Star Walker of the Month

July, 2007

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January 20^th, 1920 – June 11^th, 1999

Deforest Kelley – A Real Gentlemen

Meeting Deforest Kelley was an event in which I was witness to both poise and humility in that he was very much the humble celebrity. While in between shooting days during the production of one of many short films projects, I had the great fortune of having met Deforest Kelley some years ago in Sherman Oaks California. Otherwise known through out the world as ‘Bones’, or the ever reverent ‘Doctor McCoy’, he was a bit cautious (as one would be being the world famous Star Trek alumni), but he was also very respectful and accommodating. Our exchange of words was very brief and simple. An exchange which went something like: “Hey man, love your work! You do such honest work!” The way he carried himself is a memory etched in my mind.

After reviewing his long list of film roles throughout a long movie career (beginning in 1945 up to one year before his death in 1999). I could not help but notice one very obvious pattern, a consistent hard working work ethic. A brief look at his incredible life below reveals years and years of hard work.

Jackson DeForest Kelley was delivered at home in Atlanta, Georgia, by his uncle, a prominent local physician. The son of Clara Casey Kelley and Rev. Ernest D. Kelley, a Baptist minister, DeForest lived all over the South.

After singing in the church choir, DeForest would soon discover that he enjoyed singing and was good at it. Eventually this led to solos and later performing on radio station WSB in Atlanta. As a result of his radio appearances, he won an engagement with Lew Forbes and his orchestra at the Paramount Theater.

As destiny would have it, one day, DeForest was sitting in a restaurant when John Hawke, who was doing local theater, came over and asked if he had any acting experience. Hawke worked with him to smooth out his Georgia accent, wanting DeForest to appear in a play he was directing. He auditioned and won the part. During the run of the play, a talent
scout caught his performance and felt he had a future in acting. In the evenings, he continued to appear with the Long Beach Theater Group to gain experience, while operating an elevator and 'roughnecking' for Richfield Oil during the day. Sometime later, DeForest and some friends from the group started writing and staging plays at a local radio station. This led to other radio work for him.

He was tested for the baby-faced killer in This Gun for Hire and was assured, after 13 takes, that he had the role. Unfortunately, it ultimately went to Alan Ladd and DeForest went back to the Theater Group.

In 1942, DeForest appeared as a beach bum in "The Innocent Young Man" with the Long Beach Theater Group. His co-star was a blonde, blue-eyed beauty named Carolyn Dowling. Toward the end of the play, Carolyn was to hand him a five dollar bill and say, "Here, Bill, take this money and buy yourself a drink." Carolyn used her own five dollars, with DeForest giving it back at the end of each performance. When the play closed, DeForest "forgot" to return the money and called her from the bar where he was having a drink. "I've got your five dollars, so you'd better come down here and help me spend it, or it's all going to be gone."

Their budding romance was interrupted by war and DeForest went into the Army Air Corps in New Mexico, where Carolyn visited often. Finally he was transferred to Culver City to act in a Navy training film. That was when the couple decided to get married. They found a judge that married servicemen free of charge, bought two Indian rings for 25 cents and were married on September 7, 1945.

A Paramount talent scout spotted DeForest in the Navy film and it led to a three year contract. His first film was a starring role in "Fear in the Night." It was a low-budge project, but it caught the attention of the public and became a box-office sleeper -- a real hit -- and DeForest was established as a respected actor. Shortly after that he
made "Variety Girl" and he was on his way.

A couple of years later the Kelleys decided to try their luck on the New York stage. While DeForest sought work, Carolyn got a job in the main office of Warner Brothers. While DeForest did find work on stage and live television, after three years they returned to Hollywood. He landed a part in a You Are There episode. That part led to another and another. His exceptional performance as Ike Clanton in the episode, "Last Gunfight at OK Corral" was his first role as a heavy and it brought him three
movie offers.

Trekking the Stars

For nine years DeForest primarily played heavies and found them interesting and challenging. He built up an impressive list of credits, alternating between television and motion pictures. Afraid of being type-cast, DeForest broke out of that mold by doing "Where Love Has Gone" and a television pilot called "333 Montgomery." The latter was written by an ex-cop named Gene Roddenberry. A few years later, DeForest would appear in another Roddenberry pilot, "Police Story." That didn't sell either, but it led to Star Trek and the unforgettable role of Dr. Leonard McCoy.

Acting A Profession

After Star Trek ended production, DeForest took a long, well-deserved vacation. He made a few movies and did some television, but primarily went into retirement. He says that nowadays, "Acting has become my hobby and my home has become my heart." DeForest enjoys his garden, where he tends 50+ rosebushes, reads biographies and works around the house. He also does some painting and writes poetry; his poem, "The Big Bird's Dream" is a favorite with his fans and its sequel, "The Dream Goes One" is destined for the same fame.

Commenteors – What other people have to say about this Star Walker of the Month, these commentaries are like comets and meteors, brief but prolific and enlightening – sure to leave a trail of insightfulness across your heart - what we call Commenteors.

To Star Walk – Click here and find the star of Deforest Kelley as he is forever remembered in the galaxy of the stars within the Star Walker Universe. View and watch the skies slowly fill in the coming months and years as the light of Star Walker, after Star Walker, after Star Walker fills the heavens. We do this as an interactive memorial and tribute to those who have through fate, destiny, and even under divine purpose, left the rest of us behind, as well as to those who are still with us.

Star Walker of the Month for August 2007 is?

Past Star Walkers of the Month:

June 2007 Liviu Librescu

May 2007 Watchman Nee

April 2007 Helen Hayes

March 2007 - Nelson Mandela

February 2007 - James Brown

January 2007 - Mother Teresa

December 2006 - Paul Allen Knopf

November 2006 - Princess Diana

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