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- LOS ANGELES - One of the original crew members of the starship
Enterprise has died. Actor DeForest Kelley, who played Dr. Leonard "Bones"
McCoy in the orginal 1960s sci-fi series "Star Trek", has died
after a prolonged illness. He was 79.
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- Kelley also played the Dr. McCoy role
in six "Star Trek" films.
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- The original Star Trek cast In addition
to "Star Trek," he made appearances on dozens of television shows,
including "Gunsmoke" and "Bonanza."
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- "He represented humanity and it
fitted him well," said Leonard Nimoy, who played Mr. Spock on the
science fiction series. "He was a decent, loving, caring partner and
will be deeply missed."
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- Kelley is survived by his wife of nearly
55 years, Carolyn.
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- Comment
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- By Russ Hasledge, President <ops@iftcommand.com International
Federation of Trekkers 6-15-99
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- In my 15 years of being a "professional Star Trek
fan", I have been lucky enough to be a part of some memorable events
and to meet and work with many of the stars of the Star Trek genre. I
am fortunate to call some of those people friends.
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- Although I do not have a deep personal past with DeForest
Kelley, his passing causes me, like the millions of Trek fans around the
world, mourn nonetheless. DeForest Kelley was a staple of the Star Trek
mythos, being the consummate professional doctor: caring, compassionate,
stern, but always a friend. Just as De Kelley was that when playing his
part as Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy in Star Trek's original series
and the first six movies, he was much the same in his off-screen life as
well.
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- I had the honor of meeting De only once, and that was
at the 25th Anniversary show in Los Angeles some years ago. Even though
our backstage meeting was brief, the couple of minutes I spent with De
proved all of the good things I had heard about him to be true. In my
short time of meeting and talking with him, he gave me all of his attention.
He was concerned, friendly, and so very gracious. He told me, as he's
told other fans, that he owes everything to the fans of the shows and movies,
for without them, he would be out of a job. He admitted that the support
of the fans was what kept him going through good times and lean, and I
could tell by the look in his eyes that he meant it.
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- DeForest Kelley is the second in the Star Trek family
to leave this earth. Gene Roddenberry died on United Nations Day some years
ago. That date was fitting, as it was the United Nations on which he based
the United Federation of Planets in Star Trek.
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- The Internet is now laced with tributes to De, and I'm
sure many of them will be available for your browsing for some time. Take
a look around and enjoy, and remember De.
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- As Dr. McCoy said in response to the death of Spock in
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, "He's not really dead...as long as
we remember."
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- Russ Haslage, President International Federation of Trekkers
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- _____________________________________________ INTERNATIONAL
FEDERATION OF TREKKERS World Headquarters Operations Department ops@iftcommand.com
www.iftcommand.com
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