DeForest Kelley died today (June 11) in California at the age of 79. Kelley apparently had been fighting a long battle against illness - some reports said emphysema. He had been married for 55 years, which has to be a record in Hollywood.

Much as Kirk and Spock were the 'stars' of Star Trek, I think the way in which Kelley developed the character of McCoy made him the most endearing of the 'Big Three'. I know that ST:G moved the movies from Classic Trek to Next Gen, but with the first death of a cast member from TOS, it brings home that all good things must come to an end eventually...

By MikeC on Friday, June 11, 1999 - 08:06 pm:

Perhaps the next ST:TNG movie will graciously have some mention of the death of Admiral McCoy, with Ambassador Spock mourning his loss. (The "Big Three", in the mainstream Trek universe, is now just "One")

I always admired how Kelley always threw himself into the mix, giving his all, even on the lesser scripts.

By Eric Brones on Friday, June 11, 1999 - 10:02 pm:

I Grew up with the Original Star Trek, Unlike today's younger Generation whose first experience with Star Trek is usually found with the Next Generation Crew. And while I have enjoyed The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine and to a lessor extent
Voyager, the Orignal Crew will always have a special place in my Heart. Especially the one by the name of DR. Mcoy. Deforest you will be missed more than you could ever know.

By Brian Lombard on Friday, June 11, 1999 - 10:08 pm:

I actually cried when I heard about this. I haven't cried in 20 years. Bones, you will be missed.

By Anonymous on Friday, June 11, 1999 - 10:15 pm:

Star Trek's DeForest Kelley Dead

DeForest Kelley, best known as Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy on the original Star Trek series and for his oft-repeated line, "He's dead, Jim," died this afternoon at the Motion Picture and Television Fund Hospital, according to the City News Service. He was 79.

"He'd been confined [at the hospital] for three months with a lingering illness," says longtime friend and Paramount producer A.C. Lyles. "I talked to him last night, and he was looking forward to going to UCLA for some experimental program, hoping he'd be admitted to participate."

Although his role as the cranky Dr. McCoy secured him a place in the pop culture annals, Kelley started acting in 1947, starring in Fear in the Night. He also had supporting parts in Gunfight at the O.K. Corral with Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas, and Raintree County with Elizabeth Taylor, as well as dozens of television roles.

"[He] just did a lot of things and Gene Roddenberry saw him and put him with Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner in Star Trek," Lyles says.

Nimoy, who played Mr. Spock on the 1966-69 science fiction series, recalls Kelley's kindness.

"He represented humanity and it fitted him well," Nimoy says. "He was a decent, loving, caring partner and will be deeply missed."

After the series ended, Kelley's jobs were mostly limited to Trek-ian fare, including all six Trek movies and a guest appearance on an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation (in which Leonard McCoy had finally been promoted to Admiral). He also did voice work in the 1998 animated movie The Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars.

Kelley is survived by his wife of nearly 55 years, Carolyn, who was with him when he died.

"She has been in a room next door [at the hospital] for 15 months with a broken leg (and other complications)," Lyles says.

By Anonymous on Friday, June 11, 1999 - 10:17 pm:

Goodbye, Dr. McCoy

by Joal Ryan
June 11, 1999, 3:15 p.m. PT

DeForest Kelley, who, as Star Trek's folksy spaceman Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy, frequently issued the dire (and trademark) "He's dead, Jim" diagnosis, died today at the Motion Picture and Television Country Home and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California. He was 79.

Kelley was pronounced dead at 12:15 p.m. Longtime friend and producer A.C. Lyles told reporters the star had been confined to the hospital for three months, suffering from a "lingering illness."

Kelley is the first major member of the USS Enterprise's original on-air crew to pass away. Franchise creator Gene Roddenberry died in 1991. Actor Mark Lenard, a familiar face in the series and movies as Mr. Spock's Vulcan father, died in 1996.




With William Shatner's Captain Kirk and Leonard Nimoy's Mr. Spock, Kelley's Bones McCoy formed the original Trek's holy troika. They were the three guys who got the biggest storylines, the best billing, the most money and the clearest shots at post-Trek careers.

"He represented humanity, and it fitted him well," Nimoy said today in a statement. "He was a decent, loving, caring partner and will be deeply missed."

Kelley costarred as Bones on the 1966-69 NBC series and in six Trek movies--from 1979's Star Trek: The Motion Picture to 1991's Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, the last to feature the entire original cast.

Flowers were to be placed tonight on Kelley's Hollywood Walk of Fame star.

Prior to donning the blue shirt that was the sign of a Starfleet medical officer, Kelley wore another kind of uniform--a cowboy get-up. He worked extensively in TV westerns of the 1950s and '60s, piling up credits on shows such as Rawhide, The Virginian and Zane Grey Theater.

Born January 20, 1920, in Atlanta, Georgia, Kelley was inspired to pursue acting as a teenager during a visit to an uncle in Long Beach, California. He was discovered by a talent scout for Paramount Pictures while appearing in a stage play there. A contract didn't materialize, though, until after he returned from a tour in World War II.

His first film was 1947's Fear in the Night. Soon, he became a workhorse on the Paramount lot, appearing in dozens of grind-'em-out flicks.

"He always played the heavy," Lyles said to Los Angeles' City News Service. "He was a great heavy, in contrast to what he is in person."

In 1957, Kelley won the role of Morgan Earp in Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, with Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas. He returned to the Corral in the 1968 Trek episode, "Spectre of the Gun," although the second time around he was on the side of the Clantons, not the Earps.

It was Trek, of course, that brought him his most indelible role. If not quite the sci-fi show's comic relief, then he was its ascerbic aside. It was McCoy's Bones who bickered with Spock to loosen up the pointy-eared guy. In Trek lore, Bones' greatest bond was with his ship's captain, James T. Kirk--the "Jim" of "He's dead, Jim."

