Jeri Taylor, the Emmy-nominated scribe, producer, director and showrunner behind Star Trek: The Subsequent Era and Star Trek: Voyager (which she co-created), has died. She was 86.
“My mom succeeded in a male-dominated business,” her son Andrew Enberg stated in an announcement 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 business 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 inside the Star Trek universe. In 1990, she started writing for Subsequent Era Season 4, ultimately working her method as much as co-executive producer in Season 6. She was the showrunner of the Patrick Stewart car in its seventh and remaining installment, for which she garnered an Emmy nom for Excellent Drama Sequence.
Afterward, Taylor co-created Voyager alongside Subsequent Era co-EPs Rick Berman and Michael Pillar, serving as showrunner from 1995 by means of 1998 and later inventive guide for its remaining three seasons. She pioneered the concept 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 believe there isn’t any doubt that in that endeavor she succeeded.”
“I owe her a debt of gratitude. Could she relaxation in peace,” she concluded.
In whole, Taylor penned 30 episodes inside the Star Trek universe. Per StarTrek.com, she was most proud of contributing fan-favorite Subsequent Era 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 standard 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 Unbelievable Hulk and obtained a narrative by credit score on three episodes of Star Trek: Deep House 9. Taylor additionally co-wrote the CBS primetime film, A Place to Name Dwelling.
Born June 30, 1938 in Evansville, Ind., Taylor graduated from Indiana College with a significant in English. She obtained her grasp’s diploma from CSUN and started her foray into Hollywood by means of 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 known as “okudagrams,” stated in a remembrance submit, “The world of Star Trek misplaced considered 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 ideas, 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 have been an vital a part of her crew.”
Brannon Braga, who inherited Taylor’s showrunning duties on Voyager, wrote on Instagram, “She was an amazing author and showrunner and, to me, a cherished mentor. Jeri was beneficiant together with her knowledge and her time, she nurtured a complete employees of younger writers which is a testomony to her persistence. I’d not have a profession with out Jeri’s intricate steerage. 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 have 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.”
