Friends and Star Trek stars remember Dorothy (D.C.) Fontana
(L-R) Larry Nemecek, Dorothy (D.C.) Fontana, and John Champion. Image Larry Nemecek/The Trek Files
Legendary Star Trek writer Dorothy Catherine (D.C.) Fontana passed away Monday evening after a brief illness. She was 80 years old. This story was written as part of a special episode of the podcast Daily Star Trek News, remembering her.
Yesterday, fans from all over the world came together on social media to mourn D.C. Fontana’s passing.
David Gerrold, fellow Star Trek writer and Fontana’s friend, and one of the first to post about her death, said of her on Facebook: “I met Dorothy Fontana on the soundstage of Star Trek in 1967. I didn't know who she was at first. I was the brash arrogant naive terrified kid. She was the story editor — I was so inexperienced, I didn't even know what a story editor was.
“But DC Fontana started mentoring me from the git-go — it was one of the greatest gifts of my life. [...] Today we will have our pain and our sorrow. Tomorrow, we will begin to celebrate what she accomplished in her life. Dorothy Fontana made a difference everywhere she worked and in every life she touched. Dorothy Fontana made the world a better place for having been part of it and there is no better legacy than that.”
Star Trek special effects guru Mike Okuda tweeted: “Dorothy Fontana brought humanity to the world of Star Trek. From ‘Charlie X’ through ‘This Side of Paradise,’ and ‘Journey to Babel,’ she helped give life to the characters that we have loved. Star Trek's universe just got a little bit smaller with the passing of D.C. Fontana.”
Likewise George Takei paid tribute to the late writer, tweeting, “We have lost a true genius, writer of many iconic Star Trek episodes. D.C. Fontana, your many-decades mission showed us new life and new civilizations indeed.”
Star Trek’s Captain Kirk, William Shatner, retweeted the official Star Trek Twitter account’s announcement, adding, “She was a pioneer. Her work will continue to influence for generations to come.”
Larry Nemecek, host of The Trek Files here on the Roddenberry Podcast Network, had Fontana on his show several times to discuss her time making Star Trek. Her most recent appearance was in July, talking about The Animated Series.
He said of the news, “Dorothy Fontana. DCFontana. I just foolishly expected that the Iron Lady of #StarTrek would be around to be our Eyewitness to History forever. Well, damn.”