June 11, 1999 is a date Star Trek fans will never forget. On that date, DeForest Kelley, best known as the cantankerous yet lovable Dr. Leonard H. "Bones" McCoy from the original Star Trek television series and first six Trek movies, passed away at age 79.

Around the same day Kelley passed on, I was 16-years-old, finishing the last of my final exams in my sophomore high school year. I did not know about Kelley's death until two weeks later when the late June issue of People Weekly had a tribute to him. I was very saddened on what I read and as the years go on, I'm more saddened about his passing.

I had been watching Star Trek since I was 10 or 11. My first Trek was Star Trek: The Next Generation, which I enjoyed. Then, Star Trek: The Original Series came along and I got hooked instantly, watching the show Monday through Friday at 11PM. While I like TNG, The Original Series is my favorite of all Treks.

Dr. Leonard H. "Bones" McCoy is one of my favorite characters. He had some of the best lines, including his famous lines "I'm a doctor, not a (fill in the blank)" and "He's dead, Jim" and some of the best moments such as finally getting the last word in the Original Series episode "Journey to Babel" and when he told Spock he missed him in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock. He represented the emotion, passion, and heart of Star Trek's Big Three: Kirk, Spock, and McCoy.

In some way, Star Trek and Kelley had made an impact on me and my creativity. In my college freshman year, I was unable to draw most of the time due to schoolwork and creative slumps. Then one day, I saw a photo of Kelley in his film debut, Fear in the Night. The minute I saw that picture, I wanted to draw it but I couldn't at the time because I lost my touch for drawing. At that point, I worked to regain my drawing hand in order to draw that picture. After several drawing attempts, I felt confident enough to draw the picture. To my surprise, relief, and delight, I got my drawing hand back and I owe it all to Kelley. Had he not done made that movie and that photo, I would never have found it years later and attempt to draw it and my knack for drawing would have been lost forever. The drawing can be found below this page.

Even though I never had the opportunity to meet you De, you never ceased to make me smile, make me laugh, make me cry, to move me, and inspire me. May you live long and prosper, De. We miss you.

Quotes on De Kelley

"He represented humanity and it fitted him well. He was a decent, loving, caring partner and will be deeply missed."
-- Leonard Nimoy (Mr. Spock, Star Trek: The Original Series and first six Trek films)

"I hadn't heard. What a loss. Maybe the nicest [people] of all involved with Star Trek. I was honored to share a scene with him."
-- Brent Spiner (Data on "Star Trek: The Next Generation") Kelley made a special guest appearance in a scene with Spiner in the series premiere episode of ST:TNG, 'Encounter at Farpoint'

"He was truly one of the most remarkable and talented men to walk the face of the earth. This is the biggest loss that Star Trek will ever have, excluding Gene [Roddenberry]."
-- Majel Barett Roddenberry (widow of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, Number One in ST: TOS first pilot episode 'The Cage', Nurse Christine Chapel in ST:TOS, Lwaxana Troi in ST:TNG, voice of the computer in all Trek series)

"De was ill at the time. He had just been through some fairly serious surgery about a month or so before and at the time of the interview, he was thin, frail and even more soft spoken than his usual demeanor. In fact, he wasn't going to do the interview at all, but Leonard [Nimoy] convinced him that it was important to the project and important to the legacy of Star Trek. I'm not sure, but I think it was De's last interview - it was definitely his last extended interview. It was one of the highlights of the project for me, and one that I will never forget. He was a sweet, gentle and intelligent man and he got along well with everyone."
-- Bill Margol, former manager of Special Projects at Sci-Fi Channel, currently Director of Development for TNT Specials at Turner Network Television. He worked on the Sci-Fi Channel Special Edition of Star Trek: The Original Series, which aired in 1998, and worked with many of the Trek actors, including De Kelley. The above quote is an excerpt from The Trek Nation interview with Margol.

"I had the opportunity to see De Kelley in person several times and to meet him briefly a couple of times. He was darlin' man, sweet, kind, and funny."
-- Sally, from the now defunct Phantom Movie Friends Board

"...along with Bill [Shatner] and Leonard [Nimoy], DeForest Kelley was also one of Star Trek's shining lights. The highest compliment I can pay him is that you would never know it to talk to him. There wasn't anybody that De didn't treat with courtesy, warmth, and respect. De Kelley has been everyone's good guy for the thirty-plus years that Star Trek has been around. I'm only sorry that you can't all have had the opportunity to know him the way we have."
-- Walter Koenig (Pavel Chekov, ST: TOS, first seven Trek films). Excerpt from Koenig's autobiography "Warped Factors: A Neurotic's Guide to the Universe." Taylor Publishing; Dallas, Texas. 1997.

Quotes from Kelley himself

(on his famous catchphrase): "Well, it got to a point to where I was trying to say it in so many different ways... I'd switch it around and sometimes I'd say 'Jim, he's dead.' I think that's probably gonna be on my tombstone: 'he's dead, Jim.'"

(when asked about his favorite fan letter): "My favorite fan letter that I received contained a marijuana cigarette pasted onto a piece of cardboard, along with a photo of a delightful, young girl. The letter said, 'You have turned me on so many times I ought to return the favor.' I kept that one."

(on why he turned down the role for Mr. Spock. Yes, you heard that right.): "I wouldn't have been anywhere near Leonard Nimoy. He's marvelous."

The Internet Movie Database's Entry on DeForest Kelley

Favorite McCoy Moments and Lines

Lyrics and Music: "Dr. McCoy" by S.P.O.C.K

The full-page tribute from Paramount Pictures - Originally published in the Tuesday, June 15, 1999 issue of The Hollywood Reporter.

Reading "The Big Bird's Dream"

"Until the End of Time" - a fanfic/tribute to McCoy and Kelley by Nicole Comtet

Kelley/McCoy Fan Art

Carolyn Kelley - Carolyn Kelley, DeForest's wife, passes away on Oct. 12, 2004. De and Carolyn were married for 53 years from September 7, 1945 to June 11, 1999 when De passed away.

More Kelley and Trek-related Links