30 Years Ago Today DeForest Kelley Got His Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. I was there. Here is my account of that day (an excerpt from my book DeForest Kelley Up Close and Personal: A Harvest of Memories from the Fan Who Knew Him Best)
On December 18th, hundreds of fans gathered again to honor De when he received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, only a block and a half west of Mann’s Chinese Theater. Once again, Kat, Sue and I were there, along with Sandy Zier (later Zier-Teitler) from Maryland, Ann Johnson from Texas, the Gerald White’s and their new-born daughter Amber from Washington State, and many others. Kat and I wore our DeForest Kelley jackets. It was a glorious morning, perfect for a star ceremony. Some of us silently thanked God or Gene Roddenberry, up in heaven, for the weather, as a terrible storm had been forecast, and here it was, sunny and warm!
Sue, Kat, Sandy and I were honored guests of De’s, and were afforded the opportunity to stand with the celebrities during the ceremony. After consideration, we elected to stay with the crowd for two strategic reasons. The celebrities and honored guests were positioned behind De and the podium, which would have prevented us from seeing De’s reactions to what was being said. Also, Kat and I planned to document the event on still cameras, so we could give the Kelleys an album of photos afterward with which to remember the day.
The event began in a spectacular manner. De’s star is located at 7021 Hollywood Boulevard, directly in front of the Galaxy Theater, a two-story complex with two escalators leading up to the theater. The powers that be had decided De should make his entrance down the west end escalator, so Johnny Grant announced, after a few preliminaries, “Today we have the pleasure of honoring the man who brings to mind the qualities of a self- confident, mature actor who has honed his skills with deliberate care and success. Today in front of the Hollywood Galaxy, we honor DeForest Kelley…And now—I know that you all know the characters, I know that you all know the stories better than I do—but I must tell you a little more about this gentleman. I want to remind you this morning and the historians who will be looking at these tapes years and years from now. As you know, DeForest is known worldwide for his popular role as Dr. Leonard ‘Bones’ McCoy, Chief Medical Officer of the USS Enterprise in the highly successful Star Trek television and motion picture series. DeForest was born and raised in Atlanta, where he first used his talents in the church choir. Later, a radio performance on stage at WSB earned him an engagement with Lew Forbes and his orchestra at the Atlanta Paramount Theater. After moving to California, he joined the Long Beach Theater Group. During WW II, a Paramount talent scout noticed him in a Navy training film. This resulted in a screen test and a contract. DeForest remained with Paramount for 2 ½ years, making his motion picture debut in Fear in the Night. Let me tell you just a few of the other films he has appeared in: Gunfight at the OK Corral, Raintree County, Warlock, Where Love Has Gone, The Law and Jake Wade, and a myriad of television appearances include Schlitz Theatre, Playhouse 90, Zane Grey Theater, Rawhide, Bonanza. DeForest made his debut in the Star Trek television series in 1966, and needless to say, the rest is history. DeForest has given freely of his time and talents to many humanitarian efforts, including his many hospital visits to children and veterans. DeForest is currently reprising his role as Dr. McCoy in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, which I have a feeling all of you have seen at least six times.” Cheers. “Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in welcoming DeForest Kelley as he receives his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame! And here he is, beaming down from the Enterprise: DeForest Kelley!”
De suddenly appeared at the top of the Galaxy escalator, as the Star Trek theme played. He stepped onto the escalator and rode it down to the thunderous cheers and applause of the crowd gathered there. De told me later that it was the longest escalator ride he had ever taken. “I felt like a Ziegfeld Girl! After I threw the Vulcan salute, I didn’t know what else to do!” To the crowd assembled there, he looked calm, collected and radiant.
