January 20: Happy Birthday DeForest Kelley

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https://lebeauleblog.com/2017/01/20/...-george-burns/

DeForest Kelley (1920-1999) worked for nearly 20 years in film and television before landing the role that made him famous. Western fans would recognize him from prominent roles in Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (as Morgan Earp), The Law and Jake Wade, and Warlock. But for innumerable film and television viewers around the world, he will always be the man who was “a doctor, not a _____.”

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https://lebeauleblog.com/2018/01/21/...forest-kelley/

DeForest Kelley (1920-1999) grew up in Georgia, served in the Air Force in World War 2, and then moved to California to pursue an acting career. He made his debut starring in a low-budget 1947 film noir titled Fear in the Night, and for a brief time seemed to be being groomed for stardom by Paramount. However, he soon found himself in supporting roles. He appeared in a number of noirs, such as Canon City and Illegal. In the late 1950s he landed prominent roles in several Westerns, such as Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (as Morgan Earp), The Law and Jake Wade, and Warlock.

Kelley also did a lot of television work beginning in the late 1950s. He made several appearances on The Silent Service, an anthology series about the US Navy submarine service, and found a lot of work in Westerns at a time when they were all over the small screen. He made multiple guest appearances on series like Bonanza, The Virginian, and Death Valley Days. He also made a pair of pilots which were written by Gene Roddenberry, who went on to give Kelley the role that made him famous.


From 1966 on, Kelley’s career revolved almost entirely around Star Trek and the role of Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy—to the point that he reportedly feared that his gravestone would read “He’s dead, Jim.” He made a few attempts to pursue other parts after the Original Series ended, but found himself being typecast, so he largely retired from acting, other than the six Star Trek feature films starring the original cast, and a guest appearance on the first episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation.