DeForest Kelley
Acting
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
Acting118
movieWay of Tomorrow: The Evolution of Science Fiction Movies
2022
Self - (archive footage)
movieStar Trek: Inside the Roddenberry Vault
2016
(archive footage)
movieThe Pixar Story
2007
Leonard McCoy (archive footage)
movieThe Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars
1998
Viking 1 (voice)
movieVirtuosity
1995
Dr. Leonard McCoy (archive footage) (uncredited)
tvStar Trek: Deep Space Nine
1993
Dr. McCoy
movieStar Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
1991
Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy
movieStar Trek V: The Final Frontier
1989
Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy
tvStar Trek: The Next Generation
1987
Admiral Leonard McCoy
movieStar Trek IV: The Voyage Home
1986
Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy
movieStar Trek III: The Search for Spock
1984
Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy
movieStar Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
1982
Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy
movieStar Trek: The Motion Picture
1979
Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy
tvStar Trek
1973
Leonard McCoy (voice)
movieNight of the Lepus
1972
Elgin Clark
movieThe Bull of the West
1972
Ben Tully
tvOwen Marshall: Counselor at Law
1971
Frank Slater
tvRoom 222
1969
Matt Silverton
tvIronside
1967
Mr. Fowler
tvStar Trek
1966
Dr. McCoy
movieWaco
1966
Bill Rile
movieApache Uprising
1965
Toby Jack Saunders
movieMarriage on the Rocks
1965
Mr. Turner
tvLaredo
1965
Dr. David Ingram
movieTown Tamer
1965
Guy Tavenner
movieBlack Spurs
1965
Sheriff Dal Nemo
movieWhere Love Has Gone
1964
Sam Corwin
movieGunfight at Comanche Creek
1963
Amos Troop
tvThe Fugitive
1963
Charlie
tvThe Dakotas
1963
Martin Volet
tvThe Virginian
1962
Ben Tully / Lt. Beldon
tvCain's Hundred
1961
Bob Tully
tvRoute 66
1960
Willis / Harcourt
tvStagecoach West
1960
Lt. Clarke
tvCoronado 9
1960
Shep Harlow
tvLaramie
1959
Bart Collins / Jack
tvRiverboat
1959
Alex Jeffords
tvBonanza
1959
Captain Moss Johnson / Tully / Dr. Michael Jons
tvThe Deputy
1959
Styles
movieWarlock
1959
Curley Burne
tvBlack Saddle
1959
Sam King
tvRawhide
1959
Slate Prell
tv77 Sunset Strip
1958
Phil Wingate
tvBat Masterson
1958
Brock Martin
tvLawman
1958
Sam White / Bent Carr
tvThe Donna Reed Show
1958
Mr. Williams
tvWanted: Dead or Alive
1958
Sheriff Steve Pax / Ollie Tate
tvMickey Spillane's Mike Hammer
1958
Philip Conroy
movieRaintree County
1957
Southern Officer
tvTrackdown
1957
Perry Grimes / Brock Childers / Ed Crow / Tom Dooley
tvAlcoa Theatre
1957
Marshal / Jake Britin
tvPerry Mason
1957
Peter Thorpe
tvM Squad
1957
Police Sgt. Miller / Detective
tvRichard Diamond, Private Detective
1957
Sheriff / Kenneth Porter
movieGunfight at the O.K. Corral
1957
Morgan Earp
tvThe Silent Service
1957
Lt. Comm. Enright
tvTales of Wells Fargo
1957
Captain Cole Scofield
tvDick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
1956
Les Porter / Logan Wheeler / Sherm Pickard / Swain
movieTension at Table Rock
1956
Jim Breck
State Trooper
1956
Graham Jones
movieThe Man in the Gray Flannel Suit
1956
Medic (uncredited)
movieThe View from Pompey's Head
1955
Jim - Hotel Clerk
movieIllegal
1955
Edward Clary
tvNavy Log
1955
Smithwick
tvGunsmoke
1955
Will Bailey
movieHouse of Bamboo
1955
Charlie (uncredited)
tvThe Millionaire
1955
Dr. Michael Wells
tvThe Wonderful World of Disney
1954
Silas Morgan (uncredited)
tvStudio 57
1954
Ted Lance
tvWaterfront
1954
Bob Vogelin / Bob Richards
tvThe Lone Wolf
1954
Ted Hopkins / Nick Kohler
movieDuffy of San Quentin
1954
Eddie Lee
tvPublic Defender
1954
Ralph Sanders
tvCity Detective
1953
Benjamin / Hartfield
tvYou Are There
1953
Soldier
movieTaxi
1953
Fred (uncredited)
tvDeath Valley Days
1952
Elliott Webster / Shad Cullen / Clint Rogers / Martin
movieThe Men
1950
Dr. Sherman (uncredited)
movieMalaya
1949
Lt. Glenson (uncredited)
tvThe Lone Ranger
1949
Bob Kittredge / Doctor Barnes / Sheriff
movieDuke of Chicago
1949
'Ace' Martin
tvStudio One
1948
Bob Philo
movieCanon City
1948
Smalley
movieBeyond Our Own
1947
Bob Rogers
movieVariety Girl
1947
Bob Kirby
movieFear in the Night
1947
Vince Grayson
tvPublic Prosecutor
1947
Danny Watson