Gene Roddenberry
Biography
Gene Roddenberry was an American television screenwriter and producer. He is best known for creating the American science fiction series Star Trek. Roddenberry was born on August 19, 1921, in El Paso, Texas. He grew up in Los Angeles, California, where his father worked as a police officer. Roddenberry served in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II, and later worked as a commercial pilot. He joined the Los Angeles Police Department to provide for his family, but eventually focused on writing scripts for television. As a freelance writer, Roddenberry wrote scripts for various television shows, including Highway Patrol.
Career overview
Eugene Wesley Gene Roddenberry, Sr. was an American television screenwriter, producer, and futurist who was best known for creating the American science fiction series Star Trek. Born in El Paso, Texas on August 19, 1921, he grew up in Los Angeles, California, where his father worked as a police officer. Before beginning his career in television, Roddenberry flew 89 combat missions in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II and subsequently worked as a commercial pilot. He later joined the Los Angeles Police Department to provide for his family, following in his father's footsteps, while beginning to focus on writing scripts for television.
Operating as a freelance writer, Roddenberry wrote scripts for television productions. Throughout his career, he accumulated 64 known credits primarily recognized for his work in writing. He lived until October 24, 1991, passing away at the age of 70. His life and career spanned military service, commercial aviation, law enforcement, and a prolific television writing and producing career highlighted by the creation of Star Trek.
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Career timeline
Full filmography
- Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (2026) Original Series Creator
- Star Trek: Section 31 (2025) Original Series Creator
- 765874: Unification (2024) Original Series Creator
- 765874: Regeneration (2023) Original Series Creator
- Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022) Original Series Creator
- 765874: Unification (2022) Writer
- Yorktown: A Time to Heal (2022) Characters
- Star Trek: Prodigy (2021) Original Series Creator
- The Center Seat: 55 Years of Star Trek (2021) as Self (archive footage)
- Star Trek: Picard (2020) Original Series Creator
- Star Trek: Lower Decks (2020) Original Series Creator
- Star Trek Beyond (2016) Original Series Creator
- 50 Years of Star Trek (2016) as Self
- Star Trek: The Original Series – The Roddenberry Vault (2016) Creator
- Roddenberry's Trek (2015) as himself
- Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) Original Series Creator
- Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Best of Both Worlds (2013) Executive Producer
- Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Best of Both Worlds (2013) Creator
- Trek Nation (2011) as Self
- Star Trek (2009) Original Series Creator
- Star Trek (2009) In Memory Of
- Starship Farragut - The Animated Episodes (2009) Characters
- Gene Roddenberry: Up Close and Personal (2006) as Himself
- Birth of a Timeless Legacy (2004)
- Sci-Fi Visionaries (2004)
- Star Trek: Nemesis (2002) Original Series Creator
- Starship Exeter (2002) Characters
- Andromeda (2000) Creator
- Star Trek Voyager - Future's End (2000) Creator
- Star Trek: Insurrection (1998) Original Series Creator
- Earth: Final Conflict (1997) Writer
- Earth: Final Conflict (1997) Creator
- Star Trek: First Contact (1996) Original Series Creator
- Star Trek: Voyager (1995) Original Series Creator
- Star Trek: Voyager (1995) Creator
- Star Trek: Generations (1994) Original Series Creator
- Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991) In Memory Of
- Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991) Original Series Creator
- Star Trek: 25th Anniversary Special (1991) as Self
- Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989) Executive Producer
- Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989) Original Series Creator
- The Star Trek Saga: From One Generation to the Next (1988) as Self
- Gene Roddenberry Interview (1988) as Self - Interviewee
- Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) Writer
- Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) Producer
- Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) Teleplay
- Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) Creator
- Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986) Original Series Creator
- The Fantasy Film Worlds of George Pal (1986) as Self
- Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984) Original Series Creator
- Yorktown: In Temporary Command (1984) Characters
- Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) Original Series Creator
- Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) Producer
- Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) Original Series Creator
- Spectre (1977) Executive Producer
- Spectre (1977) Screenplay
- Spectre (1977) Story
- Strange New World (1975) Idea
- The Star Trek Dream (1975) as Self
- The Questor Tapes (1974) Teleplay
- The Questor Tapes (1974) Story
- Planet Earth (1974) Teleplay
- Planet Earth (1974) Executive Producer
- Planet Earth (1974) Story
- Star Trek (1973) Writer
- Star Trek (1973) Producer
- Star Trek (1973) Creator
- Genesis II (1973) Writer
- Genesis II (1973) Producer
- Pretty Maids All in a Row (1971) Producer
- Pretty Maids All in a Row (1971) Writer
- Star Trek (1966) as Enterprise Chef (voice) (uncredited)
- Star Trek (1966) Writer
- Star Trek (1966) Executive Producer
- Star Trek (1966) Creator
- Star Trek: The Cage (1965) Producer
- Star Trek: The Cage (1965) Writer
- The Lieutenant (1963) Writer
- The Lieutenant (1963) Creator
- A.P.O. 923 (1962) Creator
- A.P.O. 923 (1962) Writer
- Woman on the Run (1959) Screenplay
- Have Gun, Will Travel (1957) Writer
- Alcoa Theatre (1957) Writer
- Alcoa Theatre (1957) Producer
- The Jane Wyman Show (1955) Writer
- Strange New World Creator
- A.P.O. 923 Creator
- Untitled Star Trek Origin Story Film Original Series Creator
- Untitled Star Trek Film Original Series Creator