DeForest Kelley American actor Date of Birth: 20.01.1920 Country: USA

Biography of DeForest Kelley

DeForest Kelley, whose full name was Jackson DeForest Kelley, was born in 1920 in Toccoa, Georgia, USA. From a young age, he dreamt of becoming a doctor, inspired by his brilliant physician uncle. However, his plans were derailed by the Great Depression, as his family did not have the means to afford his education.

Growing up in the Baptist community of his father's parish, Kelley's passion for singing in the church choir eventually led him to pursue a career in radio and theater at the Atlanta Paramount Theater. He later moved to Long Beach, California, to live with his uncle and began his acting career there. Initially, he planned to stay in California for only two weeks, but those two weeks turned into a year and eventually a lifelong commitment. During the day, he worked for an oil company, while in the evenings, he performed with an amateur theater group.

Kelley's acting career was interrupted by World War II when he served in the United States Army Air Forces. In 1945, he had his first film role in the short film "Time to Kill," and in 1947, he starred in the detective film "Fear in the Night" directed by Maxwell Shane. In the same year, Kelley married actress Carolyn Dowling, whom he had worked with in the theater. Due to financial constraints, their wedding ceremony was modest, and they exchanged inexpensive Native American rings.

Kelley and his wife settled in New York, where Carolyn worked at Warner Brothers' office while Kelley searched for acting opportunities. Eventually, he landed several successful supporting roles, including his appearance in the western film "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral" alongside Kirk Douglas and Burt Lancaster in 1957. This marked the beginning of his portrayal of "bad guy" characters, which became a recurring theme in his career. Kelley also appeared in numerous television series, such as "Tales of Wells Fargo," "M Squad," "Perry Mason," "Rawhide," "Bonanza," and "Route 66."

However, Kelley's most famous and beloved role, which brought him worldwide recognition, was that of Dr. Leonard McCoy in the television series "Star Trek," which began in 1966. He reprised the role in the show's continuation in 1975 and in subsequent films based on the popular storyline. Dr. McCoy became the defining role of Kelley's career, showcasing his character as a ship's doctor constantly searching for antidotes to various space ailments.

Despite not becoming a real doctor as he had dreamed of in his childhood, Kelley's profession as an actor allowed him to portray one of the most renowned doctors on screen. After retiring from acting, he dedicated himself to his favorite hobbies, such as gardening. His garden had around 50 rose bushes. He also enjoyed reading and writing poetry.

DeForest Kelley passed away on June 11, 1999, at the age of 79. Following his wishes, his remains were cremated, and his ashes were scattered at sea.