'Star Trek's' Dr. 'Bones' McCoy Dies
DeForest Kelley Was 79
Kelley Photo Gallery
LOS ANGELES, Updated 10:26 p.m. June 11, 1999 -- Actor DeForest Kelley, best known for playing Dr. Leornard "Bones" McCoy on the original "Star Trek" series died today. He was 79.
Kelley died at 12:15 p.m. at the Motion Picture and Television Fund hospital, a retirement facility in Woodland Hills, Calif., reports The Associated Press.
"He'd been confined (at the hospital) for three months with a lingering illness," said longtime friend A.C. Lyles.
Lyles was a producer at Paramount Pictures who hired the actor for several of his Westerns when Kelly was a contract player at the studio.
Besides the six "Star Trek" films he was in, Kelly's earlier film credits include "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral" and "Raintree County" with Elizabeth Taylor in 1957. According to The Associated Press, he also appeared on dozens of television shows, including "Gunsmoke" and "Bonanza."
The actor became immortalized when he played the doctor on the Starship Enterprise with a country southern sensibility on the 1966-69 NBC science fiction series.
Co-star Leonard Nimoy, who played Mr. Spock, told reporters he will remember Kelley's kindness.
"He represented humanity and it fitted him well," Nimoy said. "He was a decent, loving, caring partner and will be deeply missed."
"DeForest Kelley was a Southern gentleman all of his life -- a kind, good, wonderful friend," William Shatner, who played the show's lead character Capt. James T. Kirk, said. "I will miss him."
Kelley was born Jan. 20, 1920 in Atlanta. The son of a Baptist minister, he used to sing in the church choir.
His acting career began on a whim.
"He came out to visit an uncle in Long Beach when he was 17, just out of high school, and he decided while he was out here he would try motion pictures," Lyles told reporters.
"He did a stage play in Long Beach and a Paramount talent scout named Milton Lewis saw him and brought him here, and they tested him because they were looking for a fellow to be in a film called 'This Gun for Hire,'" her said.
Kelley lost the role to Alan Ladd, and soon after went off to fight in World War II. When he returned, he was still under contract with the studio and appeared in his first picture, "Fear in the Night," said a wire service.
"And then 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 said.
"He probably did about 75 features and 75 television shows. He worked as much as he wanted to," Lyles told reporters.
In real life, Kelley was known for his great sense of humor and his skill at growing roses.
Kelley's wife Carolyn was with him when he died.
AP said funeral plans were not announced, but a memorial service would be held at Paramount.
Photo Gallery:
More info:- Visit The Official DeForest Kelley Web Site.
- See and hear all of McCoy's catch phrases.
- Download a Bones Screen Saver.
- Read about Kelley in this week's Star Fleet Dossier.
- Star Trek's Official Web site.
- Check out Kelley's movie and television career.
Denise Felder, Staff Writer