Upon reaching the elevated staging area, at least two feet above the level of the sidewalk, De vaulted right up next to Grant, who marveled, “My God, you’re nimble!” De shook Grant’s hand, then stepped back while Grant introduced the many celebrities and other guests who had come to say a few words about De. Grant first welcomed and introduced legendary Paramount producer A.C. Lyles, a long- time friend of De’s, who spoke of his affection for De and of their long association. A.C. bounded up on the stage and joked, indicating De’s entrance on the escalator,
“We at Paramount love DeForest Kelley so much that we spared no expense; we built him this escalator just for this occasion!” The crowd and De laughed, and AC added, “If that isn’t an entrance, I don’t know what is! As Johnny Grant mentioned, I have been with Paramount 54 years, and De has been with us 45 years, but the best thing is that Carolyn, here, has been with De for 46 years.” There were cheers and applause. “And I tell you, I look over there and I see some of De’s fans, like Kris Smith and Sue Keenan, and I know that when they say Star Trek, the word STAR means DeForest Kelley.” More applause, as other fans agreed with the statement. “And now De has his name and his prints at Mann’s Chinese Theater, and he’s going to have his name here on Hollywood Boulevard, but the main thing is that DeForest Kelley has his name in all of our hearts.”
De was overcome by A.C.’s statement, and lifted his glasses to wipe away some tears. The fans whistled and cheered and applauded. “Our arms are around him, our hearts are with him, and we at Paramount love De as much as he loves us. Thank you.”
Then A.C. said, “You will see all the stars of Star Trek here today to honor De, but Bill Shatner couldn’t be here, so he sent me a letter to read for him. It says: ‘DeForest Kelley has long deserved a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. I’m just a little apprehensive that all this excitement might be too much for him, so everybody put your arms around him and make sure he knows he’s loved. I’m very sorry I can’t be there with you, but I’m in the tropics trying to get you a coconut! Love, Bill.” A.C stepped down and Grant introduced Leonard Nimoy.
Nimoy jumped onto the stage, shook hands with and hugged De, and then grinned into the microphone, “I wouldn’t miss this for anything. This is really great. I hope that one time, during this ceremony, we will hear him say one more time, ‘He’s dead, Jim.’”
Then he got serious. “In the great tradition of people like Gary Cooper, this is the man who stands there beside you and says the lines, and plays the drama when it’s drama and gets the laughs when it’s funny – and don’t turn your back on him, because he really knows what he’s doing. He is great. He’s a friend, he’s a colleague; he is a rock on which much of Star Trek stands. De, may you live very, very long and prosper. God bless you.”
Next Johnny Grant introduced George Takei. George was eloquent. “This is a very, very happy day for all of us. It’s great sharing this wonderful day with De. Two weeks ago, we shared another happy day, just a block down, at Mann’s Chinese Theater, and De announced that he was a doctor, not a bricklayer. After he finished, he didn’t have to tell us that; we knew. But one thing that doesn’t need to be said, he is most definitely an actor, and he certainly most appropriately belongs right here in the Galaxy – Dr. McCoy right here in front of the Galaxy…It’s appropriate that he be here, because he has friends all over the galaxy. He’s beloved by everyone, and De…it’s wonderful to be able to say: Friend – we’re really happy to be here to share this happy day with you.”
Walter Koenig stepped up next. After hugging De, Walter recounted a tale. “Several years ago, DeForest was at Madison Square Garden as part of a celebration honoring Dr. J, and they asked various doctors—fictional and factual—to come down during half time and to be saluted by the crowd. When DeForest was introduced as Dr. McCoy, there resulted an unprecedented eight-minute standing ovation, which no one else was accorded. Dr. Ruth was there, and she asked DeForest, “What is it? What do you do?” Dr. Ruth was not only the only person in Madison Square Garden, but in the entire world, who doesn’t know that DeForest Kelley is Dr. McCoy.”
Producer Harve Bennett bounded to the podium with great enthusiasm, after hugging De, and said, “Well, I didn’t expect to say anything, but since I’m here…I’ll tell you a short story about the only time I’ve ever seen De Kelley thrown for a loop…It’s my first picture, it’s my first—and almost last—Star Trek convention, in Houston. It’s come to be known, in Star Trek annals, as The Con of Wrath. And the story simply is, I’m fresh off the airplane, I walk into the hotel, and Dr. Bones McCoy – ACTION! – greets me and says, ‘A thousand people are in the streets! Nobody has rooms! You’ve got to do something!’ We did something, and in the bargain, became friends for what I know is life. This is a really great guy.”
