Jackson DeForest Kelley (1920 - 1999)

Born 20 Jan 1920 in Toccoa, Stephens County, Georgia, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Caroline Charlotte (Meagher) Kelley — married 7 Sep 1945 (to 11 Jun 1999) in Culver City, Los Angeles County, California, United States

Died 11 Jun 1999 at age 79 in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles County, California, United States

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Biography

Dee Kelley is Notable.

Jackson DeForest Kelley was born on 20 January 1920 in Toccoa, Stephens County, Georgia, about 90 miles from Atlanta. The son of Rev. Ernest David Kelley (1883-1966), a Southern Baptist minister, and his wife, Clora S (Casey) Kelley (abt.1893-1956), he was delivered by Dr. Luther H. Kelley, his uncle, at his home.^[1]

DeForest "Dee" Kelley is well known for his portrayal of Doctor Leonard Bones McCoy, physician abord the starship USS Enterprise, in the original TV series Star Trek, and in several Star Trek movies.

After spending his teenage years helping his father at their local Baptist Church, using his musical abilities there, he left Georgia as a young man, before 1940. On the 1 April 1940 US Census, as "De Forest Kelley," he was recorded as a single white male, born in Georgia, now 20 years old and a "Lodger" in a Boarding House in Long Beach, Los Angeles County, California. He was working as an "Elevator Operator in an Apartment House" there.^[2] In July 1941, when he registered for the US Armed Forces draft, he was still living in Long Beach. His draft registration described him as white, single, 5'9" tall, 150 lbs., medium build, blonde hair, blue-eyes and with a "light complexion". ^[3]

In Los Angeles, on 3 March 1943, Jackson D. Kelley, born in Georgia, enlisted as a Private in the US Army, serving honorably during World War II. He stated he had completed 3 years of High School, was still Single, and working for the Checkers Cab Company. ^[4]

On 7 September 1945 in Culver City, Los Angeles County, California, Jackson De Forest Kelley married a young divorcee, Caroline Charlotte (Meagher) Dowling (1916-2004). The couple lived in Los Angeles County, California, and had no children. ^{[5] [6]}

After a minor role in a 1940 film in Los Angeles, and having spent World War II as part of First Motion Picture Unit of the US Army in southern California, Kelley's acting career truly began with his role in the low-budget-but-feature film, "Fear in the Night," in 1947. His applauded performance led to national recognition and future leading roles. However, a "break-thru" role in a major picture eluded him. He and his wife left Hollywood for 3 years in the early 1950s for the New York stage but decided they preferred the West Coast to New York City and so returned to Los Angeles, which became his lifetime home. ^[7]

DeForest Kelley was soon attracted by the new medium of television and during the decade between 1955 and 1965 had several one-time and recurring roles in numerous TV shows including Perry Mason, The Donna Reed Show, Gunsmoke, and Gunfight at the OK Corrall. He mainly played on-screen gunslingers and villans. During this time he became acquainted with a budding screen-writer, ex-policeman Gene Roddenberry, who cast him in a few of his screenplays. ^[7]

Kelley's big break, however, came in 1964-65 when Gene Roddenberry sought him out for a leading role in his new TV series Star Trek. Originally asked to be "Mr. Spock," he accepted the less-alien role of "Dr. Leonard Bones McCoy," of Irish background, like his own. He went on to become a star in the 1966-1969 run of the original Star Trek series, followed by a "voice-over" role in Star Trek: The Animated Series (1973-74) and a major role in first six Star Trek major motion pictures (1979-1991). A legendary character was born.^[7]

Later in life, after Star Trek evolved into spin-offs including Star Trek: The Next Generation, Dee Kelley devoted his talents to writing poetry. He published the first two books of an (unfinished) poetry series: The Big Bird's Dream and The Dream Goes On. He also appeared at many Star Trek conventions and reunions. In 1991 he received a Star on Hollywood's "Walk of Fame". He often stated that he was "proudest" of the positive impact his role as Star Trek physician, Dr. "Bones" McCoy, had had in attracting young people to become medical doctors.^[7]

At 79 years old, DeForest "Dee" Kelley passed away on 11 June 1999 from stomach cancer (contracted in 1997) at the Motion Picture and Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles County, California, USA. At his request, his body was cremated and his ashes spread over the Pacific Ocean. ^[8]

