Latest Update: DeForest Kelley - Is the Star a Billionaire? Net Worth 2026: Career Earnings & Assets

Many fans are curious about DeForest Kelley's financial success in 2026. Our team analyzed the latest data to provide a clear picture of their income.

What was DeForest Kelley's Net Worth?

DeForest Kelley was an American actor, singer, screenwriter, and poet who had a net worth equal to $5 million at the time of his death in 1999. DeForest Kelley was best known for starring as Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy on "Star Trek: The Original Series" (1966–1969), and he reprised his role in "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" (1979), "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" (1982), "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock" (1984), "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home" (1986), "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier" (1989), "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country" (1991), and  "Star Trek: The Animated Series" (1973–1974). DeForest had more than 130 acting credits to his name, including the films "Tension at Table Rock" (1956), "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral" (1957), and "Night of the Lepus" (1972) and the television series "You Are There" (1953–1956), "Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre" (1956–1960), and "Bonanza" (1961–1966). Sadly, Kelley died of stomach cancer in June 1999.

Early Life

DeForest Kelley was born Jackson DeForest Kelley on January 20, 1920, in Toccoa, Georgia. He was delivered by his uncle at the home of his parents, Clora and Ernest David Kelley. Ernest was a Baptist minister, and Kelley named Bones' father "David" after him. DeForest was named after Lee de Forest, an inventor and electronics engineer. Kelley grew up with older brother Ernest and was deeply involved with his father's church in Conyers. He began singing at an early age and would often perform solos during church services. DeForest later sang on local radio shows, leading to a performance with Lou Forbes at the Paramount Theater in Atlanta. The family moved to Decatur in 1934, and Kelley played on the baseball team at the Decatur Boys High School.

DeForest graduated in 1938 at just 16 years old, and the following year, he visited an uncle in Los Angeles and ended up staying for a year. After returning to Georgia, he told his parents that he was moving to L.A. to pursue an acting career. From March 1943 to January 1946, Kelley served in the U.S. Army Air Forces. During his time as a private first class in the First Motion Picture Unit in Culver City, he was spotted by a talent scout from Paramount Pictures while making a training film for the U.S. Navy. After his military service ended, DeForest was offered a seven-year contract by Paramount Pictures.

Career

In 1945, Kelley appeared in the short film "Time to Kill," and he made his feature film debut in the 1947 film noir "Fear in the Night." That year he also starred in "Variety Girl" and "Beyond Our Own" and guest-starred on "Public Prosecutor." DeForest appeared in the films "Canon City" (1948), "Duke of Chicago" (1949), and "Life of St. Paul Series" (1949), and he guest-starred on "The Lone Ranger" three times between 1949 and 1953. He had uncredited roles in the films "The Men" (1950), "Taxi" (1953), "Duffy of San Quentin" (1954), "House of Bamboo" (1955), "The View from Pompey's Head" (1955), and "The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit" (1956), and he co-starred withAngie Dickinsonin 1956's "Tension at Table Rock." Kelley then starred as Morgan Earp, brother of Wyatt Earp, in 1957's "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral" alongsideBurt LancasterandKirk Douglas. He appeared in nine episodes of "You Are There" from 1953 to 1956, and he guest-starred on "The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse" (1953), "Your Favorite Story" (1953–1954), "City Detective" (1953–1954), "Public Defender" (1954), "Mayor of the Town" (1954–1955), "Gunsmoke" (1956), "The Rough Riders" (1958), and "Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer" (1959).

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In summary, the total wealth of DeForest Kelley reflects strategic moves.

Disclaimer: All net worth figures are estimates based on public data.