Friday June 11 6:47 PM ET - Star Trek 'Doctor' DeForest Kelley Dead

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - DeForest Kelley, known to millions of TV viewers as ``Dr Leonard 'Bones' McCoy'' on the original Star Trek series, has died at age 79, officials at the Motion Picture and Television Fund Hospital said Friday. He played ``Dr McCoy'' from 1966 to 1969 on the original series but never left American TV screens thanks to an endless number of syndicated repeats. His character was one of the most popular on the series. Hospital officials said he died after a long illness just after noon Friday. His wife of 55 years, Carolyn, was at his side, Besides the TV series, Kelley also appeared in the successful series of six ``Star Trek'' films along with the series' stars, William Shatner, who played the Starship Enterprise's captain, and Leonard Nimoy, who played the Vulcan first mate Mr. Spock. Born DeForest Jackson Kelley in Atlanta, Georgia, on Jan. 20, 1920, his career dream was to become a doctor like the uncle who delivered him. But his family did not have the funds to send him to medical school and Kelley drifted into singing and theater. A Paramount scout spotted him in a Navy training film and signed him to a contract at the studio as a bit player. He did extensive TV and film work before landing his role on ``Star Trek.''

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