Jeri Taylor, the Emmy-nominated scribe, producer, director and showrunner behind Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Voyager (which she co-created), has died. She was 86.
“My mom succeeded in a male-dominated trade,” her son Andrew Enberg said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, “however she did it with out being tremendous aggressive. She did it with compassion and kindness. She was like a den mom to everybody.”
The trade veteran died Oct. 24 of pure causes at an assisted dwelling facility in Davis, Calif., Enberg stated.
All through her decades-long profession, Taylor spent greater than ten years bringing to life episodes set throughout the Star Trek universe. In 1990, she started writing for Subsequent Technology Season 4, ultimately working her manner as much as co-executive producer in Season 6. She was the showrunner of the Patrick Stewart car in its seventh and ultimate installment, for which she garnered an Emmy nom for Excellent Drama Collection.
Afterward, Taylor co-created Voyager alongside Subsequent Technology co-EPs Rick Berman and Michael Pillar, serving as showrunner from 1995 via 1998 and later artistic marketing consultant for its ultimate three seasons. She pioneered the thought of a feminine lead captain within the franchise with actress Kate Mulgrew. In a tribute submit on X, Mulgrew wrote that Taylor was “accountable, largely, for altering my life. She was elegant, erudite, and fiercely opinionated. She needed Kathryn Janeway to be a big a part of her legacy and I feel there isn’t any doubt that in that endeavor she succeeded.”
“I owe her a debt of gratitude. Might she relaxation in peace,” she concluded.
In whole, Taylor penned 30 episodes throughout the Star Trek universe. Per StarTrek.com, she was most proud of contributing fan-favorite Subsequent Technology episode “The Drumhead.” She additionally wrote three Star Trek novels for Pocket Books.
Previous to her contributions to the galaxy, Taylor wrote and produced episodes of fashionable community procedurals like Quincy, Magnum, P.I., Jake and the Fatman and Within the Warmth of the Night time. She additionally wrote on episodes of Little Home on the Prairie, The Unimaginable Hulk and obtained a narrative by credit score on three episodes of Star Trek: Deep Area 9. Taylor additionally co-wrote the CBS primetime film, A Place to Name House.
Born June 30, 1938 in Evansville, Ind., Taylor graduated from Indiana College with a serious in English. She obtained her grasp’s diploma from CSUN and started her foray into Hollywood via an appearing workshop in Los Angeles, the place she directed native stage productions earlier than transitioning to screenwriting earlier than the ’80s.
Graphic designer Michael Okuda, greatest identified for designing the pc interfaces on the Starfleet referred to as “okudagrams,” said in a remembrance submit, “The world of Star Trek misplaced certainly one of its giants yesterday with the passing of writer-producer Jeri Taylor … Jeri introduced humanity and compassion to her work and to Star Trek,” including, “Working for Jeri Taylor was at all times a delight. She at all times welcomed concepts and recommendations, even from designers within the artwork division. She was considerate and heat, and he or she at all times made us really feel like we had been an vital a part of her workforce.”
Brannon Braga, who inherited Taylor’s showrunning duties on Voyager, wrote on Instagram, “She was an excellent author and showrunner and, to me, a cherished mentor. Jeri was beneficiant along with her knowledge and her time, she nurtured a complete employees of younger writers which is a testomony to her persistence. I might not have a profession with out Jeri’s intricate steering. She taught us all a lot. Her reminiscence will stay on in some ways, however maybe most of all within the character of Captain Janeway, who mirrored one of the best dimensions of Jeri herself. Jeri Taylor, we had been fortunate to know you.”
Star Trek: Discovery co-creator Bryan Fuller wrote, “O, CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN FAREWELL JERI TAYLOR, PIONEERING CO-CREATOR OF #STARTREKVOYAGER, MY FIRST SHOWRUNNER BOSS AND THE KINDEST.”
Voyager actor Robert Picardo shared, “What a beautiful individual to work with ! Jeri Taylor was the beating coronary heart of @StarTrek #Voyager ‘s groundbreaking #CaptainJaneway character. I’ll miss her. My condolences to her household.”