After the series met an uncelebrated end in 1969, McCoy went back to episodic TV work--and started on the unexpected, never-ending Trekkie convention circuit. His most notable non-Trek film of the period was 1972's killer-bunny horror flick, Night of the Lepus.

Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Carolyn, who was being treated at the same hospital as her spouse for a broken leg and other complications.

By Anonymous on Friday, June 11, 1999 - 10:27 pm:

DeForest Kelley's Early Years
DeForest Kelley was born in Atlanta, Georgia, January 20, 1920. As a youngster, he sang at the church where his father was a Baptist minister and also had a singing engagement with the Lew Forbes Orchestra during that time. He graduated from high school at 16. At seventeen he made his first trip outside the state to visit an uncle in Long Beach, California. He intended to stay for 2 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 didn't go over well with his father. In California, Kelley was spotted by a Paramount scout while doing a Navy Training film. He went on acting in many westerns and eventually played the role of Dr. Leonard McCoy which changed his life forever.
If you ask De what he is doing today, he will say, "I'm living in the valley with the very same wife." Carolyn and De were married Sept. 7th, 1945. They are still very happily married and living in the valley.
DeForest Kelley's Movie Career

The Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars (1998) .... voice of Viking Satelite
William Shatner's Star Trek Memories (1996) .... himself
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991) .... Doctor Leonard "Bones" McCoy
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989) .... Doctor Leonard "Bones" McCoy
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (Nov.26, 1986) .... Doctor Leonard "Bones" McCoy
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (Jun. 6, 1984) .... Doctor Leonard McCoy
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (Jun. 4, 1982) .... Doctor Leonard "Bones" McCoy
Star Trek: The Motion Picture (Dec. 7, 1979) .... Doctor Leonard "Bones" McCoy
Night of the Lepus (Jun. 29, 1972) .... Elgin Clark
Apache Uprising (Jan. 12, 1966) .... Toby Jack Saunders
Waco (Aug. 5, 1966) ..... Bill Rile
Black Spurs (Apr. 30, 1965) .... First Sheriff
Marriage on the Rocks (Sept. 14, 1965) .... Mr. Turner
Town Tamer (Jul. 19, 1965) .... Guy Tavenner
Gunfight at Comanche Creek (Mar. 4, 1964) ...... Amos Troop
Where Love Has Gone (Oct. 14, 1964) .... Sam Corwin
Two Faces West (1961) ..... a heavy
Warlock (Apr. 1, 1959) .... Curley Burne
Law and Jake Wade, The (Jun. 4, 1958) .... Wexler
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (May 15, 1957) .... Morgan Earp
Raintree County (Oct. 9, 1957) ..... Southern Officer
Man in the Gray Flannel Suit, The (1956) .... Medic
Tension at Table Rock (Oct. 3, 1956) .... Jim Breck
Illegal (Aug. 20, 1955) .... Ed Clary
View from Pompey's Head, The (Oct. 21, 1955) .... Jim, a Hotel Clerk
House of Bamboo (Jul. 1, 1955) ....... Charlie
House of Fear (English title for House of Bamboo) ..... Charlie
Taxi (Jan. 13, 1953) ..... Fred
Men, The (1950) ...... Intern
... aka Battle Stripe (1950)
Duke of Chicago (1949) .... Ace Martin
Canon City (1948) .... Smalley
Beyond Our Own (a religious film) (1947)
Fear in the Night (Feb., 1947) .... Vince Grayson
Variety Girl (Jul. 16, 1947) .... Bob Kirby
Time to Kill (Navy Training Film) (1945)
DeForest Kelley's TV-Shows:

