Jeri Taylor Dead: Co-creator of ‘Star Trek: Voyager’ was 86
Jeri Taylor, the Emmy-nominated producer, showrunner, director and writer known for her work on “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and “Star Trek: Voyager,” which she co-created, has died. She was 86.
Taylor died on Thursday, October 24 as a civil servant “Star Trek” website announced.
Taylor joined the “Next Generation” team during the fourth season in 1990. In the sixth season, she was promoted to co-executive producer alongside Rick Berman and Michael Pillar. She then served as executive producer and showrunner of the series for its seventh and final season, for which she earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Series.
Taylor went on to create ‘Voyager’ with Berman and Piller and was the showrunner for the first four seasons of the series from 1995 to 1998. She later worked as a creative consultant for the show’s final three seasons.
Taylor wrote more than 30 episodes in the ‘Star Trek’ franchise; according to Star Trek’s official website, she was most proud of the “Next Generation” episode “The Drumhead.” She also wrote the 1987 film “A Place to Call Home,” starring Linda Lavin; worked as a producer on the series “Quincy” and “ME;” and directed episodes of “Magnum, PI,” “In the Heat of the Night” and “Jake and the Fatman.”
She had story by credits on three episodes of “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” and wrote three “Star Trek” novels for Pocket Books.
Taylor was born Jeri Cecile Suer on June 30, 1938, in Evansville, Indiana, to father Robert and mother Ruah. She graduated from Indiana University and received her master’s degree from California State University, Northridge.
Brannon Braga, who took over Taylor’s role as showrunner of ‘Voyager,’ paid tribute to her Instagramwriting: ‘Jeri Taylor died. She was a great writer and showrunner and a valued mentor to me. Jeri was generous with her wisdom and her time. She raised a whole staff of young writers, which is a testament to her patience. I wouldn’t have a career without Jeri’s intricate guidance. She taught us all so much. Her memory will live on in many ways, but perhaps especially in the character of Captain Janeway, who reflected the best dimensions of Jeri herself. Jeri Taylor, we were lucky to know you.
Robert Picado, who played The Doctor in ‘Star Trek: Voyager’ posted about X: “What a great person to work with! Jeri Taylor was the beating heart of @StarTrek’s groundbreaking #CaptainJaneway character #Voyager. I will miss her. My condolences to her family.”
Graphic designer Michael Okuda, who designed the computer interfaces on Starfleet called ‘okudagrams’, wrote in an tribute to Taylor: “Working for Jeri Taylor was always a pleasure. She always welcomed ideas and suggestions, even from designers in the art department. She was attentive and warm, and she always made us feel like we were an important part of her team.”
