DECEMBER 16, 2022 - Last year we celebrated the birthday of this pioneering director, who lobbied to get Joan Collins cast on Dynasty and who was Daphne du Maurier’s cousin. We must now let you know that the British producer and director Gabrielle Beaumont has died, at the age of 80.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Beaumont died peacefully at her home in Spain on October 8. After Beaumont’s work on British horror films, Aaron Spelling hired her to direct television episodes, and she went on to work on many series, including M*A*S*H, Hill Street Blues, and Law & Order. Beaumont became the first woman to direct an episode of Star Trek, Star Trek: The Next Generation’s season three entry, “Booby Trap.” In all, she directed seven episodes of TNG and one episode each of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager.

In 1986, Beaumont received an Emmy nomination for outstanding directing in a drama series, for Hill Street Blues.

For more on the life and career of Gabrielle Beaumont, head over to The Hollywood Reporter, and please join us in offering our condolences to her friends and family.