Two DeForest Kelley Anecdotes

TWO DeFOREST KELLEY ANECDOTES

 

I just thought of two DeForest Kelley anecdotes that I don’t recall reporting in articles, interviews or blog posts. I might be wrong about that, but I don’t want to assume you’ll be able to find them for sure, so here we go.

 

DeForest Kelley Introduces Himself to Elizabeth Taylor, Gets a BIG Surprise

 

You true blue Kelley fans who have seen everything DeForest has ever been in (to the best of your ability) know that De Kelley and Elizabeth Taylor appeared in the same motion picture, RAINTREE COUNTY.

 

What you may not know is that actors often appear in the same movie without ever meeting each other.  That was the case with RAINTREE COUNTY.  De didn’t appear in a scene with Elizabeth Taylor, so when his scenes were shot, they were in a different part of the country, not sitting on a movie production lot somewhere between scenes palavering.

 

When Paramount decided to celebrate its 75th anniversary as a motion picture studio, it invited its 75 best-known actors to appear in an image where they’re assembled before a Paramount Gate.   They stood where they did based on choosing numbers. As luck would have it, De found himself standing next to Tom Cruise (THE hottest Paramount star of the day) and with Elizabeth Taylor sitting at pretty close to his right hip. (You can find the image by doing a search on “Paramount 75th anniversary composite image.”)

 

So, since the occasion presented itself without feeling awkward as heck, De introduced himself to Miss Taylor in that gentleman-like way of his, saying “we worked together on Raintree County,” Elizabeth Taylor beamed up at him and said, “Oh, I know who you are, Mr. Kelley! I’m the biggest Star Trek fan on the planet!”

 

I’m have zero doubt that her affectionate comment rocked him right back on his heels!

 

DeForest Kelley Palavers and Spars with Christopher Plummer about Selfish Actors

 

You true blue Star Trek TOS fans know that De Kelley and Christopher Plummer appeared in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, with Plummer playing the Klingon Chang. Since they had scenes together, they found themselves sitting around between “ACTION!” shooting the breeze.

 

At some point, Christopher Plummer and De start conversing about working with Kirk Douglas and Burt Lancaster back in the day, since both had done so, and Plummer (I assume, since De never in my presence ever bad-mouthed anyone unbidden) brought up how unsettlingly selfish Douglas and Lancaster were as actors, always demanding (in no uncertain terms) the best lines and the best advantage cinematically in every scene.  It seems they both agreed and had a good laugh over it.

 

So, when it came time to do their scenes (most likely the most dramatic one, with De straddling Plumber, trying desperately to save his life), they started parrying with, “Okay, Burt!”  “Okay, Kirk!” as the cinematographer decided how to best capture the drama for the audience.

 

I think that’s hysterical.

 

CORRECTION: I got my Klingons crossed.  Dr. McCoy tries to save Gorkon’s life after the assassination attempt, not Chang’s.  Hey, it’s been a while since I watched it! Sorry!

 

What isn’t hysterical is that, during the filming of this particular scene, one of the lights above the actors exploded, sending shards of glass and sparks down in their direction.  Luckily, no one was hurt, but it was a darned scary moment for everyone involved in the scene.

 

My article in Cowboys and Indians Magazine a few years covers additional anecdotes from De’s career in westerns.  I hope you were able to get a copy of that when it was on the stands. If this is the first time you’re hearing about it, you’ll find it below. (Alas, it isn’t easy to read. I’ll see if I can find the original and take a better picture of it…)

 

Order back issue Nov-Dec 2016

if you want your own copy…

but they’re pricey: $20, I think!!!

 

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