Who Is Gene Roddenberry? Age, Biography and Wiki
Gene Roddenberry was born on August 19, 1921, and passed away on October 24, 1991. Known as an accomplished American screenwriter and producer, Roddenberry is best remembered as the creator of the iconic television series Star Trek. His forward-thinking vision brought science fiction to mainstream audiences, inspiring generations through stories that transcended time and space. In 2025, Roddenberry's influence continues to resonate across various media, reflecting a legacy that fosters imagination and exploration.
| Occupation | Film Producer |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | August 19, 1921 |
| Age | 70 Years |
| Birth Place | El Paso, Texas, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Leo |
| Country | U.S |
| Date of death | 24 October, 1991 |
| Died Place | Santa Monica, California, U.S. |
Popularity
Gene Roddenberry's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While precise physical stats such as height, weight, and measurements may not be widely documented for Roddenberry, it is known that he had a commanding presence both on and off the screen. Typically, he is remembered for his charismatic demeanor rather than specific metrics, as his work and ideas far outshined physical characteristics.
Roddenberry had a stroke at a family reunion in Tallahassee, Florida, in September 1989, His health declined further, ultimately requiring him to use a wheelchair. His right arm was paralyzed after another stroke in early October 1991, causing him ongoing pain as the muscles began to atrophy.
It also caused problems with the sight in his right eye, and he found communicating in full sentences difficult. At 2:00 pm, on October 24, he attended an appointment with his doctor, Dr. Ronald Rich, in Santa Monica, California. He arrived in the building with his staff and began to travel up to the ninth floor in the elevator.
As they reached the fifth floor, he began struggling to breathe and was wheeled into the doctor's office, where he was reclined, and a nurse administered oxygen. Barrett was sent for. Upon her arrival, she held Roddenberry while encouraging him to breathe. He suffered cardiopulmonary arrest in the doctor's office shortly afterwards.
CPR was attempted with no effect, and paramedics arrived to take him across the road to the Santa Monica Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. He was 70 years old.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Gene Roddenberry was married to Majel Barrett, an actress and producer who played several key characters in the Star Trek franchise, including Nurse Chapel and the voice of the computer aboard the USS Enterprise. They were partners in both life and work, supporting each other throughout their careers. While Roddenberry had other relationships, his lasting bond with Barrett is what he is most remembered for in the context of family and relationships.
Eugene Wesley Roddenberry Sr. (August 19, 1921 – October 24, 1991) was an American television screenwriter and producer who created the science fiction series and fictional universe Star Trek. Born in El Paso, Texas, Roddenberry grew up in Los Angeles, where his father was a police officer.
Roddenberry flew 89 combat missions in the Army Air Forces during World War II and worked as a commercial pilot after the war. Later, he joined the Los Angeles Police Department and began to write for television.
Net Worth and Salary
At the time of his death in 1991, Gene Roddenberry's net worth was estimated to be around $500 million. His wealth was primarily derived from the success of the Star Trek franchise and various subsequent projects, including films, television rights, and merchandise. In 2025, his estate continues to generate income through various licensing agreements and new media adaptations, further solidifying his status as a cultural icon.
On May 24, the first episode of the Star Trek series went into production; Desilu was contracted to deliver 13 episodes. Five days before the first broadcast, Roddenberry appeared at the 24th World Science Fiction Convention and previewed "Where No Man Has Gone Before". After the episode was shown, he received a standing ovation.
The first episode to air on NBC was "The Man Trap", on September 8, 1966, at 8:00 pm. Roddenberry was immediately concerned about the series' low ratings and wrote to Harlan Ellison to ask if he could use his name in letters to the network to save the show.
Not wanting to lose a potential source of income, Ellison agreed and also sought the help of other writers who also wanted to avoid losing potential income. Roddenberry corresponded with science fiction writer Isaac Asimov about how to address the issue of Spock's growing popularity and the possibility that his character would overshadow Kirk.
Asimov suggested having Kirk and Spock work together as a team "to get people to think of Kirk when they think of Spock." The series was renewed by NBC, first for a full season's order, and then for a second season.
An article in the Chicago Tribune quoted studio executives as stating that the letter-writing campaign had been wasted because they had already been planning to renew Star Trek.
Career, Business and Investments
Gene Roddenberry's career began in the 1940s as a writer for radio and television, but it was the creation of Star Trek in the 1960s that catapulted him to fame. The series has spawned numerous spin-offs, films, books, and a robust fan organization. Beyond Star Trek, Roddenberry worked on other television projects and focused on creating narratives that pushed societal boundaries and addressed contemporary issues. His visionary approach to storytelling not only established him as a leader in science fiction but also as a principle in the business of entertainment.
On August 2, 1943, while flying B-17E-BO, 41-2463, "Yankee Doodle", out of Espiritu Santo, the plane Roddenberry was piloting overran the runway by 500 ft and crashed into trees, crushing the nose and starting a fire as well as killing two men: bombardier Sgt. John P. Kruger and navigator Lt. Talbert H. Woolam.
The official report absolved Roddenberry of any responsibility. Roddenberry spent the remainder of his military career in the United States and flew all over the country as a plane crash investigator. He was involved in a second plane crash, this time as a passenger. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal.
Social Network
In 2025, Gene Roddenberry's memory and legacy are preserved through both official and fan-created social media pages. While he does not have personal social media accounts, platforms like Twitter and Instagram feature tributes, discussions, and fan art celebrating his contributions to the genre. The official Roddenberry Entertainment company continues to engage with fans, sharing news about ongoing projects that build upon his creative vision.
Roddenberry applied for a position with the Los Angeles Police Department on January 10, 1949, and spent his first sixteen months in the traffic division before being transferred to the newspaper unit. That became the Public Information Division, and Roddenberry became the Chief of Police's speech writer.
In this position, he also became the LAPD liaison to the very popular Dragnet television series, providing technical advisors for specific episodes.
He also did his first TV writing for the show, taking actual cases, and boiling them down to short screen treatments that would be fleshed out into full scripts by Jack Webb's staff of writers, and splitting the fee with the officers who actually investigated the real-life case. He became then technical advisor for a new television version of Mr.
District Attorney, which led to him writing for the show under his pseudonym "Robert Wesley". He began to collaborate with Ziv Television Programs and continued to sell scripts to Mr. District Attorney, in addition to Ziv's Highway Patrol.
In early 1956, he sold two story ideas for I Led Three Lives, and he found that it was becoming increasingly difficult to be a writer and a policeman. On June 7, 1956, he resigned from the force to concentrate on his writing career.
Education
Gene Roddenberry attended Los Angeles City College in the late 1930s. His educational background laid the foundation for his future in broadcasting and storytelling. Combining his education with a lifelong curiosity about technology and science, he went on to create narratives that blended these elements in pioneering ways.
As we look toward the future in 2025, Gene Roddenberry's legacy remains firmly embedded in the fabric of popular culture, inspiring new generations to explore the final frontier. His contributions to television and film continue to spark imagination and curiosity about the universe we inhabit.
As the second season was drawing to a close, Roddenberry once again faced the threat of cancellation. He enlisted the help of Asimov, and even encouraged a student-led protest march on NBC. On January 8, 1968, a thousand students from 20 schools marched on the studio.
Roddenberry began to communicate with Star Trek fan Bjo Trimble, who led a fan-writing campaign to save the series. Trimble later noted that this campaign of writing to fans who had written to Desilu about the show, urging them to write NBC, had created an organized Star Trek fandom.
The network received around 6,000 letters a week from fans petitioning it to renew the series. On March 1, 1968, NBC announced on air, at the end of "The Omega Glory", that Star Trek would return for a third season.
