight at the O.K. Corral, he played Morgan Earp.[9] His third appearance was in a third-seasonStar Trek episode (broadcast originally on October 25, 1968), titled "Spectre of the Gun", this time portrayingTom McLaury.[20]
Kelley, known to colleagues as "Dee",[21] also appeared in episodes ofThe Donna Reed Show,Perry Mason,Tales of Wells Fargo,Wanted: Dead or Alive,Boots and Saddles,Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre,Death Valley Days,Riverboat,The Fugitive,Lawman,Bat Masterson,Gunsmoke,Have Gun – Will Travel,The Millionaire,Rawhide, andLaredo.[22] He appeared in the 1962 episode ofRoute 66, "1800 Days to Justice" and "The Clover Throne" as Willis. He had a small role in the movieThe View from Pompey's Head.[22]
For nine years, Kelley primarily played villains.[23] He built up an extensive list of credits, alternating between television and motion pictures. He was afraid oftypecasting,[24] though, so he broke away from villains by starring inWhere Love Has Gone[25] and a television pilot called333 Montgomery.[26] The pilot was written by an ex-policeman namedGene Roddenberry, and a few years later, Kelley appeared in another Roddenberry pilot,Police Story (1967), that was again not developed into a series.[27]
Kelley also appeared in at least one radio drama, the 1957 episode ofSuspense entitled "Flesh Peddler", in which series producer William M. Robson introduced him as "a bright new luminary in the Hollywood firmament".[28]
Kelley played a doctor several times before he did so inStar Trek. In 1956, nine years before being cast as Dr. McCoy, Kelley played a small supporting role as a medic inThe Man in the Gray Flannel Suit, in which he utters the diagnosis "This man's dead, Captain" and "That man is dead" toGregory Peck.[29] In 1962, he appeared in theBonanza episode titled "The Decision", as a doctor sentenced to hang for the murder of a journalist.[30] (The judge in this episode was portrayed byJohn Hoyt, who later portrayed Dr. Phillip John Boyce, one of Leonard McCoy's predecessors, on theStar Trek pilot "The Cage".) In 1963, he appeared inThe Virginian episode "Man of Violence" as a "drinking" cavalry doctor withLeonard Nimoy as his patient.[31] (That episode was written byJohn D. F. Black, who went on to become a writer-producer onStar Trek.) Just beforeStar Trek began filming, Kelley appeared as a doctor again, in theLaredo episode "The Sound of Terror".[22]
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Kelley played Dr.Leonard "Bones" McCoy from 1966 to 1969 inStar Trek (Gene Roddenberry had offered Kelley the role ofSpock in 1964, but he refused it).[32] He reprised the character in a voice-over role inthe animatedStar Trek series (1973–74), and the first sixStar Trek motion pictures (1979 to 1991). In 1987, he also had acameo in "Encounter at Farpoint", the first episode ofStar Trek: The Next Generation, as Admiral Leonard McCoy, Starfleet Surgeon General Emeritus.[33] Several aspects of Kelley's background became part of McCoy's characterization, including his pronunciation of "nuclear" as "nucular".[34]
Kelley became a good friend ofStar Trek castmatesWilliam Shatner and Leonard Nimoy, from their first meeting in 1964. DuringTrek's first season, Kelley's name was listed in the end credits along with the rest of the cast. Only Shatner and Nimoy were listed in the opening credits. As Kelley's role grew in importance during the first season, he received a pay raise to about $2,500 per episode and received third billing starting in the second season after Nimoy.[35] Despite the show's recognition of Kelley as one of its stars, he was frustrated by the greater attention that Shatner received as its lead actor and that Nimoy received because of "Spockamania" among fans.[36]
Shy by his own admission, Kelley was the only cast member of the originalStar Trek series program never to have written or published an autobiography; the authorized biographyFrom Sawdust to Stardust (2005) was written posthumously by Terry Lee Rioux ofLamar University inBeaumont, Texas.[37] Kelley regarded "The Empath" as his favoriteStar Trek television episode.[38]
AfterStar Trek was canceled in 1969, Kelley found himself a victim of the verytypecasting he had so feared. In 1972, he was cast in the horror filmNight of the Lepus. After that, Kelley made occasional appearances on television and in film, but essentially went intode facto retirement, other than playing McCoy in theStar Trek film series.[39] By 1978, he was earning up to $50,000 ($241,000 today) annually from appearances atStar Trek conventions.[40] Like otherStar Trek actors, Kelley received little of the enormous profits that the franchise generated for Paramount, until Nimoy, as executive producer, helped arrange for Kelley to be paid $1 million forStar Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991), which was his final live-action film appearance. In 1987, he appeared in the firstStar Trek: The Next Generation episode, "Encounter at Farpoint", in which he portrayed a 137-year-old Dr. McCoy.[33] For his final film, Kelley provided the voice ofViking 1 inThe Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars.[41] Later in life, Kelley developed an interest in poetry, eventually publishing the first of two books in an unfinished series,The Big Bird's Dream andThe Dream Goes On.[42]
In 1971, he appeared inRoom 222 as Matt Silverton, a student's father.
