D. C. Fontana
Encyclopedia
Dorothy Catherine "D. C." Fontana (born March 25, 1939 in Sussex
, New Jersey
) is an American television script writer and story editor
, best known for her work on the original Star Trek
series.
's secretary
, she has written for Star Trek from the outset, starting with Star Trek (The Original Series)
(TOS) from 1966 through 1969. During that time she wrote such episodes as "Tomorrow Is Yesterday", "Friday's Child", "Journey to Babel", "This Side of Paradise", and "The Enterprise Incident".
Under the pen name Michael Richards, Fontana wrote "That Which Survives" and "The Way to Eden", both from the third season of TOS. Fontana also wrote under the name J. Michael Bingham. This pseudonym was used for the story and teleplay credits for "The Naked Now
", an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation
. The story credit was shared by John D. F. Black
, who had written "The Naked Time", the TOS episode to which "Naked Now" was an homage
.
She also wrote the episode "Yesteryear
" for the Emmy Award winning Star Trek: The Animated Series
, the only episode of that series which contained material considered canonical.
She wrote several episodes in the first season of Star Trek: The Next Generation
starting with the 1987 pilot episode, "Encounter at Farpoint", and the episode "Dax
" of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
in 1993.
Between Star Trek assignments, she wrote the novelization of another Roddenberry project, The Questor Tapes
. In 1989, Pocket Books published her novel, "Vulcan's Glory," which concerns Spock's struggle to reconcile his Vulcan heritage with his obligations to Starfleet and his duties to family — and his own heart's desires.
shows such as The Six Million Dollar Man
(episode "Straight on 'till Morning" and episode "Rescue of Athena One" starring Farrah Fawcett-Majors
) in 1974, Logan's Run in 1978 (also serving as story editor for the short-lived series based on the movie), Babylon 5
in 1994 (episodes "The War Prayer
" and "Legacies
" in season one, and "A Distant Star
" in season two), and Earth: Final Conflict
in 1997.
Her writing credits include children's shows such as the 1970s
series Land of the Lost
—which also featured other Star Trek veterans—He-Man and the Masters of the Universe
in 1983 (episode "Battle Cat"), and the Beast Wars
episode "Crossing the Rubicon". She co-wrote "Where No Sprite Has Gone Before", a 1997 episode of the CGI
television series ReBoot
.
An episode of the Internet-based fan-made Star Trek series Star Trek: New Voyages
, "To Serve All My Days", was also written by Fontana and features a guest appearance by Walter Koenig
reprising his role of Pavel Chekov
in TOS.
Bethesda Softworks reports that Fontana, along with her partner Derek Chester, wrote the storylines for the video games Star Trek: Legacy
and Star Trek: Tactical Assault
.
Fontana and Chester also wrote for IDW Publishing's comic line Star Trek – Year Four. They were involved with the second miniseries titled The Enterprise Experiment.
Non-science fiction shows she has written for include TV series such as Dallas
and The Waltons
.
) was inspired by Fontana.
Her name was "spoofed" as the name of the character "D. C. Montana" on the short-lived science fiction television series The Highwayman
; the character was portrayed by Tim Russ
, who would later play Tuvok
on Star Trek: Voyager
.
, having served as Mistress of the Lists for the Kingdom of Caid
under the SCA name Miranda Douglas of Schiehallion, as mentioned in The Crown Prints, the Kingdom newsletter of the time (early 1980s).
Sussex, New Jersey
Sussex is a borough in Sussex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 2,130.Sussex was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on October 14, 1891, as Deckertown, from portions of Wantage...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
) is an American television script writer and story editor
Story editor
Story editor is a job title in motion picture and television production, also sometimes called "supervising producer". A story editor is a member of the screenwriting staff who edits stories for screenplays....
, best known for her work on the original Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
series.
Work with Gene Roddenberry
Originally Gene RoddenberryGene Roddenberry
Eugene Wesley "Gene" Roddenberry was an American television screenwriter, producer and futurist, best known for creating the American science fiction series Star Trek. Born in El Paso, Texas, Roddenberry grew up in Los Angeles, California where his father worked as a police officer...
's secretary
Secretary
A secretary, or administrative assistant, is a person whose work consists of supporting management, including executives, using a variety of project management, communication & organizational skills. These functions may be entirely carried out to assist one other employee or may be for the benefit...
, she has written for Star Trek from the outset, starting with Star Trek (The Original Series)
Star Trek: The Original Series
Star Trek is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry, produced by Desilu Productions . Star Trek was telecast on NBC from September 8, 1966, through June 3, 1969...
(TOS) from 1966 through 1969. During that time she wrote such episodes as "Tomorrow Is Yesterday", "Friday's Child", "Journey to Babel", "This Side of Paradise", and "The Enterprise Incident".
Under the pen name Michael Richards, Fontana wrote "That Which Survives" and "The Way to Eden", both from the third season of TOS. Fontana also wrote under the name J. Michael Bingham. This pseudonym was used for the story and teleplay credits for "The Naked Now
The Naked Now (TNG episode)
"The Naked Now" is the 3rd episode of the science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation.-Overview:The Enterprise encounters a research ship where all personnel are found dead, including one fully clothed in a shower, and quickly becomes infected with the same affliction that...
", an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry as part of the Star Trek franchise. Roddenberry, Rick Berman, and Michael Piller served as executive producers at different times throughout the production...
. The story credit was shared by John D. F. Black
John D. F. Black
John D. F. Black is a scriptwriter, TV producer, and TV director. He has had a long and varied career in television, but he is best known for his work on the TV series Star Trek in 1966, and its sequel series, Star Trek: The Next Generation during the 1980s.Black was the associate producer for ten...
, who had written "The Naked Time", the TOS episode to which "Naked Now" was an homage
Homage
Homage is a show or demonstration of respect or dedication to someone or something, sometimes by simple declaration but often by some more oblique reference, artistic or poetic....
.
She also wrote the episode "Yesteryear
Yesteryear (TAS episode)
-Plot:Spock returns from a time-traveling research project he has been conducting with the use of the Guardian of Forever. When he emerges from the portal, he discovers that apart from Kirk , no one onboard the Enterprise recognizes him...
" for the Emmy Award winning Star Trek: The Animated Series
Star Trek: The Animated Series
Star Trek: The Animated Series is an animated science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe following the events of Star Trek: The Original Series of the 1960s...
, the only episode of that series which contained material considered canonical.
She wrote several episodes in the first season of Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry as part of the Star Trek franchise. Roddenberry, Rick Berman, and Michael Piller served as executive producers at different times throughout the production...
starting with the 1987 pilot episode, "Encounter at Farpoint", and the episode "Dax
Dax (DS9 episode)
"Dax" is the 8th episode of the science fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.-Overview:Jadzia Dax is charged with a murder supposedly committed by the symbiont's previous host, Curzon.-Plot:...
" of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe...
in 1993.
Between Star Trek assignments, she wrote the novelization of another Roddenberry project, The Questor Tapes
The Questor Tapes
The Questor Tapes is a 1974 television movie about an android with incomplete memory tapes who is searching for his creator and his purpose. Conceived by and executive produced by Gene Roddenberry, the script is credited to Roddenberry and fellow Star Trek alumnus Gene L. Coon.A novelization,...
. In 1989, Pocket Books published her novel, "Vulcan's Glory," which concerns Spock's struggle to reconcile his Vulcan heritage with his obligations to Starfleet and his duties to family — and his own heart's desires.
Other screenwriting work
Fontana has written scripts for other science fictionScience fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
shows such as The Six Million Dollar Man
The Six Million Dollar Man
The Six Million Dollar Man is an American television series about a former astronaut with bionic implants working for the OSI...
