John D. F. Black
Encyclopedia
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
(The Original Series) in 1966, and its sequel series, Star Trek: The Next Generation
during the 1980s.
Black was the associate producer for ten episodes of Star Trek made during the program's first season, all of which were broadcast from September 8, 1966, through December 15, 1966. (This information can be found in www.ImdB.com.) Black also wrote the teleplay
for and was the associate producer of one of the outstanding early episodes of Star Trek—The Naked Time. During the 1980s, Black was also given credit for the story for sequel episode, The Naked Now
, in Star Trek: The Next Generation. Black also received story-writing credit for one more episode in this series, Justice
, under his pseudonym of "Ralph Wills".
Black also wrote for many other TV series, including The Mary Tyler Moore Show
, Charlie's Angels
, Hawaii Five-O
, The Fugitive
, Mission: Impossible
, and Mannix
.
In work for motion pictures, Black co-wrote the movie adaptation of Shaft
(1971), along with his co-writer, Ernest Tidyman
, who had written the original novel of Shaft. Black also was the executive producer of the detective movie Trouble Man
(1972), which starred Robert Hooks
and whose musical score was written by Marvin Gaye
.
In 1972, Black received an Edgar Award
from the Writer's Guild of America in the category of "Best Television Feature or Miniseries Teleplay" for writing the script for the made-for-TV movie Thief.
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
, but he is best known for his work on the TV series Star Trek
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...
(The Original Series) in 1966, and its sequel series, 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...
during the 1980s.
Black was the associate producer for ten episodes of Star Trek made during the program's first season, all of which were broadcast from September 8, 1966, through December 15, 1966. (This information can be found in www.ImdB.com.) Black also wrote the teleplay
Teleplay
A teleplay is a television play, a comedy or drama written or adapted for television. The term surfaced during the 1950s with wide usage to distinguish a television plays from stage plays for the theater and screenplays written for films...
for and was the associate producer of one of the outstanding early episodes of Star Trek—The Naked Time. During the 1980s, Black was also given credit for the story for sequel episode, 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...
, in Star Trek: The Next Generation. Black also received story-writing credit for one more episode in this series, Justice
Justice (TNG episode)
"Justice" is the 8th episode of the science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation.-Overview:The episode focuses on the Prime Directive, with Wesley breaking a world's "trivial" law and thus facing the death sentence, and Captain Picard having to deal with the world's powerful and...
, under his pseudonym of "Ralph Wills".
Black also wrote for many other TV series, including The Mary Tyler Moore Show
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
The Mary Tyler Moore Show is an American television sitcom created by James L. Brooks and Allan Burns that aired on CBS from 1970 to 1977...
, Charlie's Angels
Charlie's Angels
Charlie's Angels is a television series about three women who work for a private investigation agency, and is one of the first shows to showcase women in roles traditionally reserved for men...
, Hawaii Five-O
Hawaii Five-O
Hawaii Five-O is an American police procedural drama series produced by CBS Productions and Leonard Freeman. Set in Hawaii, the show originally aired for twelve seasons from 1968 to 1980, and continues in reruns. The show featured a fictional state police unit run by Detective Steve McGarrett,...
, The Fugitive
The Fugitive (TV series)
The Fugitive is an American drama series produced by QM Productions and United Artists Television that aired on ABC from 1963 to 1967. David Janssen stars as Richard Kimble, a doctor from the fictional town of Stafford, Indiana, who is falsely convicted of his wife's murder and given the death...
, Mission: Impossible
Mission: Impossible
Mission: Impossible is an American television series which was created and initially produced by Bruce Geller. It chronicled the missions of a team of secret American government agents known as the Impossible Missions Force . The leader of the team was Jim Phelps, played by Peter Graves, except in...
, and Mannix
Mannix
Mannix is an American television detective series that ran from 1967 through 1975 on CBS. Created by Richard Levinson and William Link and developed by executive producer Bruce Geller, the title character, Joe Mannix, is a private investigator. He is played by Mike Connors...
.
In work for motion pictures, Black co-wrote the movie adaptation of Shaft
Shaft (1971 film)
Shaft is a 1971 American blaxploitation film directed by Gordon Parks, released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. An action film with elements of film noir, Shaft tells the story of a black private detective, John Shaft, who travels through Harlem and to the Italian mob neighborhoods in order to find the...
(1971), along with his co-writer, Ernest Tidyman
Ernest Tidyman
Ernest Tidyman was a Cleveland-born American author and screenwriter, best known for his novels featuring the African-American detective John Shaft. He also co-wrote the screenplay for the film version of Shaft with John D.F...
, who had written the original novel of Shaft. Black also was the executive producer of the detective movie Trouble Man
Trouble Man
Trouble Man is a 1972 blaxploitation film produced and released by 20th Century Fox. The film stars Robert Hooks as "Mr. T.", a hard-edged private detective who tends to take justice into his own hands...
(1972), which starred Robert Hooks
Robert Hooks
Robert Hooks is an American actor of films, television and stage. With a career as a producer and political activist to his credit, he is most recognizable to the public for his over 100 roles in films and television, as well as his political and civil rights activities...
and whose musical score was written by Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
.
In 1972, Black received an Edgar Award
Edgar Award
The Edgar Allan Poe Awards , named after Edgar Allan Poe, are presented every year by the Mystery Writers of America...
from the Writer's Guild of America in the category of "Best Television Feature or Miniseries Teleplay" for writing the script for the made-for-TV movie Thief.