DeForest Kelley

Known to generations for his portrayal of the compassionate yet slightly cranky ship's doctor, Leonard "Bones" McCoy, on the classic television series "Star Trek" (NBC, 1966-69), actor DeForest Kelley created one of science fiction's most beloved and indelible characters. Following an auspicious start in film with the leading role in the noir "Fear in the Night" (1947), a disappointed Kelley quickly found himself settling for guest turns on various television series and smaller roles in films such as "House of Bamboo" (1955) and "Tension at Table Rock" (1956). Westerns quickly became Kelley's stock-in-trade, with appearances in "Gunfight at O.K. Corral" (1957) and "Warlock" (1959) being among his more notable. Although his work in the Gene Roddenberry-created pilot "333 Montgomery" (NBC, 1960) failed to materialize into a series, it impressed the writer-producer enough to win Kelley a supporting role in "Star Trek" just a few years later. His work as the unapologetically humanistic McCoy soon elevated Kelley's role to co-starring status on the iconic series. However, despite his proven talents, parts were hard to come by for the veteran actor in the aftermath of the show's cancellation. A full decade later, Kelley and the rest of the USS Enterprise crew were called back to action for the epic re-launch, "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" (1979). The franchise jumped to warp-speed with the hugely popular "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" (1982), and continued for four more installments before the original crew finally stepped off the bridge of the U.S.S.Enterprise for good. A key member of a popular cast, Kelley emerged as an actor who was universally admired by his "Star Trek" co-stars.