(episode "Straight on 'till Morning" and episode "Rescue of Athena One" starring Farrah Fawcett-Majors
Farrah Fawcett
Farrah Fawcett was an American actress and artist. A multiple Golden Globe and Emmy Award nominee, Fawcett rose to international fame when she first appeared as private investigator Jill Munroe in the first season of the television series Charlie's Angels, in 1976...
) in 1974, Logan's Run in 1978 (also serving as story editor for the short-lived series based on the movie), Babylon 5
Babylon 5
Babylon 5 is an American science fiction television series created, produced and largely written by J. Michael Straczynski. The show centers on a space station named Babylon 5: a focal point for politics, diplomacy, and conflict during the years 2257–2262...
in 1994 (episodes "The War Prayer
The War Prayer (Babylon 5)
"The War Prayer" is an episode from the first season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5. The title of the episode comes from the Mark Twain story of the same name.-Synopsis:...
" and "Legacies
Legacies (Babylon 5)
"Legacies" is an episode from the first season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5.-Synopsis:A girl entering puberty exhibits telepathic abilities, and the crew must decide whether to turn her over to the Psi Corps...
" in season one, and "A Distant Star
A Distant Star
"A Distant Star" is an episode from the second season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5.-Synopsis:In the opening scenes of the episode, an EarthForce Explorer-class ship, the EAS Cortez, is seen. The ship's captain, Jack Maynard, is an old friend of Babylon 5 commander Captain John...
" in season two), and Earth: Final Conflict
Earth: Final Conflict
Earth: Final Conflict is a Canadian science fiction television series based on story ideas created by Gene Roddenberry, and produced under the guidance of his widow, Majel Barrett-Roddenberry. It was not produced, filmed or broadcast until after his death...
in 1997.
Her writing credits include children's shows such as the 1970s
1970s in television
The decade of the 1970s saw significant changes in television programming in both the United Kingdom and the United States. The trends included the decline of the "family sitcoms" and rural-oriented programs to more socially contemporary shows and "young, hip and urban" sitcoms in the United States...
series Land of the Lost
Land of the Lost (1974 TV series)
Land of the Lost is a children's television series co-created and produced by Sid and Marty Krofft. During its original run, it was broadcast on the NBC television network....
—which also featured other Star Trek veterans—He-Man and the Masters of the Universe
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe is an American animated television series produced by Filmation based on Mattel's successful toy line Masters of the Universe...
in 1983 (episode "Battle Cat"), and the Beast Wars
Beast Wars
Transformers: Beast Wars is a Transformers toyline released by Hasbro between 1995 and 2000, and a Daytime Emmy Award winning full-CG animated television series spawned by it that debuted in 1996...
episode "Crossing the Rubicon". She co-wrote "Where No Sprite Has Gone Before", a 1997 episode of the CGI
Computer-generated imagery
Computer-generated imagery is the application of the field of computer graphics or, more specifically, 3D computer graphics to special effects in art, video games, films, television programs, commercials, simulators and simulation generally, and printed media...
television series ReBoot
ReBoot
ReBoot is a Canadian CGI-animated action-adventure cartoon series that originally aired from 1994 to 2001. It was produced by Vancouver-based production company Mainframe Entertainment, Alliance Communications, BLT Productions and created by Gavin Blair, Ian Pearson, Phil Mitchell and John Grace,...
.
An episode of the Internet-based fan-made Star Trek series Star Trek: New Voyages
Star Trek: New Voyages
Star Trek New Voyages: Phase II is a fan-created science fiction series set in the Star Trek universe. The series was created by James Cawley and Jack Marshall in April 2003...
, "To Serve All My Days", was also written by Fontana and features a guest appearance by Walter Koenig
Walter Koenig
Walter Marvin Koenig is an American actor, writer, teacher and director, known for his roles as Pavel Chekov in Star Trek and Alfred Bester in Babylon 5. He wrote the script for the 2008 science fiction legal thriller InAlienable.-Early life:...
reprising his role of Pavel Chekov
Pavel Chekov
Pavel Andreievich Chekov is a Russian Starfleet officer in the Star Trek fictional universe. Walter Koenig portrayed Chekov in the original Star Trek series and first seven Star Trek films; Anton Yelchin portrayed the character in the 2009 film Star Trek.-Origin:Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry...
in TOS.
