Leonard McCoy
Quick facts for kids Leonard McCoy |
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| Star Trek character | |
DeForest Kelley as Leonard McCoy in a publicity photograph for the original Star Trek series
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| Created by | Gene Roddenberry |
| Portrayed by | DeForest Kelley (1966–1999) Karl Urban (2009–2016) |
| Information | |
| Nickname(s) | Bones |
| Species | Human |
| Gender | Male |
| Affiliation |
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| Title | Doctor |
| Family | David McCoy (father) |
| Spouse(s) | Unnamed wife (divorced) Natira (separated) |
| Children | Joanna McCoy (daughter) |
Dr. Leonard H. McCoy, often called "Bones", is a beloved character from the famous science-fiction world of Star Trek. He is the chief medical officer aboard the starship USS Enterprise. The talented actor DeForest Kelley first brought Dr. McCoy to life in the original Star Trek TV series, which aired from 1966 to 1969. Kelley also played McCoy in the animated series, six Star Trek movies, and even a special episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Many books, comics, and video games also feature Dr. McCoy. Years later, Karl Urban took on the role of a younger McCoy in the 2009 Star Trek movie and its sequels.
Contents
Who is Dr. Leonard McCoy?
Meet Dr. McCoy: His Story
Early Life and Starfleet Career
Dr. Leonard McCoy was born in Atlanta, Georgia, in the year 2227. He studied at the University of Mississippi. Before joining Starfleet, he was divorced. Later, he married Natira, a priestess from a planet called Yonada, as shown in one Star Trek episode.
In 2266, McCoy became the chief medical officer on the USS Enterprise. His captain, James T. Kirk, often called him "Bones." Kirk and McCoy were very close friends, almost like brothers.
Adventures with Kirk and Spock
McCoy was known for being passionate and sometimes a bit grumpy. He often argued with Kirk's other close friend, the science officer Spock. McCoy sometimes found Spock's Vulcan logic annoying. He often helped Kirk make decisions, balancing Spock's logical advice with a more human perspective.
McCoy was also a bit wary of new technology, especially the transporter. As a doctor, he preferred natural healing methods and less invasive treatments. The nickname "Bones" came from an old term, "sawbones," which was a nickname for surgeons in the 1800s.
In the 2009 Star Trek movie, McCoy explains the nickname. He tells Kirk that after his divorce, his ex-wife took everything, leaving him with "nothing but his bones."
Later Years and Legacy
In Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979), Kirk asked McCoy to return to duty, even though McCoy wasn't thrilled about it. Later, in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982), Spock transferred his katra—his mind and memories—into McCoy before he died. This was very difficult for McCoy. In Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984), McCoy helped bring Spock's katra back to his reanimated body.
McCoy continued his adventures with Kirk's crew. In Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989), McCoy shared a very personal and sad story. He revealed that he had made a difficult choice to help his father, who was suffering greatly from a painful illness. Soon after, a cure for his father's disease was discovered. This left McCoy with a lot of sadness and guilt for many years, until he was able to talk about it with Spock's half-brother, Sybok.
In Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991), McCoy and Kirk escaped from a Klingon prison. The Enterprise crew then worked to stop a plan that threatened peace between the United Federation of Planets and the Klingon Empire.
McCoy appeared again in the pilot episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987). By this time, he was an admiral and 137 years old. He became the chief of Starfleet Medical. He even wrote a fictional book, Comparative Alien Physiology, which was required reading at the Starfleet Medical Academy.
McCoy also had a daughter named Joanna, who was mentioned in a 1973 Star Trek: The Animated Series episode.
McCoy in the Reboot Films
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In the 2009 Star Trek movie, which tells a new version of the story, McCoy and Kirk meet at Starfleet Academy. McCoy joined Starfleet after a difficult divorce, saying he was left with "nothing but his bones." This line, added by actor Karl Urban, explains how he got his famous nickname.
