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DeForest Kelley

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DeForest Kelley Veteran Famous memorial

Original Name
Jackson DeForest Kelley
Birth
Toccoa, Stephens County, Georgia, USA
Death
11 Jun 1999 (aged 79)
Woodland Hills, Los Angeles County, California, USA
Burial
Cremated, Ashes scattered at sea. Specifically: Ashes scattered in the Pacific Ocean
Memorial ID
View Source
Actor. He is best remembered for his role of 'Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy' on the "Star Trek" series of movies and television shows. His often quoted diagnosis, "He's dead, Jim," became an icon of the Star Trek shows. Born Jackson DeForest Kelley in Toccoa, Georgia, he was inspired to try acting during a visit to his uncle in Long Beach, California. The two-week stay became a year long, and upon returning to his parents in Atlanta, he announced that he was returning to California to become an actor. While acting in a training film for the United States Navy during World War II, he was spotted by a talent scout and signed to a contract with Paramount Pictures. His first film was "Fear in the Night" (1947). During the 1950s and 1960s, he was often seen in the role of a bad guy (the heavy), in western films and television shows, including the role of Morgan Earp in "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral" (1957), "The Law and Jake Wade" (1958), "Warlock" (1959), "Black Spurs" (1965), "Apache Uprising" (1966), and "Waco" (1966). He also appeared in such western television shows as "Bonanza," "The Virginian," "Zane Grey Theater," "Rawhide," and "Death Valley Days." In 1966, he was offered the role of 'Spock' in the new Star Trek television series, but chose the role of 'Dr. McCoy' instead. As Dr. McCoy, he often played a comic relief, sometimes acerbic, role in the trio of Captain 'James T. Kirk,' Commander Spock, and himself, counterbalancing the beliefs and efforts of the other two men. Leonard Nimoy (Spock) once said of him, "He represented humanity [on the show] and it fitted him well." After the television series ended in 1969, he appeared at the numerous Star Trek conventions, and returned to his traditional roles on television. In the pilot episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation," he played an admiral on an inspection tour of the Enterprise D with Commander Data. He had the line, "She's a good ship, and she has the right name. You treat her right and she'll always bring you home." He was in all six of the first six Star Trek movies, which featured the original crew of the television series. He died at the Motion Picture and Television Country Home and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California, after suffering several months from stomach cancer.
Actor. He is best remembered for his role of 'Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy' on the "Star Trek" series of movies and television shows. His often quoted diagnosis, "He's dead, Jim," became an icon of the Star Trek shows. Born Jackson DeForest Kelley in Toccoa, Georgia, he was inspired to try acting during a visit to his uncle in Long Beach, California. The two-week stay became a year long, and upon returning to his parents in Atlanta, he announced that he was returning to California to become an actor. While acting in a training film for the United States Navy during World War II, he was spotted by a talent scout and signed to a contract with Paramount Pictures. His first film was "Fear in the Night" (1947). During the 1950s and 1960s, he was often seen in the role of a bad guy (the heavy), in western films and television shows, including the role of Morgan Earp in "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral" (1957), "The Law and Jake Wade" (1958), "Warlock" (1959), "Black Spurs" (1965), "Apache Uprising" (1966), and "Waco" (1966). He also appeared in such western television shows as "Bonanza," "The Virginian," "Zane Grey Theater," "Rawhide," and "Death Valley Days." In 1966, he was offered the role of 'Spock' in the new Star Trek television series, but chose the role of 'Dr. McCoy' instead. As Dr. McCoy, he often played a comic relief, sometimes acerbic, role in the trio of Captain 'James T. Kirk,' Commander Spock, and himself, counterbalancing the beliefs and efforts of the other two men. Leonard Nimoy (Spock) once said of him, "He represented humanity [on the show] and it fitted him well." After the television series ended in 1969, he appeared at the numerous Star Trek conventions, and returned to his traditional roles on television. In the pilot episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation," he played an admiral on an inspection tour of the Enterprise D with Commander Data. He had the line, "She's a good ship, and she has the right name. You treat her right and she'll always bring you home." He was in all six of the first six Star Trek movies, which featured the original crew of the television series. He died at the Motion Picture and Television Country Home and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California, after suffering several months from stomach cancer.

Bio by: Kit and Morgan Benson



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  • Maintained by: Find a Grave
  • Added: Jun 29, 1999
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/5788/deforest-kelley: accessed ), memorial page for DeForest Kelley (20 Jan 1920–11 Jun 1999), Find a Grave Memorial ID 5788; Cremated, Ashes scattered at sea; Maintained by Find a Grave.