DeForest Kelley
Biography
DeForest Kelley was an American actor who became internationally famous for playing Dr. Leonard Bones McCoy in Star Trek. Born in Toccoa, Georgia, he sang on local radio before he appeared in the chorus of New Moon (1940). He started his career with Fear in the Night in 1947, and his role in Variety Girl brought him a fan club, though he did not become a leading man. After stage and live television work in New York, he returned to Hollywood and spent about nine years playing mostly villains in Westerns such as Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957) and Warlock (1959). He played McCoy on television from 1966 to 1969, voiced the character in the animated series, and appeared in the first six Star Trek films, ending with Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991). In 1991 he was given a Hollywood Walk of Fame star, and in 1999 a Golden Boot award for his Western work.
79years old at death
- Born Atlanta
- Died Woodland Hills
- Star sign: AquariusFirst day of the sign, on the Capricorn cusp
- Also credited as Jackson DeForest Kelley
Movie Career
- Films
- 19
- Career span
- 51 years1947 to 1998
Share
Did you know?!
A role that slipped away
Kelley first appeared on film in the chorus of New Moon (1940). He came close to landing the lead in This Gun for Hire (1942), but the part went to Alan Ladd.
Big break
Kelley's first acting job in features was Fear in the Night in 1947, a low-budget hit that brought him national attention and made him think stardom was near.
Big break
Kelley's next part, in Variety Girl, made him a leading actor and led to the start of his first fan club.
DeForest Kelley movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Edward Dmytryk directed three of these films, Nicholas Meyer two and Leonard Nimoy two. Six actors appear in eight of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
William Shatner's page
George Takei's page
Leonard Nimoy's page
Nichelle Nichols's page
James Doohan's page
Walter Koenig's page
Edward DmytrykDirector, 3 films, 1957 to 1964
All films by Edward Dmytryk
All films by Nicholas Meyer
Box office
What DeForest Kelley's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$640 million
10 of the 19 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 19 films: 10 worldwide figure; 1 us gross only; 8 figure not found.
- 10Worldwide figure
- 1US gross only
- 8Figure not found
Highest grossing
The eight biggest films earned 99% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$139M21.8% of the total
- 2$133M20.8% of the total
- 3$97M15.1% of the total
- 4$97M15.1% of the total
- 5$87M13.6% of the total
- 6$63M9.8% of the total
- 7$12M1.8% of the total
- 8$9.1M1.4% of the total
$3.4 millionfrom the other 2 films with a worldwide figure, 1% of the total
Awards
One award and honor.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Honored | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.