Screenwriter, story editor and novelist D.C. Fontana, known for her prolific work in science fiction television, has died at 80. Fontana was the first female writer on Star Trek and contributed to The Original Series, Star Trek: The Animated Series and co-wrote the pilot episode, Encounter at Farpoint, for Star Trek: The Next Generation with creator Gene Roddenberry. She continued on TNG and wrote for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as well. She’s credited for helping shape Spock and the Vulcans.

Many who saw her name on the screen didn’t realize Dorothy Catherine Fontana was a female as she used the pen name ‘D.C. Fontana.” She became a trailblazer for female writers and wrote for many westerns and sci-fi shows including Babylon 5, Six Million Dollar Man, Bonanza, Land of the Lost, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, Logan’s Run, and more. Her writing resume is incredibly impressive and was admired.

In her career, she was nominated for Writers Guild of America and Hugo Awards. She was awarded the Morgan Cox Award for services to the guild in 2002 and was into the American Screenwriters Association hall of fame, not once but twice. 

Dorothy Fontana passed after a short illness on December 2nd. StarTrek.com said today, “Fontana’s credits to Star Trek cannot be understated, both as a writer of great stories and as a trailblazer for other women. She is survived by her husband, Oscar-winning visual effects cinematographer Dennis Skotak, and her family wishes for memorial donations to be made to the Humane Society, the Best Friends Animal Society, or to the American Film Institute.”

We here at Geek Girl Authority are grateful for her contribution to genre and for paving the way for many non-male writers. 

 

 

Latest posts by Audrey Kearns (see all)