Sources

1. ↑ Details for Jackson DeForest Kelley on FamilySearch; cites 30 sources.
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K96Y-Y2Y : accessed 15 December 2015), Deforest Kelley in household of James C Workman, Councilmanic District 3, Long Beach, Long Beach Judicial Township, Los Angeles, California, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 59-45, sheet 8A, family 281, NARA digital publication T627 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012), roll 371.
3. ↑ "California, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1945," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGF9-CY7Z : 2 March 2020), Jackson Deforest Kelley, Long Beach, Los Angeles, California, United States; from "Draft Registration Cards for California, 10/16/1940 - 03/31/1947." Database and images. Ancestry. (www.ancestry.com : n.d.); citing Draft Registration, Long Beach, Los Angeles, California, United States, citing NARA Records of the Selective Service System, 1926-1975. Record Group Number 147. NAID: 7644723. Records of the Selective Service System. The National Archives at St. Louis, Missouri, n.d.
4. ↑ "United States World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K85Q-X8W : 5 December 2014), Jackson D Kelley, enlisted 03 Mar 1943, Los Angeles, California, United States; citing "Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938-1946," database, The National Archives: Access to Archival Databases (AAD) (http://aad.archives.gov : National Archives and Records Administration, 2002); NARA NAID 1263923, National Archives at College Park, Maryland.
5. ↑ "California, County Marriages, 1850-1952," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K8KM-T6P : accessed 15 December 2015), Jackson De Forest Kelley and Carolyn M Dowling, 07 Sep 1945; citing Los Angeles, California, United States, county courthouses, California; FHL microfilm 2,115,179.
6. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #22009920 Caroline Charlotte Meagher Kelley
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3} Wikipedia: DeForest Kelley
8. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/5788/deforest-kelley : accessed 10 November 2021), memorial page for DeForest Kelley (20 Jan 1920–11 Jun 1999), Find A Grave: Memorial #5788, ; Maintained by Find a Grave Cremated, Ashes scattered at sea, who reports a Ashes scattered in the Pacific Ocean.

• "United States Census, 1930", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/3H1S-S6Z : accessed 15 December 2015), J Deforest Kelley in entry for Earnest D Kelley, 1930.

• "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K96Y-Y2Y : accessed 15 December 2015), Deforest Kelley in household of James C Workman, Councilmanic District 3, Long Beach, Long Beach Judicial Township, Los Angeles, California, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 59-45, sheet 8A, family 281, NARA digital publication T627 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012), roll 371.

• "United States World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K85Q-X8W : accessed 15 December 2015), Jackson D Kelley, enlisted 03 Mar 1943, Los Angeles, California, United States; citing "Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938-1946," database, The National Archives: Access to Archival Databases (AAD) (http://aad.archives.gov : National Archives and Records Administration, 2002); NARA NAID 126323, National Archives at College Park, Maryland.

• "California, County Marriages, 1850-1952," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K8KM-T6P : accessed 15 December 2015), Jackson De Forest Kelley and Carolyn M Dowling, 07 Sep 1945; citing Los Angeles, California, United States, county courthouses, California; FHL microfilm 2,115,179.

• "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/QVTS-QRM8 : accessed 15 December 2015), Dr Mr Deforest Mccoy Kelley, , ; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing Associated Press Archive, born-digital text.

• "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/QVTN-NYQC : accessed 15 December 2015), Dr Deforest Mccoy Trek Kelley, Primos - Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, United States, 12 Jun 1999; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing Delaware County Daily Times, born-digital text.

• "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/QVT4-ZXPX : accessed 15 December 2015), Dr Mr Deforest Jackson Kelley, Long Island, New York, United States, 12 Jun 1999; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing Newsday, born-digital text.

• "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JY4J-M5S : accessed 15 December 2015), Jackson D Kelley, 11 Jun 1999; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/5788/deforest-kelley : accessed 10 November 2021), memorial page for DeForest Kelley (20 Jan 1920–11 Jun 1999), Find A Grave: Memorial #5788, ; Maintained by Find a Grave Cremated, Ashes scattered at sea, who reports a Ashes scattered in the Pacific Ocean.

• Wikipedia: DeForest Kelley

• http://mrdo.com/deforestkelley/DeBio.html

• http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001420/

• http://military.wikia.com/wiki/DeForest_Kelley

• Wikidata: Item Q16349, en:Wikipedia