McCoy helped Kirk get assigned to the USS Enterprise. He later became the chief medical officer. McCoy stayed on the Enterprise as Kirk became the ship's commanding officer. Critics praised Karl Urban's performance. The Guardian called his portrayal a "success," and The New York Times described the character as "wild-eyed and funny."
The Actors Behind McCoy
DeForest Kelley's Portrayal
Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry always wanted DeForest Kelley to play the doctor. Kelley had worked with Roddenberry before. Even though other actors played the doctor in early pilot episodes, Kelley eventually got the role.
Kelley's first time playing Dr. McCoy on TV was in "The Man Trap" (1966). He played McCoy throughout the original series and voiced him in the animated series. Kelley once said that Star Trek would either be a huge hit or a huge miss.
Kelley had wanted to be a doctor when he was young, like his uncle. He used some of his own life experiences to create McCoy's personality. He said the way a doctor delivered sad news about his mother's illness helped him shape McCoy's sometimes blunt manner. Star Trek writer D. C. Fontana said that Kelley helped create much of McCoy's character.
The actors Kelley, William Shatner (Kirk), and Leonard Nimoy (Spock) had amazing chemistry together. Nichelle Nichols, who played Uhura, called Kelley her "sassy gentleman friend." Their real-life friendship showed the message of unity that Roddenberry wanted Star Trek to share.
Karl Urban's New Take
For the 2009 Star Trek movie, writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman saw McCoy as a balance between Kirk and Spock. Spock represented pure logic, and Kirk represented strong emotions. McCoy, as a caring doctor, brought a human touch that held the trio together.
The writers decided that McCoy and Kirk would become friends first. This explained why McCoy sometimes seemed to favor Kirk over Spock. Karl Urban, who played McCoy in the new films, said the script was very true to the original character. He felt it captured McCoy's "great compassion for humanity" and his sometimes grumpy attitude. Urban, from New Zealand, even worked with a coach to get McCoy's Southern accent right. He played McCoy in the sequels Star Trek Into Darkness and Star Trek Beyond.
McCoy's Impact on Fans
Dr. McCoy was a trusted friend to Kirk and a contrast to Spock. He was like Kirk's "confidant, counselor, and priest." The playful arguments between Spock and McCoy became very popular with fans.
Karl Urban noted that McCoy's "sense of irascibility with real passion for life" combined with Spock's logic gave Kirk the benefit of having "three brains instead of just one."
DeForest Kelley said his greatest joy was hearing how many people became doctors because of his character. He received many letters from fans saying McCoy inspired them. A friend once told Kelley that even though he didn't become a doctor himself, his portrayal of McCoy helped create many doctors. Kelley felt this was a greater reward than any award from the entertainment industry.
Famous Sayings: "He's dead, Jim!"
McCoy often said, "He's dead, Jim," or something similar, when someone or something had died. He said this about 20 times in the original series. This phrase became a famous catchphrase for the character. Kelley joked that it would be on his tombstone, and it even appeared in some of his obituaries. However, he didn't always like repeating the line.
In Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, when Spock was dying, Kelley felt the line would ruin the serious moment. So, he and James Doohan (Scotty) swapped lines. McCoy warned Kirk not to open the chamber, and Scotty said, "He's dead already."
This phrase is an example of how fans enjoy repeating memorable lines. It helps them connect with the show and create new communities. The line even appeared in the 1987 novelty song Star Trekkin', which was a hit in the United Kingdom.
Famous Sayings: "I'm a doctor, not a..."
Another of McCoy's famous lines is "I'm a doctor, (Jim) not a(n)..." He said this 11 times in the original series, and Karl Urban said it three times in the new movies. McCoy used this line when he was asked to do something beyond his medical skills. For example, when he had to treat a strange, rock-like alien, he said, "I'm a doctor, not a bricklayer."
Other doctors in Star Trek series have also used variations of this line. Kelley even made fun of the phrase in a 1992 commercial for Trivial Pursuit. When asked about the number of chambers in a human heart, he replied, "How should I know? I'm an actor, not a doctor!"
See also
In Spanish: Leonard McCoy para niños
