Today in Star Trek history: DeForest Kelley’s birthday

DeForest Kelley as Doctor Leonard “Bones” McCoy in Star Trek

It was today, January 20th, back in 1920, that Star Trek: The Original Series actor DeForest Kelley was born. One of the main “trio” of characters with Leonard Nimoy as Spock and William Shatner as Captain Kirk, Kelley appeared in 76 episodes of Star Trek, as well as 22 episodes of The Animated Series, all six Star Trek: The Original Series movies, and the pilot episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Kelley had an extensive film and television career prior to being cast in Star Trek, and for a time after. After The Animated Series in the early 1970s, he mostly acted in Star Trek projects, with relatively few remaining credits until his death in 1999 from stomach cancer.

DeForest Kelley would have been 101 years old today.