Hollywood Commandos (1996).....Himself 77 Sunset Strip "88 Bars" (Nov. 1, 1963) ..... Phil Wingate
ABC Matinee Today (Dec. 3, 1973) ..... Mr. Goldstone
Alcoa Theater "333 Montgomery" (Jun. 13, 1960) .....Jake Brittin
Alcoa Theater "Johnny Risk" (Jun. 16, 1958)
Armstrong Circle Theater
Assignment: Underwater "Affair in Tokyo" (1960)
Bat Masterson (Mar. 30, 1961)
Black Saddle "Apache Trail" (Oct. 20, 1959)
Bob Hope Chrysler Theatre
Bold Ones: the Doctors
Bonanza "Decision" (Dec. 16, 1962) ..... Dr. Michael Johns
Bonanza "Honor of Cochise" (Oct. 8, 1961) ..... Capt. Moss Johnson
Bonanza "Ride The Wind" 2 parts (Jan. 16, 1966) ..... Tully
Cavalcade of America "Medal for Miss Walker" (1954)
Code Three "Oil Well Incident" (1956)
Coronado 9 "Loser's Circle" (1959)
Cowboys, The "Dave Done It" (Jun. 2, 1974)
Crime Syndicated
Dakotas, The "Reformation at Big Nose Butte" (Apr. 1, 1963)
Danger Death Valley Days "Breaking Point" (Jun. 6, 1962) ..... Cullen
Death Valley Days "Devil's Gate" (Jun. 6, 1962) .... Cullen
Death Valley Days "Lady of the Plains"
Deputy "Means and the End" .... Elliot Webster
Donna Reed Show "Uncle Jeff Needs You" .... William
FBI
Frontier Justice "Shadow of a Dead Man" (Aug. 31, 1959) .... Logan Wheeler
Fugitive, The "Three Cheers for Little Boy Blue" (Oct. 19, 1965)
Gallant Men, The "Taste of Peace" (Mar. 16, 1963) .... Col. Davenport
Gallery of Mme Liu-Tsong (Sep., 1951) Gunsmoke "Indian Scout" (Mar. 24, 1956) .... Will Bailey
Have Gun, Will Travel "Treasure" (Dec. 29, 1962) .... Deakin
Ironside "Warrior's Return" (Mar. 5, 1970) .... Fowler
Johnny Midnight "Inner Eye" (Jun. 14, 1961) .... David Lawton
Laramie "Gun Duel" (Dec. 25, 1962) .... Bart Collins
Laramie "Unvanquished" (Mar. 12, 1963)
Laredo "Sound of Terror" (Apr. 7, 1966) .... Dr. David Ingram
Lawman "Squatters" (Jan. 29, 1961)
Lawman "Thimblerigger" (Feb. 28, 1960)
Lineup, The "Chloroform Murder Case" (May 22, 1959)
Littlest Hobo (1964)
The Lone Ranger "Death in the Forest" (1952) Dr. David Barns
The Lone Ranger "Gold Train" (Mar. 17, 1950) Sherrif Bart McCall
The Lone Ranger "Legion of the Old Timers" (Oct. 6, 1949) .... Bob Kittredge
M Squad "Diamond Hard" (Nov. 29, 1957)
M Squad "Hideout" (Mar. 28, 1958) .... Detective
M Squad "Pete Loves Mary" (Oct. 11, 1957)
Man Called Shenandoah "Riley Brand" (Aug. 16, 1966) .... Egan
Markham "Counterpoint" (Aug. 25, 1960) Matinee Theatre "Beyond a Reasonable Doubt" (Nov. 8, 1955)
Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer "Bride and Doom" (Apr. 19, 1961) .... Conroy The Millionaire "Millionaire: Iris Millar" (Oct. 19, 1955) .... intern
Navy Log
Northwest Passage "Death Rides the Wind" (Jan. 16, 1959)
O. Henry Playhouse "Hiding of Black Bill" (Mar. 24, 1958)
Owen Marshall "Make No Mistakes" (Oct. 14, 1971) .... Frank Slater
Perry Mason "Case of the Unwelcome Bride" (Dec. 16, 1961) .... Peter Thorpe
Plainclothesman
Playhouse 90
Police Story (Sep. 8, 1967) .... Lab Chief Green
Primetime Live (1990)
Rawhide "Incident at Barker Springs (Feb. 20, 1959) Slate Prell
Richard Diamond PE (Aug. 30, 1959)
Richard Diamond PE "Adjuster" (Dec. 7, 1959) .... Ken Porter
Richard Diamond PE "Fine Art of Murder" (May 24, 1959)
Riverboat "Listen to the Nightingale" (Jan. 2, 1961) .... Alex Jeffords
Room 222 "Suitable for Framing" (Oct. 22, 1971) .... Judge Matt Silverton
The Rough Riders "Night Binders" (Nov. 20, 1958) .... Lance
Route 66 "1800 Days to Justice" (Jan. 22, 1962) .... Bob Harcourt
Route 66 "Clover Throne" (Jan. 27, 1961)
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Science Fiction Theatre "Long Day" (Dec. 23, 1955)
Science Fiction Theatre "Survival in Box Canyon" (Oct. 12, 1956) .... Dr. Milo Barton
Science Fiction Theatre "Y.O.R.D." (May 6, 1955) .... Capt. Hall (doctor)
Silent Force "Judge" (Oct. 19, 1970) .... Curston
Silent Service "Archerfish Spits Straight" (Mar. 7, 1958) .... Joe Enright
Silent Service "Gar Story" (Oct. 11, 1957)
Silent Service "Spearfish Delivers" (May 3, 1957)
Slattery's People "Question: Which One has the Privilege" (Dec. 7, 1964) .... Gregg Wilson
Stagecoach West "Big Gun" (Apr. 25, 1961) Lt. Clarke
Stagecoach West "Image of a Man" (Jan. 31, 1961) .... Clay Henchard
Star Trek (1966-1969) 79 Episodes (1966-1969) .... Dr. Leonard McCoy
Star Trek: The Animated Series [Stimme] (1973-1975)
Star Trek 25th Anniversary Special (1991)
Star Trek 30th Anniversary Special (1996)
Star Trek: The Next Generation(1987) Encounter at Farpoint
Studio 57 "Storm Signal"
Studio One (1951)
Tales of Wells Fargo "Captain Scoville" (Aug. 7, 1961) .... Cole Scoville
Tallahasse 7000 (1958 or 1961)
Trackdown "Dooley Boys" (1959) Tom Dooley
Trackdown "End of an Outlaw" (Nov. 29, 1957)
Trackdown "Hard Lines" (Mar. 11, 1959) Ed Crow
Trackdown "Jailbreak" (May 2, 1958) Brock Childers
Two Faces West "Fallen Gun" (1960) .... Verne Cleary
Virginian "Duel at Shiloh" (Jan. 2, 1963) .... Ben Tully
Virginian "Man of Violence" (Dec. 25, 1963) .... Dr. Belden
Wanted: Dead or Alive
Wanted: Dead or Alive
Wanted: Dead or Alive
Wanted: Dead or Alive "Hostage" (Oct. 10, 1959)
Wanted: Dead or Alive "Secret Ballot" (Feb. 14, 1959) .... Steve Pax
Web (1957)
The Westerner "Village of Fear"(Apr 19, 1962) .....Sherm Prichard
The Westerner "Apache Trail" ....... Sam King
Wild, Wild, West
You Are There
You Are There
You Are There
You Are There
You Are There
You Are There
You Are There
You Are There
You Are There "Capture Of John Wilkes Booth" (Sept. 6, 1953)
You Are There "Fall of Fort Sumter" (Sep. 2, 1956)
You Are There "Gunfight at the OK Corral" (Nov. 6, 1955) .... Ike Clayton
You Are There "Rescue of the American Prisoners from Sant" (Oct. 9, 1955)
You Are There "Surrender of Corregidor" (Apr. 25, 1954)
Your Favorite Story "Inside Out" (Aug. 2, 1954) .... John Ainslee
Your Favorite Story "Man Who Sold His Shadow" (May 31, 1953)
Your Jeweler's Showcase "Hand of St. Pierre
Zane Grey Theater "Shadow of a Dead Man" (Apr. 11, 1958) .... Logan Wheeler
Zane Grey Theater "Stage for Tucson" (Nov. 16, 1956) Les Porter