Nichelle Nichols was last. She said, “I am so thrilled and excited to be here. It is also an honor. It’s an honor because DeForest Kelley is such a special, special kind of guy. He is always exactly who he is. He is so down to earth.” Then she recited a poem she had written especially for the occasion. “I love you, De, and you deserve every moment of people walking all over you!”
Johnny Grant then brought his part of the ceremony to a close by reading a proclamation from the LA Board of Supervisors, which congratulated De on his honor. The document also proclaimed December 18, 1991 as DeForest Kelley Day in Hollywood!
At that point, De stepped up to the podium to accept the document and to speak a few words. “I want to thank all of you wonderful people for coming out here and helping me celebrate this very special, special day. I am particularly proud that Paramount Pictures happens to be sponsoring my star, because in 1946, as AC Lyles pointed out, as a young man, I started my career at Paramount. There are so many people to thank: from Bill Meikeljohn all the way through to Gene Roddenberry. My career has also encompassed a great number of people who perhaps you never heard about, but there are the directors Don McDougall, Bill Witney, the guys that make fast and hot television shows; and there’s AC Lyles, who kept bringing me back to Paramount, and eventually John Sturgis brought me back for Gunfight at OK Corral; and then Eddie Dmytryk, who finally got me out of those bad guy roles by bringing me back to Paramount again to do a picture called Where Love Has Gone. So, all of those people and too many more to name here, the people who have worked so hard on this event, Allison Jackson and Hank Ehrlich, all of these people that have worked to bring me to this position that I’m finally going to be in. I’m particularly proud that all of my roommates” indicating the Star Trek cast, “are still here, and I’m proud that I can look at Leonard, and that I don’t have to say, ‘He’s dead, Jim.’ This has been a very exciting year for us, as you know. Everyone has mentioned dates: December 5th at Mann’s Chinese Theater; December the 18th for this event; September the 8th, which was the celebration of our 25th year of Star Trek. A very important date just preceded that: September 7th, when I celebrated my 46th wedding anniversary with this lady sitting here. And speaking of support, I can assure you I would never be here without her. I have often said, and I say it again, I make the living, but she makes the living worthwhile.”
STAR CEREMONY RECEPTION AT PARAMOUNT
After the media-driven “grip-and-grin” photo opportunity pictures were finished at the site, four ecstatic women—Sue, Sandy, Kat and I—headed for our cars in the Galaxy garage for the trip to Paramount, where a reception for De was scheduled in the studio commissary. In the garage, we crossed paths with De, Carolyn and AC Lyles, who were traveling to the reception together in a studio limousine. We hugged them. De was all grins, and said, “It’s times like these when I need to remind myself that I still have to go home and take out the trash!” We laughed, knowing that the humble De was still alive and well.
Kat and I got into my humble, “Lifestyles of the Poor and Unknown” car – the “accordion” – and drove to the main gate at Paramount. As we pulled up at the guard station, I couldn’t help feeling embarrassed and out-of-place. Here we were at a fancy function, and our chariot looked like something that belonged in a wrecking yard—well, to me, it did.
Just then, the white limo carrying the Kelleys and AC pulled up beside us on its way through the employee gate. The driver honked—which is what alerted me to their presence. I looked over my right shoulder and melted when I saw that the rear limo window had been lowered a little—just enough for De’s fingers to reach out and give us a wave! I thought, What a guy! Most actors in this situation would drive by and not even acknowledge they knew the people in a car like this!
We walked to the commissary, reconnected with Sue and Sandy, and chose a table near the door, just inside the commissary. The Kelleys, AC and a few others were seated across the room from us.
Sandy, Sue and Kat chose seats that were more-or-less facing the action. I took the seat that was facing our wall, being more hearing-oriented than sight-oriented. I was just happy to be there; it didn’t matter that I couldn’t scan the crowd of well-wishers or the Kelleys during the luncheon. I knew I’d be able to turn around and view any toasts that were given, or anything else, when something noteworthy began to happen.
