- Born
- Died
- Birth nameJackson DeForest Kelley
- Nicknames
- De
- Bones
- Height5′ 10½″ (1.79 m)
- Jackson DeForest Kelley was born in Toccoa, Georgia, to Clora (Casey) and Ernest David Kelley.
He graduated from high school at age 16 and went on to sing at the Baptist church where his father was a minister. At age 17, he made his first trip outside the state to visit an uncle in Long Beach, California. He intended to stay for two weeks but ended up staying a year. Upon returning home, he told his parents he was moving to California to become an actor. His mother encouraged him but the idea did not go over well with his father.
In California, Kelley was spotted by a Paramount talent scout while working on a United States Navy training film. He became a reliable character actor (often in Westerns in which he often played the villain), but hit the big time when he was offered the role of the somewhat irascible Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy on the television series Star Trek (1966). He later reprised his role for a string of successful Star Trek films: Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979), Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982), Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984), Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986), Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989), and Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991).
DeForest Kelley died at age 79 of stomach cancer in his home in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles on June 11, 1999.
- IMDb mini biography by: Sarah Kilroy <sarah@erinet.com>
- SpouseCarolyn Dowling(September 7, 1945 - June 11, 1999) (his death)
- ChildrenNo Children
- ParentsErnest David KelleyClora Kelley
- RelativesCalvert DeForest(Cousin)Bebe Daniels(Cousin)
- Catchphrase: "I'm a Doctor, not a..." said whenever McCoy was forced to do something he was unfamiliar with.
- Catchphrase: "It's worse than that, he's dead, Jim!" (When Captain Kirk inquired as to the health status of a being or patient who was in bad shape)
- Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy on Star Trek (1966) and six of the Star Trek films
- Gruff voice with southern accent
- He was the most well-liked of the Star Trek (1966) cast and the only one that no one had a feud with at any point.
- The tagline "I'm a doctor, not a..." has been quoted in almost every incarnation of Star Trek (1966) on film and television.
- Was the first primary cast member from the original Star Trek (1966) series to pass away. He was also the only one to pass away in the 20th century/second millennium.
- He had originally wanted to be a doctor.
- Was the only cast member from the original Star Trek (1966) series never to write an autobiography.
- [on why he chose to play Dr. McCoy instead of Mr. Spock on Star Trek (1966)] I wouldn't have been anywhere near Leonard Nimoy. He's marvelous.
- [on his life] I'd wanted to become a doctor and couldn't - yet became the best known doctor in the galaxy.
- [on the Star Trek (1966) fans] They're the most devoted group of people and contrary to what people think, they don't have antennae coming out of their heads.
- I'm very grateful for the career that I've had. And I'm very grateful for the experiences that Star Trek has afforded me along with my past background. When I look back and think how fortunate I've been to work with some wonderful people and had some marvelous experiences, then I can look at Star Trek and think it's almost like the cream on the coffee. I don't approach it as anything but a magnificent plus.
- I thoroughly enjoyed those years. I liked Westerns for two reasons: First, it took the actor outside. They were all very physical at that time and not limited to a stage. Second, they paid my rent an awful lot.
- Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991) - $1,000,000
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content
