DeForest Kelley
Known for Acting · 118 credits
- Born
- 1920-01-20
- Died
- 1999-06-11
- Place of birth
- Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Also known as
- Jackson DeForest Kelley · دِفارست کلی
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.
Known For
TV Shows (65)
Star Trek
1966
as Dr. McCoy
Perry Mason
1957
as Peter Thorpe
Star Trek: The Next Generation
1987
as Admiral Leonard McCoy
Bonanza
1959
as Tully / Dr. Michael Jons / Captain Moss Johnson
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
1993
as Dr. McCoy
The Fugitive
1963
as Charlie
Ironside
1967
as Mr. Fowler
The Merv Griffin Show
1962
as Self
Have Gun, Will Travel
1957
as Deakin
The Virginian
1962
as Ben Tully / Lt. Beldon
Lawman
1958
as Sam White / Bent Carr
Studio One
1948
as Bob Philo
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
1956
as Les Porter / Sherm Pickard / Logan Wheeler / Swain
The Donna Reed Show
1958
as Mr. Williams
Rawhide
1959
as Slate Prell
Matinee Theater
1955
Route 66
1960
as Willis / Harcourt
Wanted: Dead or Alive
1958
as Sheriff Steve Pax / Ollie Tate
The Lone Ranger
1949
as Bob Kittredge / Doctor Barnes / Sheriff
Gunsmoke
1955
as Will Bailey
77 Sunset Strip
1958
as Phil Wingate
Room 222
1969
as Matt Silverton
Bat Masterson
1958
as Brock Martin
Richard Diamond, Private Detective
1957
as Sheriff / Kenneth Porter
Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law
1971
as Frank Slater
Tales of Wells Fargo
1957
as Captain Cole Scofield
Alcoa Theatre
1957
as Marshal / Jake Britin
M Squad
1957
as Police Sgt. Miller / Detective
Laramie
1959
as Bart Collins / Jack
Trackdown
1957
as Perry Grimes / Brock Childers / Ed Crow / Tom Dooley
The Millionaire
1955
as Dr. Michael Wells
Laredo
1965
as Dr. David Ingram
Public Defender
1954
as Ralph Sanders
The Deputy
1959
as Styles
Studio 57
1954
as Ted Lance
The Silent Service
1957
as Lt. Comm. Enright
Black Saddle
1959
as Sam King
State Trooper
1956
as Graham Jones
Navy Log
1955
as Smithwick
The Adventures of Jim Bowie
1956
Riverboat
1959
as Alex Jeffords
Cavalcade of America
1952
Cain's Hundred
1961
as Bob Tully
Stagecoach West
1960
as Lt. Clarke
The Bold Ones: The New Doctors
1969
as Parrish
26 Men
1957
Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer
1958
as Philip Conroy
The Wonderful World of Disney
1954
as Silas Morgan (uncredited)
Science Fiction Theatre
1955
The Dakotas
1963
as Martin Volet
Star Trek
1973
as Leonard McCoy (voice)
The Gallant Men
1962
The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse
1953
You Are There
1953
as Soldier
Coronado 9
1960
as Shep Harlow
City Detective
1953
as Benjamin / Hartfield
The Lone Wolf
1954
as Ted Hopkins / Nick Kohler
Death Valley Days
1952
as Elliott Webster / Shad Cullen / Clint Rogers / Martin
Waterfront
1954
as Bob Vogelin / Bob Richards
Johnny Midnight
1960
Movies (53)
Star Trek: The Motion Picture
1979
as Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
1986
as Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral
1957
as Morgan Earp
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
1982
as Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
1989
as Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
1984
as Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy
Virtuosity
1995
as Dr. Leonard McCoy (archive footage) (uncredited)
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
1991
as Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy
The Pixar Story
2007
as Leonard McCoy (archive footage)
Night of the Lepus
1972
as Elgin Clark
Warlock
1959
as Curley Burne
Raintree County
1957
as Southern Officer
The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit
1956
as Medic (uncredited)
Canon City
1948
as Smalley
The Making of Star Trek Deep Space Nine Trials And Tribble-ations
1996
as Self
Apache Uprising
1965
as Toby Jack Saunders
Trekkies
1997
as Self
The Men
1950
as Dr. Sherman (uncredited)
The Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars
1998
as Viking 1 (voice)
Star Trek: 30 Years and Beyond
1996
as Self
Illegal
1955
as Edward Clary
The View from Pompey's Head
1955
as Jim - Hotel Clerk
40 Years of Star Trek
2006
as Self
Gunfight at Comanche Creek
1963
as Amos Troop
House of Bamboo
1955
as Charlie (uncredited)
Marriage on the Rocks
1965
as Mr. Turner
Variety Girl
1947
as Bob Kirby
Taxi
1953
as Fred (uncredited)
Star Trek: Inside the Roddenberry Vault
2016
as (archive footage)
Star Trek: 25th Anniversary Special
1991
as Self
The Bull of the West
1972
as Ben Tully
Black Spurs
1965
as Sheriff Dal Nemo
Waco
1966
as Bill Rile
The Law and Jake Wade
1958
as Wexler
Malaya
1949
as Lt. Glenson (uncredited)
William Shatner's Star Trek Memories
1996
as Self
Where Love Has Gone
1964
as Sam Corwin
Bonanza: Ride the Wind
1966
as Tully
Tension at Table Rock
1956
as Jim Breck
Town Tamer
1965
as Guy Tavenner
Fear in the Night
1947
as Vince Grayson
William Shatner: Captain's Log
1994
as Self
Star Trek: A Captain's Log
1994
as Self
A Conversation with DeForest Kelley
1993
as Self
The Edge of Innocence
1957
as Lambert
Way of Tomorrow: The Evolution of Science Fiction Movies
2022
as Self - (archive footage)
Duffy of San Quentin
1954
as Eddie Lee
Time to Kill
1945
as Peter
Duke of Chicago
1949
as 'Ace' Martin
Beyond Our Own
1947
as Bob Rogers
The Star Trek Dream
1975
as Self
Ambassador for Christ
1949
as Aram
Speak No Evil
1950
as Ted
About DeForest Kelley
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… With 118 credits spanning from 1945 to 2022, DeForest Kelley has appeared in 53 films and 65 TV shows.
Fans searching for DeForest Kelley movies, DeForest Kelley filmography, or the latest projects starring DeForest Kelley can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular DeForest Kelley Movies
- Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) — as Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy
- Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986) — as Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy
- Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957) — as Morgan Earp
- Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) — as Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy
- Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989) — as Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy
Where to Watch DeForest Kelley Films
Most DeForest Kelley movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring DeForest Kelley, check our movies catalogue and browse page.