DeForest Kelley's TV-Shows:

Hollywood Commandos (1996).....Himself 77 Sunset Strip "88 Bars" (Nov. 1, 1963) ..... Phil Wingate
ABC Matinee Today (Dec. 3, 1973) ..... Mr. Goldstone
Alcoa Theater "333 Montgomery" (Jun. 13, 1960) .....Jake Brittin
Alcoa Theater "Johnny Risk" (Jun. 16, 1958)
Armstrong Circle Theater
Assignment: Underwater "Affair in Tokyo" (1960)
Bat Masterson (Mar. 30, 1961)
Black Saddle "Apache Trail" (Oct. 20, 1959)
Bob Hope Chrysler Theatre
Bold Ones: the Doctors
Bonanza "Decision" (Dec. 16, 1962) ..... Dr. Michael Johns
Bonanza "Honor of Cochise" (Oct. 8, 1961) ..... Capt. Moss Johnson
Bonanza "Ride The Wind" 2 parts (Jan. 16, 1966) ..... Tully
Cavalcade of America "Medal for Miss Walker" (1954)
Code Three "Oil Well Incident" (1956)
Coronado 9 "Loser's Circle" (1959)
Cowboys, The "Dave Done It" (Jun. 2, 1974)
Crime Syndicated
Dakotas, The "Reformation at Big Nose Butte" (Apr. 1, 1963)
Danger Death Valley Days "Breaking Point" (Jun. 6, 1962) ..... Cullen
Death Valley Days "Devil's Gate" (Jun. 6, 1962) .... Cullen
Death Valley Days "Lady of the Plains"
Deputy "Means and the End" .... Elliot Webster
Donna Reed Show "Uncle Jeff Needs You" .... William
FBI
Frontier Justice "Shadow of a Dead Man" (Aug. 31, 1959) .... Logan Wheeler
Fugitive, The "Three Cheers for Little Boy Blue" (Oct. 19, 1965)
Gallant Men, The "Taste of Peace" (Mar. 16, 1963) .... Col. Davenport
Gallery of Mme Liu-Tsong (Sep., 1951) Gunsmoke "Indian Scout" (Mar. 24, 1956) .... Will Bailey
Have Gun, Will Travel "Treasure" (Dec. 29, 1962) .... Deakin
Ironside "Warrior's Return" (Mar. 5, 1970) .... Fowler
Johnny Midnight "Inner Eye" (Jun. 14, 1961) .... David Lawton
Laramie "Gun Duel" (Dec. 25, 1962) .... Bart Collins
Laramie "Unvanquished" (Mar. 12, 1963)
Laredo "Sound of Terror" (Apr. 7, 1966) .... Dr. David Ingram
Lawman "Squatters" (Jan. 29, 1961)
Lawman "Thimblerigger" (Feb. 28, 1960)
Lineup, The "Chloroform Murder Case" (May 22, 1959)
Littlest Hobo (1964)
The Lone Ranger "Death in the Forest" (1952) Dr. David Barns
The Lone Ranger "Gold Train" (Mar. 17, 1950) Sherrif Bart McCall
The Lone Ranger "Legion of the Old Timers" (Oct. 6, 1949) .... Bob Kittredge
M Squad "Diamond Hard" (Nov. 29, 1957)
M Squad "Hideout" (Mar. 28, 1958) .... Detective
M Squad "Pete Loves Mary" (Oct. 11, 1957)
Man Called Shenandoah "Riley Brand" (Aug. 16, 1966) .... Egan
Markham "Counterpoint" (Aug. 25, 1960) Matinee Theatre "Beyond a Reasonable Doubt" (Nov. 8, 1955)
Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer "Bride and Doom" (Apr. 19, 1961) .... Conroy The Millionaire "Millionaire: Iris Millar" (Oct. 19, 1955) .... intern
Navy Log
Northwest Passage "Death Rides the Wind" (Jan. 16, 1959)
O. Henry Playhouse "Hiding of Black Bill" (Mar. 24, 1958)
Owen Marshall "Make No Mistakes" (Oct. 14, 1971) .... Frank Slater
Perry Mason "Case of the Unwelcome Bride" (Dec. 16, 1961) .... Peter Thorpe
Plainclothesman
Playhouse 90
Police Story (Sep. 8, 1967) .... Lab Chief Green
Primetime Live (1990)
Rawhide "Incident at Barker Springs (Feb. 20, 1959) Slate Prell
Richard Diamond PE (Aug. 30, 1959)
Richard Diamond PE "Adjuster" (Dec. 7, 1959) .... Ken Porter
Richard Diamond PE "Fine Art of Murder" (May 24, 1959)
Riverboat "Listen to the Nightingale" (Jan. 2, 1961) .... Alex Jeffords
Room 222 "Suitable for Framing" (Oct. 22, 1971) .... Judge Matt Silverton
The Rough Riders "Night Binders" (Nov. 20, 1958) .... Lance
Route 66 "1800 Days to Justice" (Jan. 22, 1962) .... Bob Harcourt
Route 66 "Clover Throne" (Jan. 27, 1961)
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Science Fiction Theatre "Long Day" (Dec. 23, 1955)
Science Fiction Theatre "Survival in Box Canyon" (Oct. 12, 1956) .... Dr. Milo Barton
Science Fiction Theatre "Y.O.R.D." (May 6, 1955) .... Capt. Hall (doctor)
Silent Force "Judge" (Oct. 19, 1970) .... Curston
Silent Service "Archerfish Spits Straight" (Mar. 7, 1958) .... Joe Enright
Silent Service "Gar Story" (Oct. 11, 1957)
Silent Service "Spearfish Delivers" (May 3, 1957)
Slattery's People "Question: Which One has the Privilege" (Dec. 7, 1964) .... Gregg Wilson
Stagecoach West "Big Gun" (Apr. 25, 1961) Lt. Clarke
Stagecoach West "Image of a Man" (Jan. 31, 1961) .... Clay Henchard
Star Trek (1966-1969) 79 Episodes (1966-1969) .... Dr. Leonard McCoy
Star Trek: The Animated Series [Stimme] (1973-1975)
Star Trek 25th Anniversary Special (1991)
Star Trek 30th Anniversary Special (1996)
Star Trek: The Next Generation(1987) Encounter at Farpoint
Studio 57 "Storm Signal"
Studio One (1951)
Tales of Wells Fargo "Captain Scoville" (Aug. 7, 1961) .... Cole Scoville
Tallahasse 7000 (1958 or 1961)
Trackdown "Dooley Boys" (1959) Tom Dooley
Trackdown "End of an Outlaw" (Nov. 29, 1957)
Trackdown "Hard Lines" (Mar. 11, 1959) Ed Crow
Trackdown "Jailbreak" (May 2, 1958) Brock Childers
Two Faces West "Fallen Gun" (1960) .... Verne Cleary
Virginian "Duel at Shiloh" (Jan. 2, 1963) .... Ben Tully
Virginian "Man of Violence" (Dec. 25, 1963) .... Dr. Belden
Wanted: Dead or Alive
Wanted: Dead or Alive
Wanted: Dead or Alive
Wanted: Dead or Alive "Hostage" (Oct. 10, 1959)
Wanted: Dead or Alive "Secret Ballot" (Feb. 14, 1959) .... Steve Pax
Web (1957)
The Westerner "Village of Fear"(Apr 19, 1962) .....Sherm Prichard
The Westerner "Apache Trail" ....... Sam King
Wild, Wild, West
You Are There
You Are There
You Are There
You Are There
You Are There
You Are There
You Are There
You Are There
You Are There "Capture Of John Wilkes Booth" (Sept. 6, 1953)
You Are There "Fall of Fort Sumter" (Sep. 2, 1956)
You Are There "Gunfight at the OK Corral" (Nov. 6, 1955) .... Ike Clayton
You Are There "Rescue of the American Prisoners from Sant" (Oct. 9, 1955)
You Are There "Surrender of Corregidor" (Apr. 25, 1954)
Your Favorite Story "Inside Out" (Aug. 2, 1954) .... John Ainslee
Your Favorite Story "Man Who Sold His Shadow" (May 31, 1953)
Your Jeweler's Showcase "Hand of St. Pierre
Zane Grey Theater "Shadow of a Dead Man" (Apr. 11, 1958) .... Logan Wheeler
Zane Grey Theater "Stage for Tucson" (Nov. 16, 1956) Les

