Herbert Wright, August 24, 2005

Published in the Los Angeles Times on Oct. 30, 2005

Wright, Herbert J. (58), Passed away August 24, 2005. Herbert Wright was best known as producer and writer of the successful TV series, Star Trek, The Next Generation. He began life in Keokuk Iowa, and then went on to Yale University (where he established the film school) and graduated with honors in 1969. After arriving in Hollywood, he produced, wrote and directed over 50 TV shows and feature films, including “The Six Million Dollar Man,” “Night Gallery” and McCloud.” He wrote and directed the TV version of “War of the Worlds,” starring his actress wife Elaine Giftos. He was nominated for an Emmy for his TV Movie; “Through the Magic Pyramid.” A prolific writer, he also wrote many articles and books on various subjects including filmmaking, martial arts and Feng Shui. Herb was an avid martial artist with a black belt in Japanese Sword. He loved the outdoors and his horses, and was most comfortable in the saddle. At his death, he was preparing a new science fiction TV series, “Questor.” He is survived by his wife, daughter and three grandchildren.

Published in Fandom:

Herbert “Herb” J. Wright (9 November 1946 – 24 August 2005; age 58) was the writer or co-writer of four episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation. He was also a Co-Producer during the show’s first season (from “Encounter at Farpoint” to “Skin of Evil”), and a producer on six episodes of the fifth season (from “The Masterpiece Society” to “Cause and Effect”).
Wright wrote the episode “The Last Outpost”, which introduced the Ferengi. He also wrote the second Ferengi episode, “The Battle”. Because of this, he has been dubbed the “Father of the Ferengi”. As a joke reference, a character (Herb Wright) named after him was listed in a Starfleet office directory in TNG: “Violations”.
Wright wrote the second draft of David Gerrold’s controversial, unproduced episode, “Blood and Fire”, which he retitled “Blood and Ice”, under the strictest of instructions from Gene Roddenberry – reinforced by Roddenberry’s attorney, Leonard Maizlish – not to have Gerrold work on the script. (Gene Roddenberry: The Myth and the Man Behind Star Trek, p. 249) Wright kept the same basic adventure, but removed the allegedly gay characters and the AIDS allegory. Despite the rewrite, this version remained unfilmed as well.
Wright left The Next Generation near the end of the first season due to the poor treatment given to writers by Gene Roddenberry’s reviled attorney, Maizlish (Wright himself had an exceptionally good relationship with Roddenberry, stemming from his The Questor Tapes days), and Maurice Hurley. He made a brief return to the show as a producer for part of the fifth season, at the invitation of Rick Berman. While Wright thought that, behind the scenes, the fifth season was much friendlier, he left after only a few months, citing creative differences over the show’s direction with Michael Piller. (Captains’ Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages, p. 224)

After he graduated from Yale with honors, Wright moved to Hollywood to begin working in the filmmaking industry. He also studied in Japan as an exchange student, during which he met with legendary director Akira Kurosawa, and began his lifelong study of martial arts.
Wright previously worked with Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry when the latter was developing the television pilot The Questor Tapes. The project fell through, however, as Roddenberry left the production due to creative differences with the studio, even though Wright himself did try to revitalize the project in the 2000s, keeping as close as possible to Roddenberry’s original vision for the project.
Wright was an associate producer on the television series McCloud, which starred Diana Muldaur. Other TV series he produced include The Six Million Dollar Man, Night Gallery, and Hunter. He also wrote for the latter series.
Wright passed away on 24 August 2005. He was fifty-seven years old.

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