Herbert Wright (producer)
Encyclopedia
Herbert Wright was a science fiction writer and producer. His most notable work was for Star Trek: The Next Generation
and War of the Worlds
. He also directed a few episodes of the latter series and even both wrote and directed the season finale "The Angel of Death," which guest-starred his second wife Elaine Giftos
. Among Star Trek fans he is known as the "Father of the Ferengi
" and was known behind the scenes for his unique storytelling that he himself called "weird shit."
Other work of his includes Rod Serling's Night Gallery
, Cadillacs and Dinosaurs
, Stingray
, Hunter, McCloud, and the Flipper
revival series.
Another series he worked on (but off television) was Mars and Beyond, which also featured Giftos and was distributed on his Cyber Sci-Fi Network.
Wright also had a strong friendship with Gene Roddenberry
. The two met while Roddenberry was making The Questor Tapes
. Wright showed a great interest in the story, and was to contribute to the series that was planned to follow, but never got the chance as the project fell apart owing to Roddenberry's conflicts with the studio. Though Roddenberry considered the series to be dead, the show stuck with Wright, who had hopes that it could be revived. When the rights finally fell back to the Roddenberry family in the 2000s, Wright secured the option to the property and set out to finally produce the series, making it more contemporary while still staying true to Roddenberry's vision. During the initial production stages, Wright became ill before dying in Woodland Hills, California
, on August 24, 2005, at the age of 57.
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...
and War of the Worlds
War of the Worlds (TV series)
War of the Worlds is a television program that ran for two seasons, from 1988 to 1990. The series is an extension of the original 1953 film The War of the Worlds, using the same War Machine, often incorporating aspects from the film, radio adaptation, and original novel into its mythology.Though...
. He also directed a few episodes of the latter series and even both wrote and directed the season finale "The Angel of Death," which guest-starred his second wife Elaine Giftos
Elaine Giftos
Elaine Giftos is an American actress.Trained by George Balanchine as a member of the New York City Ballet, Giftos performed on the Broadway stage before moving to California to pursue a career in movies and television.Her first television appearance was in an episode of I Dream of Jeannie as a...
. Among Star Trek fans he is known as the "Father of the Ferengi
Ferengi
The Ferengi are a fictitious extraterrestrial race from the Star Trek universe. They first appeared in "The Last Outpost", the fifth episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1987, during which they made first contact with the United Federation of Planets in 2364 on the planet Delphi Ardu,...
" and was known behind the scenes for his unique storytelling that he himself called "weird shit."
Other work of his includes Rod Serling's Night Gallery
Night Gallery
Night Gallery is an American anthology series that aired on NBC from 1970 to 1973, featuring stories of horror and the macabre. Rod Serling, who had gained fame from an earlier series, The Twilight Zone, served both as the on-air host of Night Gallery and as a major contributor of scripts, although...
, Cadillacs and Dinosaurs
Cadillacs and Dinosaurs
Cadillacs and Dinosaurs may refer to:*Xenozoic Tales, a comic book also known as Cadillacs and Dinosaurs*Cadillacs and Dinosaurs , a 1993 animated television series*Cadillacs and Dinosaurs , a 1992 arcade game...
, Stingray
Stingray (NBC TV series)
Stingray is an NBC television series produced by Stephen J. Cannell that ran from 1985 to 1987. It stars Nick Mancuso, who plays the mysterious character known only as Ray, whose trademark is a black 1965 Corvette Sting Ray.-Plot:...
, Hunter, McCloud, and the Flipper
Flipper (1995 TV series)
Flipper, is an American revival television series of the original 1964 Flipper television series. The first two seasons aired in first-run syndication; seasons 3 and 4 aired on the PAX network....
revival series.
Another series he worked on (but off television) was Mars and Beyond, which also featured Giftos and was distributed on his Cyber Sci-Fi Network.
Wright also had a strong friendship with Gene Roddenberry
Gene 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...
. The two met while Roddenberry was making 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,...
. Wright showed a great interest in the story, and was to contribute to the series that was planned to follow, but never got the chance as the project fell apart owing to Roddenberry's conflicts with the studio. Though Roddenberry considered the series to be dead, the show stuck with Wright, who had hopes that it could be revived. When the rights finally fell back to the Roddenberry family in the 2000s, Wright secured the option to the property and set out to finally produce the series, making it more contemporary while still staying true to Roddenberry's vision. During the initial production stages, Wright became ill before dying in Woodland Hills, California
Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California
Woodland Hills is a district in the city of Los Angeles, California.Woodland Hills is located in the southwestern area of the San Fernando Valley, east of Calabasas and west of Tarzana, with Warner Center in its northern section...
, on August 24, 2005, at the age of 57.