Person Details

Birthday:

Aliases: Jackson DeForest Kelley

Gender: Male

Place of birth: Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Homepage:

Movie Involvements: 45

TV Involvements: 43


Most Famous Work

Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia 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.

Most Famous Work

Star Trek: The Next Generation
Average
8

Star Trek: The Next Generation

(1987) Admiral Leonard McCoy
Star Trek
Average
8

Star Trek

(1966) Dr. McCoy
The Fugitive
Average
7

The Fugitive

(1963) Charlie
Bonanza
Average
8

Bonanza

(1959) Tully
Perry Mason
Average
8

Perry Mason

(1957) Peter Thorpe
Have Gun, Will Travel
Average
7

Have Gun, Will Travel

(1957) Deakin
Lawman
Average
5

Lawman

(1958) Sam White
The Silent Service
Average
0

The Silent Service

(1957) Lt. Comm. Enright

Acting

Year Character Movie/Tv
2016 (archive footage)
2007 Leonard McCoy (archive footage)
2006 Self
1998 Viking 1 (voice)
1997 Self
1996 Self
1995 Self
1994 Himself
Self
1993 Self
1991 Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy
Self
1989 Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy
1987 Admiral Leonard McCoy
1986 Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy
1984 Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy
1982 Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy
1979 Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy
1975 Self
1973 Leonard McCoy (voice)
1972 Elgin Clark
Ben Tully
1970 Tully
1967 N/A
1966 Dr. McCoy
Bill Rile
1965 Toby Jack Saunders
N/A
Guy Tavenner
Sheriff Dal Nemo
1964 Sam Corwin
1963 Amos Troop
Charlie
N/A
1962 N/A
Ben Tully
Lt. Beldon
1961 Bob Tully
1960 N/A
Lt. Clarke
N/A
N/A
1959 Alex Jeffords
Captain Moss Johnson
Dr. Michael Jons
Tully
Curley Burne
Sam King
Slate Prell
1958 Phil Wingate
Brock Martin
Sam White
N/A
Sheriff Steve Pax
Ollie Tate
Wexler
Philip Conroy
1957 Southern Officer
N/A
Lambert
N/A
Perry Grimes
Peter Thorpe
Police Sgt. Miller
Detective
Deakin
Sheriff
Kenneth Porter
Morgan Earp
Lt. Comm. Enright
Captain Cole Scofield
1956 Les Porter
Sherm Pickard
Logan Wheeler
Swain
Jim Breck
N/A
1955 Jim - Hotel Clerk
N/A
Edward Clary (as DeForest Kelly)
N/A
Will Bailey
Charlie (uncredited)
Dr. Michael Wells
1954 Silas Morgan (uncredited)
Ted Lance
Eddie Lee
Ralph Sanders
N/A
1953 N/A
N/A
Fred (uncredited)
1952 N/A
Elliott Webster
Shad Cullen
Clint Rogers
1950 Dr. Sherman (uncredited)
Ted
1949 Lt. Glenson (uncredited)
Bob Kittredge
'Ace' Martin
1948 Bob Philo
Smalley
1947 Bob Rogers
Bob Kirby
Vince Grayson
1945 Peter
Year Character Movie/Tv

Join the discussion

Please Log in to comment