http://members.tripod.com/~Nimoy_Kelley/kelley.html

By aNONYMOUS on Friday, June 11, 1999 - 10:33 pm:

DAMMIT JIM! HE'S MY HERO, NOT A DOCTOR!
("Photo courtesy of Kris Smith")...Article Copyright 1995 by Kris Smith
"Excuse me... but what's a nice (apparently sane) girl like you doing down on your hands and knees on the Hollywood Walk of Fame?" you may ask.

Go ahead. Ask.

If you really MUST know, I'm polishing the star of actor DeForest Kelley, keeping it in tiptop shape... the way it was on the day it was presented to him in 1991.

"Does he pay you to do this?"

Heavens, no! Are you kidding? Absolutely not! I volunteered for this!

"What does HE think about it?"

You are VERY nosey. But okay. Here goes. One time he cautioned me, "Just don't get arrested." What does THAT tell you? It probably embarrasses him. Too bad, so sad. He's stuck with me.

"Then you ARE crazy."

DE-mented. There's a fine line, here! I'm DE-mented: crazy about De.

"Why?"

Why?!

"Yes. Why?"

It's a LONG story. Nearly 30 years long.

"We have the time."

Well! I'm a fan! For starters.

"He has millions of fans. Not too many of them are down on their hands and knees every Sunday polishing his star."

Okay. I'm a fan. That's how it started. I wasn't a fanatic fan at first, you know. Just a fan fan. Thought he was cute, and had always enjoyed his portrayals in westerns, and I LOVED the way he handled Spock and Kirk. He was the ONLY one on that starship who could straighten those two out and get away with it. I LOVED that.

Well, then I had the chance to MEET him. In person. Me. A timid, shy, scared 17 year old. And he was so gracious, so appreciative, so benevolent, so UN-self-important, that I --- I just fell totally in love with him. (With HIM AND HIS WIFE, CAROLYN! Let me clarify this right now, in case The National Enquirer or The Globe is lurking nearby in the bushes!) I was so taken with him that I wrote an essay for creative writing class all about meeting him, telling how wonderful he was. The essay impressed the teacher and he suggested that I send a copy of it to Mr. Kelley. Well, I freaked! I did not -- categorically DID NOT -- write to TV stars! I told him that flatly. He suggested, "Look, if YOU impressed somebody as much as he obviously impressed YOU, wouldn't YOU want to know?" "Well, sure!" I countered, "but he's an ACTOR! He gets that ten times an hour!" "SEND THE ESSAY!" the teacher ordered. I complied. (He was, after all, the guy who decided my grades, and evaluated my character and such as that. He had me at a distinct disadvantage!)

