DeForest Kelley

DeForest Kelley

Acting
Born 1920-01-20 - Died 1999-06-11Atlanta, Georgia, USA

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.

Movies (53)

Star Trek: The Motion Picture
6.5

Star Trek: The Motion Picture

1979Movie6.5
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
7.2

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

1986Movie7.2
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
7.4

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

1982Movie7.4
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
5.7

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier

1989Movie5.7
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral
7.0

Gunfight at the O.K. Corral

1957Movie7.0
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
6.6

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock

1984Movie6.6
Virtuosity
5.5

Virtuosity

1995Movie5.5
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
7.0

Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country

1991Movie7.0
Trekkies
6.4

Trekkies

1997Movie6.4
The Pixar Story
7.5

The Pixar Story

2007Movie7.5
Warlock
6.8

Warlock

1959Movie6.8
The Men
7.0

The Men

1950Movie7.0
Way of Tomorrow: The Evolution of Science Fiction Movies
2.0

Way of Tomorrow: The Evolution of Science Fiction Movies

2022Movie2.0
Malaya
6.9

Malaya

1949Movie6.9
Tension at Table Rock
6.2

Tension at Table Rock

1956Movie6.2
Night of the Lepus
4.4

Night of the Lepus

1972Movie4.4
Marriage on the Rocks
5.8

Marriage on the Rocks

1965Movie5.8
Illegal
6.5

Illegal

1955Movie6.5
40 Years of Star Trek
3.8

40 Years of Star Trek

2006Movie3.8
The Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars
5.7

The Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars

1998Movie5.7
Duffy of San Quentin
6.2

Duffy of San Quentin

1954Movie6.2
House of Bamboo
6.2

House of Bamboo

1955Movie6.2
The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit
6.7

The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit

1956Movie6.7
Raintree County
6.4

Raintree County

1957Movie6.4
Star Trek: A Captain's Log
5.7

Star Trek: A Captain's Log

1994Movie5.7
Variety Girl
6.5

Variety Girl

1947Movie6.5
Duke of Chicago
7.0

Duke of Chicago

1949Movie7.0
Black Spurs
6.3

Black Spurs

1965Movie6.3
Star Trek: 25th Anniversary Special
5.9

Star Trek: 25th Anniversary Special

1991Movie5.9
The Making of Star Trek Deep Space Nine Trials And Tribble-ations

The Making of Star Trek Deep Space Nine Trials And Tribble-ations

1996Movie
Bonanza: Ride the Wind
7.4

Bonanza: Ride the Wind

1966Movie7.4
The Law and Jake Wade
6.7

The Law and Jake Wade

1958Movie6.7
The View from Pompey's Head
3.8

The View from Pompey's Head

1955Movie3.8
Town Tamer
6.8

Town Tamer

1965Movie6.8
Gunfight at Comanche Creek
5.9

Gunfight at Comanche Creek

1963Movie5.9
Waco
6.7

Waco

1966Movie6.7
Apache Uprising
6.4

Apache Uprising

1965Movie6.4
Where Love Has Gone
6.1

Where Love Has Gone

1964Movie6.1
Star Trek: 30 Years and Beyond
5.6

Star Trek: 30 Years and Beyond

1996Movie5.6
Canon City
6.2

Canon City

1948Movie6.2
Star Trek: Inside the Roddenberry Vault
5.8

Star Trek: Inside the Roddenberry Vault

2016Movie5.8
The Bull of the West
5.7

The Bull of the West

1972Movie5.7
Fear in the Night
5.5

Fear in the Night

1947Movie5.5
William Shatner: Captain's Log
2.0

William Shatner: Captain's Log

1994Movie2.0
The Star Trek Dream
1.5

The Star Trek Dream

1975Movie1.5
Speak No Evil

Speak No Evil

1950Movie
Time to Kill
7.0

Time to Kill

1945Movie7.0
Beyond Our Own
9.0

Beyond Our Own

1947Movie9.0
William Shatner's Star Trek Memories
4.8

William Shatner's Star Trek Memories

1996Movie4.8
The Edge of Innocence

The Edge of Innocence

1957Movie
Taxi
6.8

Taxi

1953Movie6.8
A Conversation with DeForest Kelley

A Conversation with DeForest Kelley

1993Movie
Ambassador for Christ

Ambassador for Christ

1949Movie

TV Shows (66)