In aTLC interview done in the late 1990s, Kelley joked that one of his biggest fears was that the words etched on his gravestone would be "He's dead, Jim". Kelley's obituary inNewsweek began: "We're not even going to try to resist: He's dead, Jim".[43] He stated the year before his death that his legacy would be the many people McCoy had inspired to become doctors; "That's something that very few people can say they've done. I'm proud to say that I have".[1] In 1991, Kelley received a star on theHollywood Walk of Fame.[44][45] In 1999, shortly before he died, he was awarded aGolden Boot award for his contribution to the genre of Western television and movies.[46]
Kelley married former actress Carolyn Charlotte Meagher Dowling in 1945, exchanging two 25-cent Indian rings. They met in 1942 when both were actors in a play and remained married for nearly 55 years until Kelley's death, living in a humble one-story ranch house inSherman Oaks, California. The couple, who had no children, "...were the most loving couple you've ever seen in your life," said Star Trek'sMajel Barrett.[47]
Kelley was diagnosed withstomach cancer in 1997,[48] from which he died on June 11, 1999, aged 79, attended by his wife at theMotion Picture and Television Country House and Hospital inWoodland Hills, Los Angeles.[47] His remains were cremated and the ashes were spread over the Pacific Ocean.[49]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | Public Prosecutor | Danny Watson | Episode: "The Case of the Man Who Wasn't There" |
| 1949–1953 | The Lone Ranger | Doctor Barnes / Sheriff / Bob Kittredge | 3 episodes |
| 1950 | Studio One | Bob Philo | Episode: "The Last Cruise" |
| 1952 | Armstrong Circle Theatre | Episode: "Breakaway" | |
| Your Jeweler's Showcase | Episode: "The Hand of St. Pierre" | ||
| 1953 | The Revlon Mirror Theater | Bert Dexter | Episode: "Dreams Never Lie" |
| The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse | Jeff | Episode: "Frozen Escape" | |
| 1953–1954 | Your Favorite Story | John Ainslee | 3 episodes |
| 1953–1954 | City Detective | Hartfield / Benjamin | 2 episodes |
| 1953–1956 | You Are There | Soldier / Al Hammill / Maj. Bremen / Ike Clanton / Lt. Col. Everton Conger | 9 episodes |
| 1954 | Waterfront | Bob Vogelin / Lloyd Allen | 2 episodes |
| The Lone Wolf | Nick Kohler / Ted Hopkins | 2 episodes | |
| Public Defender | Mr. Sanders | Episode: "The Murder Photo" | |
| Cavalcade of America | Episode: "A Medal for Miss Walker" | ||
| 1954–1955 | Mayor of the Town | Nash / Tracey | 3 episodes |
| Studio 57 | Alfred / Ted Lance | 2 episodes | |
| 1955 | The Loretta Young Show | Pilot | Episode: "Decision" |
| The Millionaire | Dr. Michael Wells | Episode: "The Iris Millar Story" | |
| 1955–1956 | Science Fiction Theatre | Dr. Milo Barton / Matt Brander / Captain Hall, M.D. | 3 episodes |
| Matinee Theatre | Alan Brecker / Frank Lawson | 2 episodes | |
| 1956 | Gunsmoke | Will Bailey | Episode: "Indian Scout" |
| Strange Stories | Harvey Harris | Episode: "Such a Nice Little Girl" | |
| 1956–1960 | Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre | Swain / Logan Wheeler / Sherm Pickard / Les Porter | 4 episodes |
| 1957 | Navy Log | Captain Smithwick / Corporal | 2 episodes |
| The O. Henry Playhouse | 2 episodes | ||
| The Adventures of Jim Bowie | Dr. Robert Taber | Episode: "An Eye for an Eye" | |
| Code 3 | Deputy Don Reason | Episode: "Oil Well Incident" | |
| Schlitz Playhouse of Stars | Jordan Haig | Episode: "Hands of the Enemy" | |
| The Web | Detective Lt. Johnny Wright | Episode: "Kill and Run" | |
| Boots and Saddles | Merriweather | Episode: "The Marquis of Donnybrook" | |
| 1957–1958 | The Silent Service | Lt. Comm. Enright / Ferrara / Commander Dempsey | Episode: "The Archerfish Spits Straight" 3 episodes |
| M Squad | Police Sgt. Miller / Detective | 3 episodes | |
| Playhouse 90 | Lambert | 2 episodes | |
| 1957–1959 | Trackdown | Tom Dooley / Ed Crow / Brock Childers / Perry Grimes | 4 episodes |
| 1958 | Steve Canyon | Radar Major | Season1/Episode 5: "Operation Jettison" |
| The Rough Riders | Lance | Episode: "The Nightbinders" | |
| 1958–1960 | Alcoa Theatre | Jake Brittin / Marshal | 2 episodes |
