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DeForest Kelley
Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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"…
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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.
Filmography
Movies and shows, newest first
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2022
Way of Tomorrow: The Evolution of Science Fiction Movies
Movie Self - (archive footage)
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2016
Star Trek: Inside the Roddenberry Vault
Movie (archive footage)
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2007
The Pixar Story
Movie Leonard McCoy (archive footage)
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2006
40 Years of Star Trek
Movie Self
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1998
The Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars
Movie Viking 1 (voice)
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1997
Trekkies
Movie Self
- 1996
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1996
Star Trek: 30 Years and Beyond
Movie Self
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1996
William Shatner's Star Trek Memories
Movie Self
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1995
Virtuosity
Movie Dr. Leonard McCoy (archive footage) (uncredited)
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1994
Star Trek: A Captain's Log
Movie Self
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1994
William Shatner: Captain's Log
Movie Self
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1993
A Conversation with DeForest Kelley
Movie Self
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1993
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
TV show Dr. McCoy
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1991
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
Movie Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy
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1991
Star Trek: 25th Anniversary Special
Movie Self
More credits
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1989
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
Movie Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy
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1987
Star Trek: The Next Generation
TV show Admiral Leonard McCoy
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1986
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
Movie Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy
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1984
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
Movie Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy
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1982
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
Movie Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy
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1979
Star Trek: The Motion Picture
Movie Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy
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1975
The Star Trek Dream
Movie Self
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1973
Star Trek
TV show Leonard McCoy (voice)
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1972
Night of the Lepus
Movie Elgin Clark
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1972
The Bull of the West
Movie Ben Tully
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1971
Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law
TV show Frank Slater
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1969
The Bold Ones: The New Doctors
TV show Parrish
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1969
Room 222
TV show Matt Silverton
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1967
Ironside
TV show Mr. Fowler
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1967
Space Seed
Movie Dr. McCoy
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1966
Star Trek
TV show Dr. McCoy
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1966
Waco
Movie Bill Rile
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1966
Bonanza: Ride the Wind
Movie Tully
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1965
Apache Uprising
Movie Toby Jack Saunders
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1965
Marriage on the Rocks
Movie Mr. Turner
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1965
Laredo
TV show Dr. David Ingram
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1965
A Man Called Shenandoah
TV show Egan
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1965
Town Tamer
Movie Guy Tavenner
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1965
Black Spurs
Movie Sheriff Dal Nemo
