1921 - 1999

DeForest Kelley portrays the cool headed Dr. McCoy. Jackson DeForest Kelley was born in Atlanta, Georgia. He was delivered to his home by his uncle, a local physician. Son of Clara Casey Kelley and Rev. Ernest D. Kelley, DeForest's early life was spent all over the south. DeForest's first entertaining life came when he signed on to sing in the church choir and he discovered that he enjoyed singing. This led to his performances on public radio station in Atlanta.Thanks to his performance, he won an engagement with Lew Forbes and his orchestra at the Paramount Theater.

DeForest soon moved to Long Beach, California to live with his Uncle Casey. There he worked as an usher in a local theater. DeForest loved the sun, surf and excitement of Long Beach and as a result told his parents that he wanted to stay. His first job was mopping floors and then to operating an elevator in a hotel.

His break came when Rohn Hawke visited him, while De was sitting in restaurant. Hawke had asked De if he had any acting experience. Hawke worked with him to smooth out his Georgia accent so that he could direct him in a play. He won the role after auditioning and thus a talent scout saw his performance and knew he had potential in acting. He continued to appear with the Long Beach Theater Group in the evenings, while also operating an elevator and at Richfield Oil. Then De and his friends started to write plays at a local radio station. This led to other radio work for him.

Later he was tested for the baby-faced killed in "This Gun For Hire" and after thirteen takes, was assured of the role. Unfortunately his good fortune went to Alan Ladd and thus De went back to the Theater group.

In 1942, De appeared as a beach bum in "The Innocent Young Man" with his Long Beach theater group. His co-star was a blonde beuaty named Carolyn, whom he later married. Carolyn handed him a five dollar bill at the end of the play and De was to use that money to buy himself a drink. Carolyn used her own five dollar bill and at the end of the play De forgot to return the money. Their romance was interrupted by the onset of was and De was listed in the Army Air Corps in New Mexico, where Carolyn would visit often. When he transferred to Culver City to act in a Navy Training Film, the two decided to marry. A judge charging nothing married them on September 7, 1945 with two 25 cents Indian rings.

Later a Paramount Talent Scout spotted De in the Navy film and it led him to a three-year contract. His first film was a starring role in "Fear In The Night". Although it was a low-budget project, De's performance established him as a respected actor. Soon after came "Variety Girl"; and soon he was on his way to stardom.

Soon after, the two couples moved to New York to try their luck there. While De was looking for work, his wife got a job in the main office of Warner Brothers. De eventually did find work on stage and live television, and after three years they returned to Hollywood. He won a role in a "You Are There"; episode, which led to another and another. His performance as Ike Clanton in "Last Gunfight At OK Corral"; was exceptional and was his first role as a heavy, which eventually led to three movie offers.

For a gruelling nine years, De played heavies and found them interesting and challenging. Building up an impressive list of credits, which alternated between television and films, De broke out of being typecast as a heavy and thus found success in "Where Love Has Gone"; and a tv-pilot called "333 Montgomery". Few years later, De appeared in a Gene Roddenberry pilot called "Police Story"; which led to eventual casting in "Star Trek".

After "Star Trek's" cancellation, De took a long, well-deserved vacation. He made a few movies and television but primarily went into retirement. "Acting has become my hobby and my home has become my heart," says De and currently he enjoys gardening his 50+rosebushes, reads biographies, works around the house, paints and writes poetry. His poem "The Big Bird's Dream" is a favorite among fans and its sequel "The Dream Goes On" is destined to be the same. De and Carolyn share their home with Myrtle, an octogenarian turtle. DeForest Kelley passed away in June of 1999, next to her wife, after a long illness.