D.C. Fontana, First Female ‘Star Trek’ Writer, Dies at 80

New York Times ^ | 12/03/2019 | Liam Stack

[DFG]

D.C. Fontana, who helped craft the lore of “Star Trek” and developed one of its signature characters, Spock, as the first female writer for the 1960s television series, died on Tuesday at a hospital in Burbank, Calif. She was 80 and lived in Los Angeles.

The cause was cancer, according to her husband, Dennis Skotak.

Ms. Fontana was part of the “Star Trek" universe from its early days, working alongside its creator, Gene Roddenberry, on the series as a story editor and writer.

The original series, which premiered in 1966, introduced audiences to Captain Kirk, the United Federation of Planets and the Starship Enterprise. But Ms. Fontana was best known among fans for her work on Spock, the half-human, half-Vulcan Starfleet officer portrayed by Leonard Nimoy.

[yuleeyahoo]

D.C. Fontana and Gene L. Coon made the original Trek what it was.

[OttawaFreeper]

Believe that she also wrote at least some of the TAS (The Animated Series) episodes as well. And those were probably among the better ones of that set.

[Sans-Culotte]

Definitely one of the best Trek writers. RIP.

[wally_bert]

There is a YT short about ST TAS and she was on it.

She was a good writer.

[freepertoo]

She was one of the best writers. She was a secretary for Roddenberry, I believe. Pitched a good story to him and the rest is history.

[mad_as_he$$]

RIP. Enjoy(ed) your work M. Fontana.

[AFreeBird]

Check out her IMDM filmography. Some of the titles, I had no idea. The lady got around.

[real saxophonist]

And then Fred Freiberger came along and ruined it. He did the same thing to SPACE:1999.

[yuleeyahoo]

Ah yes, the “showkiller”. He also killed The Six Million Dollar Man.

[real saxophonist]

But he was a nice guy.

[Joe Brower]

R.I.P.

[OttawaFreeper]

Yes, I just checked it and saw that she wrote for TNG as well as Streets of San Francisco, Six Million Dollar Man, and even The Waltons, lol.

[x]

And Gene Roddenberry was a policeman who started writing scripts on the side.

There was a lot to disagree with him about, but he did have quite an amazing career.

[SES1066]

Fair winds and happy landings to you, Ms Fontana. Your writing has provided me with much enjoyment.

ST:TOS is getting very thin on its veterans. Who’d believe that Shatner (b.1931), Koenig (1936) & Takei (1937) are the last of the top ‘names’ to be still living. Even most of the character actors are gone. Sad but thanks for the good memories!

FYI: I still very much enjoy the Diane Duane novels of the ST:TOS Ballantine series. ‘Spock’s World’, ‘Wounded Sky’ & ‘Doctor’s Orders’ are all top-notch. Recommended!

[kosciusko51]

Who’d believe that Shatner (b.1931), Koenig (1936) & Takei (1937) are the last of the top ‘names’ to be still living.

Nichelle Nichols (1932) is still living as well.

[ArtDodger]

I seem to remember reading some of her stories in Horror anthologies. Well rounded writer.

[wally_bert]

1999 might have survived if it weren’t for Fred the destroyer of shows.

[packrat35]

Fred really knew how to kill off a show!

[SES1066]

Nichelle Nichols (1932) is still living as well.

THANK YOU! No insult intended for that lovely lady!