Bethesda Softworks reports that Fontana, along with her partner Derek Chester, wrote the storylines for the video games Star Trek: Legacy
Star Trek: Legacy
Star Trek: Legacy is a video game released by Mad Doc Software for Windows-based PCs and Xbox 360. The game, a strategy/action and space combat game, was published by Bethesda Softworks...
and Star Trek: Tactical Assault
Star Trek: Tactical Assault
Star Trek: Tactical Assault is a Star Trek video game for the Nintendo DS and PlayStation Portable that was developed by Quicksilver Software, also the creators of Star Trek: Starfleet Command.-Single-player:...
.
Fontana and Chester also wrote for IDW Publishing's comic line Star Trek – Year Four. They were involved with the second miniseries titled The Enterprise Experiment.
Non-science fiction shows she has written for include TV series such as Dallas
Dallas (TV series)
Dallas is an American serial drama/prime time soap opera that revolves around the Ewings, a wealthy Texas family in the oil and cattle-ranching industries. Throughout the series, Larry Hagman stars as greedy, scheming oil baron J. R. Ewing...
and The Waltons
The Waltons
The Waltons is an American television series created by Earl Hamner, Jr., based on his book Spencer's Mountain, and a 1963 film of the same name. The show centered on a family growing up in a rural Virginia community during the Great Depression and World War II. The series pilot was a television...
.
Tributes to Fontana
The makers of Deep Space Nine have said that the character of science fiction writer "K. C. Hunter" (played by Nana VisitorNana Visitor
Nana Visitor , born Nana Tucker, is an American actress, best known for playing Kira Nerys in the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Jean Ritter in the television series Wildfire.-Early life:...
) was inspired by Fontana.
Her name was "spoofed" as the name of the character "D. C. Montana" on the short-lived science fiction television series The Highwayman
The Highwayman (TV series)
The Highwayman is an action-adventure themed television series starring Sam J. Jones, set in "the near future." It was created by Glen A. Larson and Douglas Heyes. The pilot aired in September 1987, and was followed by a short-lived series of nine episodes, with significant changes to the cast and...
; the character was portrayed by Tim Russ
Tim Russ
Timothy Darrell "Tim" Russ is an American actor, film director, screenwriter and musician. He is known for his roles on Star Trek: Voyager, as Lieutenant Commander Tuvok, Samantha Who?, as Frank, and on the Nickelodeon live-action teen sitcom iCarly, as Principal Franklin, a recurring...
, who would later play Tuvok
Tuvok
Tuvok is one of the main characters on the television series Star Trek: Voyager. Tuvok is a Vulcan who serves as the ship's chief of security and its chief tactical officer. Tim Russ portrayed Tuvok throughout the show's run, from 1995 to 2001....
on Star Trek: Voyager
Star Trek: Voyager
Star Trek: Voyager is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe. Set in the 24th century from the year 2371 through 2378, the series follows the adventures of the Starfleet vessel USS Voyager, which becomes stranded in the Delta Quadrant 70,000 light-years from Earth while...
.
Personal
Fontana is also a long-time member of the Society for Creative AnachronismSociety for Creative Anachronism
The Society for Creative Anachronism is an international living history group with the aim of studying and recreating mainly Medieval European cultures and their histories before the 17th century...
, having served as Mistress of the Lists for the Kingdom of Caid
CAID
Caid may refer to:* Caid , a type of governorship found in North Africa and Moorish Spain* Caid , a form of football popular in Ireland until the mid-19th century...
under the SCA name Miranda Douglas of Schiehallion, as mentioned in The Crown Prints, the Kingdom newsletter of the time (early 1980s).