| 1959 | The Californians | Joe Girard | Episode: "The Painted Lady" |
| 26 Men | Ed Lacy | Episode: "Trail of Revenge" | |
| Special Agent 7 | Martin | Episode: "Border Masquerade" | |
| Northwest Passage | David Cooper | Episode: "Death Rides the Wind" | |
| Wanted Dead or Alive | Ollie Tate / Sheriff Steve Pax | 2 episodes | |
| Rawhide | Slate Prell | Episode: "Incident at Barker Springs" | |
| Mackenzie's Raiders | Charles Barron / El Halcon | Episode: "Son of the Hawk" | |
| State Trooper | Graham Jones | Episode: "The Patient Skeleton" | |
| The Lineup | Episode: "The Chloroform Murder Case" | ||
| Richard Diamond, Private Detective | Kenneth Porter / Sheriff | 2 episodes | |
| Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer | Eddie Robbins / Philip Conroy | 2 episodes | |
| 21 Beacon Street | George Manning | Episode: "The Hostage" | |
| Walt Disney Presents | Silas Morgan | Episode: "Elfego Baca: Mustang Man, Mustang Maid" | |
| Black Saddle | Sam King | Episode: "Apache Trail" | |
| 1960 | Johnny Midnight | David Lawton | Episode: "The Inner Eye" |
| Markham | Danny Standish | Episode: "Counterpoint" | |
| Two Faces West | Vern Cleary | Episode: "Fallen Gun" | |
| 1960–1961 | Lawman | Bent Carr / Sam White | 2 episodes |
| Coronado 9 | Shep Harlow / Frank Briggs | 2 episodes | |
| 1961 | Riverboat | Alex Jeffords | Episode: "Listen to the Nightingale" |
| Tales of Wells Fargo | Captain Cole Scofield | Episode: "Captain Scofield" | |
| Assignment: Underwater | Barney | Episode: "Affair in Tokyo" | |
| Stagecoach West | Lt. Clarke / Clay Henchard | 2 episodes | |
| The Deputy | Farley Styles | Episode: "The Means and the End" | |
| Bat Masterson | Brock Martin | Episode: "No Amnesty for Death" | |
| Shannon | Carlyle | Episode: "The Pickup" | |
| Cain's Hundred | Bob Tully | Episode: "The Fixer" | |
| Perry Mason | Peter Thorpe | Episode: "The Case of the Unwelcome Bride" | |
| 1961–1962 | Route 66 | Bob Harcourt Jr. / H. Norbert Willis | 2 episodes |
| 1961–1966 | Bonanza | Tully / Dr. Michael Jons / Captain Moss Johnson | 4 episodes |
| 1962 | Have Gun – Will Travel | Deakin | Episode: "The Treasure" |
| 1962–1963 | Laramie | Jack / Bart Collins | 2 episodes |
| Death Valley Days | Elliott Webster / Martin - Prisoner / Clint Rogers / Shad Cullen | 4 episodes | |
| 1963 | The Virginian | Lt. Beldon / Ben Tully | 2 episodes |
| The Gallant Men | Col. Davenport | Episode: "A Taste of Peace" | |
| The Dakotas | Martin Volet | Episode: "Reformation at Big Nose Butte" | |
| 77 Sunset Strip | Phil Wingate | Episode: "88 Bars" | |
| 1964 | Slattery's People | Gregg Wilson | Episode: "Question: Which One Has the Privilege?" |
| 1965 | The Fugitive | Charlie | Episode: "Three Cheers for Little Boy Blue" |
| The Donna Reed Show | Williams | Episode: "Uncle Jeff Needs You" | |
| 1966 | A Man Called Shenandoah | Egan | Episode: "The Riley Brand" |
| Laredo | Dr. David Ingram | Episode: "Sound of Terror" | |
| 1966–1969 | Star Trek | Dr. Leonard McCoy | 76 episodes |
| 1967 | Police Story | Lab Chief Greene | Television film |
| 1970 | Ironside | Mr. Fowler | Episode: "Warrior's Return" |
| The Silent Force | Curston | Episode: "The Judge" | |
| The Bold Ones: The New Doctors | Parrish | Episode: "Giants Never Kneel" | |
| 1971 | Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law | Frank Slater | Episode: "Make No Mistake" |
| Room 222 | Matt Silverton | Episode: "The Sins of the Fathers" | |
| 1972 | The Bull of the West | Ben Tully | Television film |
| 1973 | The ABC Afternoon Playbreak | Dr. Goldstone | Episode: "I Never Said Goodbye" |
| 1973–1974 | Star Trek: The Animated Series | Dr. McCoy (voice) | 22 episodes |
| 1974 | The Cowboys | Jack Potter | Episode: "David Done It" |
| 1981 | The Littlest Hobo | Prof. Hal Schaffer | Episode: "Runaway" |
| 1987 | Star Trek: The Next Generation | Admiral Leonard McCoy | Episode: "Encounter at Farpoint" |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Star Trek: 25th Anniversary | Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy | CD-ROM version |
| 1995 | Star Trek: Judgment Rites | ||
| 1999 | Star Trek: Secret of Vulcan Fury | Canceled |
