Over its 58-year history and across various television series, Star Trek has witnessed numerous prominent creative contributions. Recently, Jeri Taylor, an influential executive producer for Star Trek: The Next Generation and co-creator of Star Trek: Voyager, passed away at the age of 86.
Born on June 30, 1938, Jeri Taylor began her career in television by writing scripts for series such as Little House on the Prairie and The Incredible Hulk. She later produced and directed episodes of Quincy, M.E. and Jake and the Fatman. Lee Sheldon, a colleague from the latter, recommended her to the producers of The Next Generation, where she joined as a supervising producer in the fourth season. During her tenure, Taylor advanced to the role of executive producer and became the showrunner for the final season. She also penned several episodes, including Wesley Crusher’s final appearance as a series regular and “The Wounded,” which introduced the Cardassians, who would become a significant element in later Star Trek series such as Deep Space Nine.
Taylor collaborated with fellow The Next Generation executive producers Rick Berman and Michael Piller to develop Star Trek: Voyager, helping to transition some production staff members to the new series. She served as an executive producer for the first four seasons and became the showrunner for seasons three and four. Taylor retired from active production but continued as a consultant for her successor, Brannon Braga. Additionally, she authored several Star Trek novels, including a novelization of her Next Generation episode “Unification,” as well as Voyager prequels Mosaic and Pathways. The narratives of these novels have been referenced in Nickelodeon’s Star Trek: Prodigy.
Several Star Trek colleagues paid tribute to Taylor on social media. Brannon Braga described her as “a great writer and showrunner” and referred to her as a cherished mentor whose guidance was instrumental in his career. He remarked that her legacy will persist, particularly in the character of Captain Janeway, who mirrored many of Taylor’s best traits. Prodigy executive producer and co-head writer Aaron J. Waltke credited the scripts Taylor donated to Indiana University’s Lilly Library for inspiring his writing career, expressing gratitude for her influence.
David Zappone, a film producer known for several Star Trek documentaries, stated that Taylor’s contributions will feature prominently in an upcoming documentary about Voyager. He emphasized that her achievements and impact on the franchise will remain memorable.