Perry Mason
7.7

Perry Mason

1957Series7.7
Star Trek: The Next Generation
8.4

Star Trek: The Next Generation

1987Series8.4
Star Trek
8.0

Star Trek

1966Series8.0
The Donna Reed Show
6.5

The Donna Reed Show

1958Series6.5
Bonanza
7.5

Bonanza

1959Series7.5
Ironside
6.8

Ironside

1967Series6.8
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
7.9

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

1993Series7.9
The Merv Griffin Show
6.8

The Merv Griffin Show

1962Series6.8
The Fugitive
7.3

The Fugitive

1963Series7.3
The Virginian
6.5

The Virginian

1962Series6.5
Have Gun, Will Travel
7.3

Have Gun, Will Travel

1957Series7.3
Tales of Wells Fargo
7.2

Tales of Wells Fargo

1957Series7.2
Matinee Theater
5.3

Matinee Theater

1955Series5.3
Rawhide
7.2

Rawhide

1959Series7.2
The Lone Ranger
6.8

The Lone Ranger

1949Series6.8
Lawman
6.0

Lawman

1958Series6.0
Route 66
6.7

Route 66

1960Series6.7
Gunsmoke
6.7

Gunsmoke

1955Series6.7
Room 222
6.1

Room 222

1969Series6.1
Studio One
5.4

Studio One

1948Series5.4
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
6.2

Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre

1956Series6.2
The Millionaire
5.8

The Millionaire

1955Series5.8
Bat Masterson
6.4

Bat Masterson

1958Series6.4
Wanted: Dead or Alive
7.0

Wanted: Dead or Alive

1958Series7.0
Richard Diamond, Private Detective
6.8

Richard Diamond, Private Detective

1957Series6.8
77 Sunset Strip
7.2

77 Sunset Strip

1958Series7.2
Laramie
6.7

Laramie

1959Series6.7
The Deputy
6.5

The Deputy

1959Series6.5
State Trooper
5.7

State Trooper

1956Series5.7
Studio 57
7.5

Studio 57

1954Series7.5
Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law
6.5

Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law

1971Series6.5
City Detective
7.5

City Detective

1953Series7.5
Laredo
6.4

Laredo

1965Series6.4
The Adventures of Jim Bowie
5.3

The Adventures of Jim Bowie

1956Series5.3
Trackdown
6.9

Trackdown

1957Series6.9
M Squad
5.4

M Squad

1957Series5.4
Navy Log
5.2

Navy Log

1955Series5.2
You Are There
6.0

You Are There

1953Series6.0
Star Trek
6.9

Star Trek

1973Series6.9
Riverboat
6.5

Riverboat

1959Series6.5
Alcoa Theatre
7.0

Alcoa Theatre

1957Series7.0
Public Defender
6.3

Public Defender

1954Series6.3
Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer
6.8

Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer

1958Series6.8
Black Saddle
6.2

Black Saddle

1959Series6.2
Cain's Hundred
5.2

Cain's Hundred

1961Series5.2
Cavalcade of America
4.6

Cavalcade of America

1952Series4.6
The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse
8.5

The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse

1953Series8.5
26 Men
5.0

26 Men

1957Series5.0
The Bold Ones: The New Doctors
4.8

The Bold Ones: The New Doctors

1969Series4.8
Stagecoach West
6.7

Stagecoach West

1960Series6.7
The Wonderful World of Disney
7.9

The Wonderful World of Disney

1954Series7.9
Science Fiction Theatre
6.3

Science Fiction Theatre

1955Series6.3
The Lone Wolf
8.0

The Lone Wolf

1954Series8.0
Coronado 9
6.7

Coronado 9

1960Series6.7
The Dakotas
6.5

The Dakotas

1963Series6.5
The Silent Service
8.0

The Silent Service

1957Series8.0
Waterfront
7.5

Waterfront

1954Series7.5
Assignment: Underwater

Assignment: Underwater

1960Series
The Gallant Men
8.0

The Gallant Men

1962Series8.0
Death Valley Days
6.6

Death Valley Days

1952Series6.6
Johnny Midnight
7.0

Johnny Midnight

1960Series7.0
Revlon Mirror Theatre

Revlon Mirror Theatre

1953Series
The Man from Blackhawk
6.7

The Man from Blackhawk

1959Series6.7
A Man Called Shenandoah
6.9

A Man Called Shenandoah

1965Series6.9
Public Prosecutor
8.0

Public Prosecutor

1947Series8.0
Star Trek The Original Series
8.0

Star Trek The Original Series

1966Series8.0