American writer best known for creating the TV series “Star Trek” which ran on NBC from its debut on 9/08/1966 for three years, 78 episodes. Ten years later it had more fans than ever, a phenomenal cult favorite. Its sequel, “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” is one of the highest-rated dramatic series in syndication. The first of the six “Star Trek” film versions was launched in 1979 and together have grossed more than $400 million.
While growing up, one of three kids of Caroline, a housewife, and Eugene, a police officer, Roddenberry loved listening to radio serials. He attended several colleges, including UCLA without graduating.
Roddenberry flew almost 90 B-17 missions in the Pacific during WW II and received the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal. After the war he was a commercial pilot for Pan-Am for four years. In 1949, he served as a police officer with the LAPD.
His writing career began in the early ’50s when he began contributing scripts to TV series including “Dragnet,” “Naked City,” and “Have Gun, Will Travel.” The inspiration for “Star Trek” came when the western series, “Wagon Train,” premiered in 1966. Like “Wagon Train,” “Star Trek” was about a warm and diverse band of roving comrades. Through the far-out concept of the series Roddenberry felt he could deal with important issues such as sex, religion, and union-management without upsetting the network. He had wanted his wife, Majel Barrett, to play Captain Kirk’s second-in-command. When NBC execs balked at a woman character with that much power, the post went to Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy). Barrett ended up with parts on both the original TV “Star Trek” and the sequel, “Star Trek: The Next Generation.” With a dismal original run, showing a lowly 52nd in the ratings, Roddenberry’s TV series, “Star Trek” was saved by letter-writing campaigns from Hollywood writers and later by fans.
Roddenberry was first married on June 20, 1942 to Eileen Rexroat with whom he had two daughters. Two days after their divorce became final he married Mejel Barrett on December 29, 1969 and had a son, Rod.
At 6′ 3″ and 215 lbs., Roddenberry was a gentle giant engulfing others with his bearlike embraces. During the 1990 he had a series of strokes and died on 10/24/1991 of a massive blood clot, two days after the screening of the film “Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.” His wife Majel Barrett Roddenberry died of leukemia on December 18, 2008.
Link to Wikipedia biography