Besides, I figured, DeForest's SECRETARY would get the essay -- and she'd toss it LONG before HE ever laid eyes on it, wouldn't she? Of course! So, what was I worried about?

Only -- guess what? DeForest's secretary is HIS WIFE! She didn't throw the essay away. She handed it to him and together they decided to send it to an entertainment magazine for consideration as a published article! And the magazine ACCEPTED it! And DeForest wrote to tell me this!

I tell ya, my parents had to peel me off the ceiling -- for WEEKS -- several times a day!

"So... Your favorite actor launched your freelance writing career?"

YES! And that's just the beginning! How much time do we have left?

"Not a lot. Can you capsulize the rest?"

Well, THEN --- 18 years later (how's that for capsulizing? We've gone from 1968 to 1986 at warp speed!) -- the 20th anniversary of STAR TREK came along! I had successfully been published in DOZENS of magazines and newspapers by then but hadn't stayed in touch with the Kelleys to let them know, so I figured I'd attend a TREK convention that had DeForest as a guest (my first TREK con ever!) and try to get a chance to thank him privately for being the one to prove to me I really WAS ready to write successfully! I dropped a brief note to him (via Paramount), jocularly warning him to PREPARE FOR A LONG-OVERDUE HUG!!! Well, of course as soon as I did that, I realized the presumption inherent in the ridiculous idea, and nearly scared myself out of attending! The 17 year old shyness and timidity reasserted itself and I felt like a bimbo for even having IMAGINED writing him a note like that! Of all the nerve! He was an ICON at this stage! He was my childhood HERO! What was I DOING, sending him something as INANE and UNDIGNIFIED as a HUG ALERT!!!

"So, THAT'S the first time you noticed you were slipping the surly bonds of sanity?"

No, no, no! That's not it at all! I'm PERFECTLY SANE! WAIT! I just polish his star! You have no PROOF yet!

"Continue."

O.K. So I went to the con, feeling darned sheepish. Even took my ten year old nephew along as my "cover", my reason for being there. ("He loves McCoy... Don't you, Philip?") Because I was pretty broke at the time, I stayed in a tent at a campground at night and drove to the convention hotel each of the three mornings. Because I was pretty sure that the hug and a brief meeting was a fond fantasy of MINE, and mine ALONE, it never occurred to me that DeForest and Carolyn Kelley were searching for me by phone in the con hotel and in surrounding hotels! But they were!!! When nothing came of their efforts, they concluded I had been unable to make the trip as originally indicated, and gave up.

Incidentally, I tried the first day of the convention to locate them, "just in case". I asked the front desk at the convention hotel if they could get a note to the Kelleys for me. Absolutely not, they assured me. The Kelleys were not staying at this hotel, and they had no idea where they WERE staying, and it was just impossible. So I figured that was that. (No convention hotel in its right mind is going to agree to contact a celebrity for fans, or they'd never have time to do anything ELSE! I understood.)

Sunday finally rolled around. This was DE-Day... the day that DeForest Kelley would address the "congregation". I sat on the floor in the aisle toward the front of the auditorium, audiotaping every word. Toward the end of his presentation, with only minutes to go, I was wound up like a top, knowing that if I didn't raise my hand and thank him now, the opportunity would slip away and I never WOULD get to say what I had gone there to tell him. I raised my hand into the sea of upraised hands, and -- call it a miracle -- he picked it!

I said, "I just wanted to thank you for launching my writing career."

De looked at me and inquired, "Are YOU Kris?!"

"Yes," I said, feeling totally flabbergasted.

"I've been looking all over for you!" he exclaimed -- before the entire audience! He proceeded to tell them that I was a writer he had discovered and whose career he had proudly launched! A Phil Donohue type ran down the aisle to me and thrust a microphone in my face, expecting me to react. React?! I was SPEECHLESS! Finally, I uttered quietly (into the mike, so "only" De could hear it? HAH!) "May I give you a hug?" "YOU CERTAINLY MAY!" he smiled, and I was up there at warp seven (while every female Trekkie in the audience audibly sighed and as flashbulbs exploded relentlessly) hugging him and patting him on the back and thanking him and trying not to take up too much of his remaining time with his audience! He told me, "We're proud of you. Keep up the good work." I dived back to my spot on the floor and my nephew inquired, "Did you cry?" "No," I said. "But almost." Then I asked little Phil, "Were you embarrassed when I asked him for a hug?" "No!" he asserted. "I WAS PROUD!"

The next morning -- again planned by Fate, I no longer have ANY doubt -- I was in the lobby talking to a computer specialist when the Kelleys came through on their way to the car which would carry them to the airport for their flight home. The crowd gasped when they saw him and pushed forward in his direction. Instantly timid again, I hung back, figuring I had had my moments with him, and that now it was someone else's turn. De spotted me and grinned, "Kris! Good morning!" and took Carolyn's arm to guide her through the throng in my direction. Totally flabbergasted yet again, I headed in their direction to make the trek less arduous at their end. De introduced me to Carolyn and she grinned and took my hands in hers, telling me they had often wondered what happened to the little girl who had written so well. I told them quickly of successes as a writer and Carolyn said, "Stay in touch! Don't disappear again! Send us your articles!" I said I would and again they headed for their ride to the airport.

