Glen here...

...with some very, very, very heartbreaking news.

DeForest Kelley...best known as Enterprise Chief Medical Officer Leonard "Bones" McCoy from the original Star Trek series...has passed away at the age of 79.

Kelley had been troubled by substantial health issues for the last few months. About two months ago I received strong indication he was not expected to survive his most recent health complications. None the less, information was too sketchy...and the topic way too sensitive...to post without more detail.

For my money, Kelley's McCoy was one of the most vividly drawn and realized Star Trek characters to date: abrasive, unpredictable, yet utterly dependable, competent, and noble. And above all, he brought humanity to a role which could have easily been drawn without much warmth. While many might say this was due to Gene Roddenberry's envisage of the character (which would be partly correct), it should be noted, however, that Kelley endowed many of his other roles with the same dichotomy and dimension.

He was a special presence, a cultural icon, and...from many accounts...a very good man.

For more information on Mr. Kelley's passing, check ABCNews.com.