‘Star Trek’ writer D.C. Fontana passes at 80

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Dorothy Catherine (D.C.) Fontana boldly went where no female writer had ever gone before – into the writers room of the the original “Star Trek” series. She died December 2. She was 80.

In the 1960s, Dorothy Catherine (D.C.) Fontana boldly went where no female writer had ever gone before – into the writers room of the the original Star Trek series. Variety is reporting she died December 2. She was 80.

Fontana’s death was confirmed by the official Star Trek website, which described her as “the legendary writer who brought many of Star Trek’s greatest episodes to life.”

The website reported that she died after a brief illness but offered no other details.

An active member of the WGA, Fontana is credited with many episodes on Star Trek focusing on Vulcan culture and helped blaze a trail for female writers in sci-fi television.

She was the brains behind many of the original series and animated series acclaimed episodes including, “Yesteryear” and “Journey to Babel,” which introduced Spock’s father Sarek and mother Amanda.

Fontana co-wrote the Hugo Award nominated Star Trek: The Next Generation episode “Encounter at Farpoint” with Gene Rodenberry, and she continued to write for TNG and Deep Space Nine.

It turns out because of the series’ complex characters, Deep Space Nine was her favorite spin-off.

Her introduction to TV writing came after she landed a job as a secretary to Roddenberry in 1961.

Although she used “D.C.” to mask her gender, Fontana was a pioneer for women who yearned to not only become a TV writer, but sci-fi.

“I wrote a Ben Casey spec script, with the byline ‘D.C. Fontana,’ ” Fontana told NorthJersey.com in 2016. “Figuring they can’t turn me down because I’m a woman, because they wouldn’t know. And I had my agent turn it in, and it was bought. From then on I thought, ‘You know what, this is the best way to go. I’m going to go with D.C. Fontana.’ “

Her last produced credit was an episode of webseries Star Trek: New Voyages, starring Walter Koenig.

She is survived by her husband, Oscar-winning visual effects cinematographer Dennis Skotak, and her family wishes for memorial donations to be made to the Humane Society, the Best Friends Animal Society, or to the American Film Institute.

ALSO READ: ‘MasterChef’ Gary Rhodes passes away at 59

William Shatner and Others Pay Tribute

Captain Kirk himself, William Shatner, as well as others influenced by Fontana paid tribute on Twitter.

The prolific storyteller’s talent took her far and Fontana will be missed. But we can all know that she lived long and prospered.

SOURCE: Variety

header-dc-fontana-1

Dorothy Catherine (D.C.) Fontana boldly went where no female writer had ever gone before – into the writers room of the the original “Star Trek” series. She died December 2. She was 80.

In the 1960s, Dorothy Catherine (D.C.) Fontana boldly went where no female writer had ever gone before – into the writers room of the the original Star Trek series. Variety is reporting she died December 2. She was 80.

Fontana’s death was confirmed by the official Star Trek website, which described her as “the legendary writer who brought many of Star Trek’s greatest episodes to life.”

The website reported that she died after a brief illness but offered no other details.

An active member of the WGA, Fontana is credited with many episodes on Star Trek focusing on Vulcan culture and helped blaze a trail for female writers in sci-fi television.

She was the brains behind many of the original series and animated series acclaimed episodes including, “Yesteryear” and “Journey to Babel,” which introduced Spock’s father Sarek and mother Amanda.

Fontana co-wrote the Hugo Award nominated Star Trek: The Next Generation episode “Encounter at Farpoint” with Gene Rodenberry, and she continued to write for TNG and Deep Space Nine.

It turns out because of the series’ complex characters, Deep Space Nine was her favorite spin-off.

Her introduction to TV writing came after she landed a job as a secretary to Roddenberry in 1961.

Although she used “D.C.” to mask her gender, Fontana was a pioneer for women who yearned to not only become a TV writer, but sci-fi.

“I wrote a Ben Casey spec script, with the byline ‘D.C. Fontana,’ ” Fontana told NorthJersey.com in 2016. “Figuring they can’t turn me down because I’m a woman, because they wouldn’t know. And I had my agent turn it in, and it was bought. From then on I thought, ‘You know what, this is the best way to go. I’m going to go with D.C. Fontana.’ “

Her last produced credit was an episode of webseries Star Trek: New Voyages, starring Walter Koenig.

She is survived by her husband, Oscar-winning visual effects cinematographer Dennis Skotak, and her family wishes for memorial donations to be made to the Humane Society, the Best Friends Animal Society, or to the American Film Institute.

ALSO READ: ‘MasterChef’ Gary Rhodes passes away at 59

William Shatner and Others Pay Tribute

Captain Kirk himself, William Shatner, as well as others influenced by Fontana paid tribute on Twitter.

The prolific storyteller’s talent took her far and Fontana will be missed. But we can all know that she lived long and prospered.

SOURCE: Variety

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