This gets even better. Because I'm good at following directions, I did begin to write to them in earnest, to the point where De began to joke at conventions about receiving his "daily letter" from me! In 1989 I moved to southern California to try and land a job in the entertainment industry and once again, the inconceivable happened. The man who had launched my writing career now dedicated himself to helping me get my foot in the door in Hollywood! And he and Carolyn helped me with an even TOUGHER chore: searching for a home to rent with a landlord who would accept a knee-high serval (a wildcat native to Africa) which I had rescued as a kitten!!

I now work at WARNER BROS. If anyone were to ask me whether the person I have become would have been possible without the encouragement, faith and devotion of the Kelleys, I would say, "No." The teenager they took under their wing (FAR earlier and more snugly than she ever even KNEW) has learned to fly, but nowhere in my book do I feel I've ever flown "alone".

The stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame should ALL be polished by one fan or another, in my opinion. Few are, because not that many fans want to be considered eccentric! But I'll take that chance. De's star shines brightest in Hollywood because his kindness has shined so brilliantly into THIS fan's life, and into the lives so many others I'd love to name.

If you, too, are a DeForest Kelley fan, you've identified one of the best souls ever to walk the planet -- ANY planet!

By Anonymous on Friday, June 11, 1999 - 10:38 pm:

MY HERO, DeFOREST KELLEY


Copyright 1996 by: Carrie Larson
Who do you think of when the word hero comes to mind? Maybe it is Batman or Superman, our caped crusaders. How about the Lone Ranger and his side kick Tonto as they kept the wild west free from outlaws and renegades.

A more up-to-date band of heroes would be the brave rescue workers and firemen from Oklahoma City. As we watched our t.v. screens during that tumultuous time, we literally watched as these heroic Americans ventured into the bombed out Federal Building. They did this in order to save lives even at the risk of losing their own. These are fine examples of gallant humans who have saved many lives. Whether they are fictional characters or real people, we still appreciate their efforts and applaud their accomplishments.

A hero is a person that unselfishly gives of himself in order to help others. They also do their best to make our world and universe a better place to live. This description of a hero, I believe, best describes the character that DeForest Kelley brought to life. That character is of course, Dr. Leonard McCoy.

How many times in the three year run of Star Trek did we witness Dr. McCoy offering up his own life in order to save others? In the episode Shore Leave the brave doctor is killed by a black knight as he gallantly protects Yeoman Tonia Barrows. I can sti ll remember how I felt when I watched this episode for the first time back in 1966. I thought that he was very brave and I still believe that.

On Miri's planet, Dr. McCoy must race against time to find an antidote for a mysterious illness. This illness has infected himself, the landing party, and the inhabitants of the planet. Without any regard for his own safety, our hero injects himself wi th the experimental antidote. Thankfully for all of us McCoy fans the antidote worked and everyone was cured.

I believe that Dr. McCoy's most heroic moment was in the episode The Empath. McCoy, Spock, and Captain Kirk were held prisoners by the aliens Lal and Thann. The captain was ordered by their captors to pick one of his officers to undergo a painful experi ment. This experiment would either kill or seriously injure either one of them.

Once again, our hero came through by volunteering himself for this grave torture. As you may remember, Dr. McCoy convinced Kirk and Spock by putting them out by using his trusty hypo.

After Kirk and Spock finally woke up and realized what had happened, they quickly went to rescue the doctor. Unfortunately, it was too late. When they found him, he was gravely injured. McCoy's only chance for survival was the empath Gem. McCoy refused her help, because he knew that she could die while helping him. Once a gain Dr. McCoy puts another life ahead of his own.

There are many instances in which our beloved Dr. Leonard McCoy performed heroic deeds. I could take up the whole article with such examples. I don't have to do that to prove that Dr. McCoy is a true hero in every sense of the word. No, he definitely is not a military man and he certainly couldn't run a star ship. That does not make him any less brave or courageous than Captain Kirk or Picard. Dr. McCoy's heroism comes from his strong willed nature and his compassionate heart. I believe that these human traits are the best qualities that any one person could have.

I give DeForest Kelley all of the credit for the great compassion and courage that makes up the Dr. McCoy character. He may not admit it, but he and his character are a lot alike. When we watch Star Trek and see just how Dr. McCoy genuinely cares for ev ery living being, that compassion comes from DeForest Kelley.

I remember in one of my many articles of DeForest Kelley, there was a comment in it from Leonard Nimoy. He said that DeForest Kelley was one of the most caring actors that he had worked with. Nimoy said that when anyone from the cast or crew was sick or had to go to the hospital, De was the first one to send flowers or a gift of encouragement.

One time, when De was at the hospital when his wife Carolyn was going to have surgery, he noticed a man who was also waiting to go in for surgery. De, the nice man that he is, went over and gave him a word of encouragement. De could have ignored him, especially since he was probably worried about Carolyn. He wouldn't ignor e this man, because as a heroic person, he couldn't. My son also experienced De's compassion and heroism when he had surgery on his chest last year.

Like me, my son Andy is a big DeForest Kelley fan. When it came time for Andy to go the hospital, it didn't surprise me in the least that he wanted to bring his Dr. McCoy action figure and his DeForest Kelley cowboy along with him.

Before he went into the operating room, we were told that he could bring a comforting item in with him. There was no doubt in his mind that he wanted his Dr. McCoy action figure. It was a comfort to Andy to have the best doctor in Starfleet watching ove r his surgery. Incidentally, Andy's surgeon's name was Dr. Leonard and my son thought of him as Leonard McCoy.

