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Iconic Star Trek Writer Dorothy “D.C.” Fontana Has Died

Iconic Star Trek Writer Dorothy "D.C." Fonatana Passes Away at 80

Dorothy “D.C.” Fontana, best known for work on Star Trek: The Original Series, died in Los Angeles on Monday at the age of 80 years old.

Fontana’s Star Trek writing credits include the Original Series episodes “The Enterprise Incident,” “Jorney to Babel,” “This Side of Paradise,” “Tomorrow is Yesterday,” and “Charlie X.” Following the cancellation of Star Trek in 1969, she worked on several television series, including Logan’s Run, The Six Million Dollar Man and Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. She would later go on to be a producer on Star Trek: The Animated Series, where she wrote the episode “Yesteryear” and on Star Trek: The Next Generation, where she wrote the series pilot episode “Encounter at Farpoint,” in addition to “The Naked Now,” “Too Short a Season,” and “Heart of Glory.” She would return to the Star Trek franchise to pen the Deep Space Nine first-season episode “Dax.”

A scene from the TNG pilot "Encounter at Farpoint" which was co-written by Fontana

A scene from the TNG pilot “Encounter at Farpoint” which was co-written by Fontana (CBS)

Fontana’s work on the Next Generation pilot “Encounter at Farpoint” (which she co-wrote with Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry) earned her a Hugo Award nomination in 1988 for Best Dramatic Presentation.

Fontana’s influence and impact on the Star Trek franchise over the years is immeasurable.

She is survived by her husband, Oscar-winning visual effects cinematographer Dennis Skotak. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to the Humane Society, Best Friends Animal Society, or the American Film Institute.

Our deepest condolences go out to her family, friends and fans.


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9 Comments

9 Comments

  1. Lucy Gothro

    December 3, 2019 at 2:40 pm

    It’s “Journey to Babel”, not “Jorney to Babel”.

    • Wheelz

      December 17, 2019 at 11:26 am

      Seriously? THAT’S what you choose to focus on, a frikken TYPO? No condolences, no showing respect for a woman that helped break down barriers for an entire generation of female writers, just correcting a damn TYPO SMDH!

      RIP Ms Fontana, your legacy and your contributions can’t be properly measured.

  2. Karl Hamann

    December 3, 2019 at 4:46 pm

    In memoriam to Dorothy Fontana. Charlie X is one of the most moving epi’s in all of the TOS canon.

  3. superchiefaba

    December 3, 2019 at 4:46 pm

    At 80, she lived long and prospered and now its her turn among the stars, R.I.P. Dorothy Fontana.

  4. Bertram Miller

    December 3, 2019 at 6:50 pm

    A tragic loss. Her vision of the future was fundamental to Roddenberry’s utopia. And…her version of City On The Edge Of Forever was better than Ellison’s.

    • Talos4

      December 4, 2019 at 1:15 am

      Gene Coon is alleged to have been the primary writer of the final draft of that episode, but who can say for sure? Regardless, Fontana was a gifted writer, and a fair-minded individual. She will be missed.

  5. shayneo

    December 5, 2019 at 12:46 pm

    DC was OG. Right there from the days of Roddenberry himself. She’ll be missed

  6. Donald Canaday

    December 6, 2019 at 4:57 pm

    Star Trek, William shatner,episode Charlie X. This episode was onboard another Star Trek ship. They transferred CharlieX and some crew members to enterprise. The Captain Kirk asked if they wanted movie to be brought to their ship. They said no, and left ship. Charlie X started thinking about his former crew members and next ship exploded. Note I regret the actor passing .

  7. Lizard Logic

    December 9, 2019 at 3:00 am

    Rest well, D.C.

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