Lunch was delivered and we ate while chatting happily. Afterward, a few people stood and offered toasts, and then AC stood and said some very kind and true words about the honoree. “On the logo here at Paramount, as you know, there are a series of stars spanning across above the mountain. DeForest Kelley is definitely one of the stars represented in that logo. He means so much to us here, as he does to fans around the world. Not long before Michael Landon died, I called him in the hospital. I think most of you know that Michael doubled for De in a fight scene here on the lot when Bonanza was being filmed and De was doing a movie here for me. Well, when I called Michael shortly before he died, I told him, ‘Michael! You don’t sound sick at all!’ and he said, ‘AC, it isn’t my voice that’s sick.’ Anyway, we chatted for a short time and then he told me, “You know, AC, I just have one concern left.’ I asked him, ‘What’s that, Michael?’ and he joked, “I don’t know who’s going to double for DeForest Kelley now!’” The audience chuckled. I just about fell out of my chair! The remembrance of my note to Landon at De’s reception felt like a miracle.
AC continued: “But I want to tell you something. Michael Landon may have been able to double for De in a western, but nobody—nobody—can double for De in real life. De, you are unrepeatable. Our arms are around you and we are so proud to be able to claim you as our own. Congratulations, you rascal!”
After people finished eating and the plates were cleared, De stood and made his way slowly around the room. As he got very near, breathing at our table became shallow and hearts beat faster. I could tell by the gaze of my friends that De was practically behind me, but I didn’t know his exact location until two warm, friendly hands caught both of my shoulders, and rubbed them, then patted them. They felt like the hands a dad would put on the shoulders of a daughter sitting at home in familiar surroundings—so comfortable and unabashed. I grinned and looked up into his eyes. He grinned back and patted me on one shoulder one more time. Then he proceeded to kiss one of the hands of each of my tablemates. We felt blessed.
Not long after De finished making the rounds of the tables, people began to leave. We waited until De and Carolyn were heading out the door, then approached them, thanking them for inviting us. He turned to me last. I smiled and whispered very discreetly into his ear, “Thank you so much for inviting me to your f——n’ star ceremony!” His head came up and he grinned like a Cheshire cat.
A few days later De and Carolyn called to thank Kat and me for the photo album and the video of the star ceremony. De told us that he finally spotted us in the star ceremony crowd. “I was looking for you girls, but I mistakenly thought you were newswomen for the longest time, because you were all dressed up, for once.”
I joked, “We clean up real nice, don’t we?”
He said, “You sure do!”
De said he had been going over in his mind about the ceremony… what was said, stuff he should have said that he didn’t. Carolyn interjected, “There are two dizzy people here right now!” I assured De it was a wonderful ceremony and couldn’t have been better. “It was just perfect.”
I told them about Sue’s Rowdy Cowboy Celebration at the Holiday Inn in Hollywood the night De got his star. I mentioned that Kat and I had created what looked like a horse dung centerpiece for Sue’s table, with fake flies buzzing around it, while everyone else got nicer ones. I added, “Before the centerpieces were put out, Richard Arnold showed up and announced that he wanted to sit at Sue’s table. I tried to discourage him, but he insisted, so he got to sit at the horse dung table, too!” They both laughed and De commiserated, “Poor Sue.”
I reported, “Then we had some games. We played Pin the Star On De – blindfolded everyone, spun them around, and then had them pin a star on a full-length photo of De. I can’t tell you where some of those stars ended up!” They laughed.
“Then we had a game where we tried to guess the title of De’s movies by pictorial clues. They were pretty decadent. The only two I’ll tell you about are these: I took a map of the US and over the top I pinned a pair of under shorts. Know which motion picture that represented, De?” Total silence greeted my question, so I solved the puzzle: “The movie was ‘The Undies-Covered Country’! No one else got it, either, De, so don’t worry.
“They got APACHE UPRISING, though! That drawing showed an Indian with his loincloth sticking out at about a 45 degree angle!” Carolyn howled and De guffawed!