There were other things that happened during Andy's hospital stay that had a "De" connection. There are so many that I couldn't name them all in this article. I did however, write DeForest Kelley and told him about Andy's hospital experience and that his presence made it a lot easier for Andy and I thanked him for it.

When I wrote De, I never thought that he would respond back, but he did. He wrote my son a nice letter on his own personalized stationary. Knowing that DeForest Kelley cared enough to send my little son his best wishes was the absolute nicest thing that De could have done for Andy. Again this is just another example of De's heroic compassion.

The best example of heroism that DeForest Kelley has shown us is his nearly 51 years of marriage to his wife Carolyn. Loving your mate for all those many years and being devoted only to that person is no easy task. It requires a lot of compassion, under standing, and determination. I believe that anyone married that long deserves a medal!

If you didn't believe that DeForest Kelley was anything less than a hero before you read my article, I hope that you have come to believe it now. DeForest Kelley is my hero because of his great compassion for others and because of his caring heart. I am extremely honored to share my "De" story with you, because he is a true hero and I hope that other "De" fans will share their memories as well.

By Slinky Frog!!!!! on Friday, June 11, 1999 - 11:31 pm:

I don't know if I can actually let the news sink in. When I first heard the news of his passing, I was numb! Now, that I'm reading the wonderful memorials on this board and others, the tears are beginning to flow. Yes, the end of an era is here.
He will be sadly missed by me!!! I wish I have met him, like I have met and seen others at conventions. I remember a friend years ago telling me she went to a convention that Deforrest Kelley. She met him , and told me what a funny and nice guy he was! I haven't seen her in years, I wonder how she is taking the news now.
I will not know how I can face the world with one of the Original characters gone! I feel a deep void in my heart. I truly believe he is at peace. He has done so much, and entertained so many, that at least you, Mr Kelley, have left us with smiles, laughter, and warmth!!!!!To almost quote Jim Kirk, in "The Wrath Of Kahn" He was almost the most human individual that ever lived. May our warm memories of you live on. My love for you will always will.

By James on Saturday, June 12, 1999 - 12:23 am:

Very sad day. I was not surprised at the news, knowing how ill he has been, but it is a sad day.
I have a happy bond with DeForrest Kelly I would like to share, even though he never knew of it and we never met. A few years ago I read in an interview of Mr. Kelly in the Star Trek Communicator. Asked of the origin of his name, he told a story of his parents meeting the inventor Lee DeForrest shortly before his birth. Hs parents named him after the inventor, whose discoveries have made television possible. I too have my middle name of Forrest from the same man, my great uncle. The world is a lesser place with his passing. You will always be remembered as the most human and caring of healers, and a man whose life shines as an example to all.

By Todd Pence on Saturday, June 12, 1999 - 11:37 am:

I had the privelege of seeing Mr. Kelley speak at a convention in 1985, when I was still in high school. The warmth and good humor with which he treated the audience that day stand out in my mind as making him the most memorable con speaker I ever saw. Another memory I have of that day is that he was only supposed to be signing autographs for one hour after his talk, but he generously agreed to stay past that time so that everyone in line could get his signature on their picture. I was one of the ones past the original cutoff point, so this act of selflessness was needless to say, appriciated by me and the others in line. I've never known a Trek fan who wasn't a DeForrest Kelley fan, and I doubt that such an animal exists - even those younger fans weaned on TNG and DS9 and who know little of the original Trek recognize Kelley's contribution. Of all the actors on the original series, he was the one who I feel always conducted himself with the greatest humility and humanity. You will indeed be missed by us all, Bones, but you will be remembered as long as Star Trek is remembered.

By Charles Cabe (Ccabe) on Saturday, June 12, 1999 - 04:58 pm:

I think Harlan Ellison put it best when he described DeForrest Kelly this way: "He is universally considered the nicest person of all the origional cast members. Anyone who says less is automatically a jerk." I couldn't have put it better myself. He will be missed.

By cableface on Saturday, June 12, 1999 - 06:42 pm:

BONES IS DEAD.

LONG LIVE BONES.

He will be missed.

By Rodnberry on Sunday, June 13, 1999 - 02:26 am:

I just found out the news several minutes ago when I checked out CNN.com and was very saddened by it. My deepest condolences go out to Carolyn Kelley and the rest of their family. I'll miss him very much but as long as we all remember him he'll never truly be gone.

By ClintX on Sunday, June 13, 1999 - 09:39 pm:

"He's dead, Jim."

We'll miss you, Bones.

By Meg on Monday, June 14, 1999 - 10:29 am:

i will miss him. i hardly ever cry at anything, but now I am crying as I right this.

we'll miss you bones, but you have been in something that will last forever, so you will never truly be gone.

By Hans Thielman on Monday, June 14, 1999 - 12:45 pm:

Will the powers that be dedicate Voyager's season premere episode to Mr. Kelly?

By mf on Tuesday, June 15, 1999 - 11:14 am:

Even they would have to.

Wow.

••••.

By Harvey Kitzman on Tuesday, June 15, 1999 - 12:36 pm:

Rest in Peace. You will be greatly missed.

By Richie Vest on Tuesday, June 15, 1999 - 05:33 pm:

Something along the lines of deciacting Voyager's opening episode: The SCI-FI Channel did not do that with last night's (Monday) episode of TOS

By Brian Lombard on Wednesday, June 16, 1999 - 08:25 pm:

Sci-Fi should run a marathon like they did when Burgess Meredith passed away. They ran his four eps of "The Twilight Zone." They could run 3 or 4 of McCoy's best eps. I nominate "City On The Edge..", "For The World Is Hollow.....", and "Shore Leave."

By Electron on Wednesday, June 16, 1999 - 09:05 pm:

They should have a proud ship named "McCoy" in the next movie!

Rest in Peace, De!