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Home News Tribute: Star Trek’s Jeri Taylor

Tribute: Star Trek’s Jeri Taylor

By
John Michael Curtin
-

The Star Trek universe mourns as another shining star becomes dim. Beloved writer Jeri Taylor passed away on October 24, 2024 at an assistive care facility in Davis, California. She was 86 years of age. Her contributions to Star Trek are nearly incalculable; her influence forever immortalized.

Star Trek writer and co-executive producer Jeri Taylor has passed away at the age of 86. Photo courtesy of CBR.com.

Born to Write

Artists of any kind can agree how difficult it is to not only follow your passion but to make a career and life of it. After attending Indiana University and California State University, Jeri Taylor began writing for many popular television series. Her accomplishments spanned from writing scripts for Little House on the Prairie and Incredible Hulk to producing/directing Quincy, M.E., and Jake and the Fatman.

Work on Quincy, M.E. led to Taylor being recommended to the producers of Star Trek: The Next Generation. She joined the team of creators at the beginning of the fourth season. Jeri Taylor’s first contribution was the episode “Suddenly Human,” which she co-wrote.

By the seventh season, Jeri Taylor became co-executive producer alongside Rick Berman and Michael Piller. She then went on to help create Star Trek: Voyager. The character of Captain Kathryn Janeway was modeled after Taylor directly; a character who would inspire millions as Star Trek’s first female captain. After the first four seasons, Taylor retired but remained as a creative consultant through the end of the Voyager.

The news of Taylor’s death first broke on Friday, October 25th when former Star Trek: Enterprise showrunner Brannon Braga shared a poignant Facebook post (below). News quickly spread, leading to an outpouring of sadness at her passing, and deep-held respect and gratitude from fans, writers, creators, cast, and crew.

Jeri Taylor died. She was a great writer and showrunner and, to me, a cherished mentor. Jeri was generous with her wisdom and her time, she nurtured an entire staff of young writers which is a testament to her patience. I would not have a career without Jeri’s intricate guidance. She taught us all so much. Her memory will live on in many ways, but perhaps most of all in the character of Captain Janeway, who reflected the best dimensions of Jeri herself. Jeri Taylor, we were lucky to know you.

Brannon Braga (via Facebook)

In Remembrance…

Jeri Taylor (third from right) on the Star Trek: Voyager set for the 100th episode celebrations

“Jeri Taylor was responsible, in large part, for changing my life. She was elegant, erudite, and fiercely opinionated. She wanted Kathryn Janeway to be a significant part of her legacy and I think there is no doubt that in that endeavor she succeeded.

I owe her a debt of gratitude. May she rest in peace.”

– Kate MuLgrew, via Twitter (formally X).

A Note from the Author

This author feels a certain inadequacy in memorializing someone like Jeri Taylor. It is simply not possible to quantify the enormity of her influence, nor capture what she meant to the world in this simple article.

Beloved Star Trek co-producer and writer Jeri Taylor, behind the scenes with Patrick Stewart and Brent Spiner. Photo courtesy of Paramount+.

Throughout all the comic cons I’ve traveled to, and the fans I’ve met, there are so many who point to Captain Kathryn Janeway as being an influential part of their life. Her character had as much impact in her era, as seeing Nichelle Nichols on screen for the first time, and the social influences that ensued. Kate Mulgrew, of course, delivers the part as only she could. Star Trek: Voyager likely would not have been as successful without Captain Janeway – and therefore, without Jeri Taylor. She then went on to develop the character of Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan). When you think of the enormous scope of Taylor’s reach, it’s hard to assign words like immortality or legacy. Her influence goes beyond all that, Jeri Taylor being a true gift to humanity.

Rest in paradise, Jeri. From all the lives you’ve touched…Thank you.

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