Probably the person most famous for announcing deaths is DeForest Kelley, i.e., Doctor Leonard “Bones” McCoy on the original Star Trek (1966-1969) series. This post considers when Kelley first said the notorious phrase and why he did not utter the declaration during the most memorable Star Trek death scene of all time.
A few weeks ago, I watched The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit (1956), starring Gregory Peck. While watching the movie, I noticed Kelley appearing in a small role and saying the line that would be immortalized on Star Trek in different variations: “This man’s dead, Captain.” The commentary on The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit DVD pointed out that DeForest Kelley appears in the movie in an uncredited role in just the one scene. Kelley plays the doctor approached by Gregory Peck’s character, who is carrying his injured friend. When Gregory Peck asks the doctor for help, Kelley utters the memorable line (at around the 18-second mark) that he would repeat many times throughout his career. Did this scene launch his career?
Of course, others have pointed out the connection in the past. But it was surprising to actually see it come out of nowhere while watching The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit.
Who would have guessed while watching the movie that Kelley would build a career around proclaiming someone dead? See the video below for a montage of some of Dr. McCoy’s greatest hits.
In a key scene of what is probably the best Star Trek movie, Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan, McCoy’s famous line was given to another character. According to Wikipedia — which cites Terry Lee Rioux’s biography of DeForest Kelley, From Sawdust to Stardust
DeForest Kelley passed away on June 11, 1999.
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