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{{Short description|American television producer}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2013}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2013}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
|name=Rod Roddenberry
|name=Rod Roddenberry
| image = Rod Roddenberry by Gage Skidmore.jpg
| image = Rod Roddenberry by Gage Skidmore.jpg
| caption = Roddenberry at [[WonderCon]] 2017
| caption = Roddenberry in 2017
| birth_name = Eugene Wesley Roddenberry Jr.
| birth_name = Eugene Wesley Roddenberry Jr.
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1974|02|5}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1974|2|5}}
| birth_place = [[Los Angeles, California]], U.S.
| birth_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.
⚫
| alma_mater = [[Hampshire College]]
| spouse = {{marriage|Heidi Roddenberry|2002}}
⚫
| alma_mater = [[Hampshire College]]
| occupation = Television producer
| occupation = Television producer
| parents = [[Gene Roddenberry]]<br>[[Majel Barrett]]
| spouse = {{marriage|Heidi Roddenberry|2002}}
| children = 1
| children = 1
| father = [[Gene Roddenberry]]
| mother = [[Majel Barrett]]
}}
}}


'''Eugene Wesley''' "'''Rod'''" '''Roddenberry Jr.''' (born February 5, 1974)<ref>[http://www.startrek.com/database_article/barrett Majel Barrett] star trek.com</ref> is an American television producer and the chief executive officer of Roddenberry Entertainment. Eugene, the son of ''[[Star Trek]]'' creator [[Gene Roddenberry]] and [[Majel Barrett]], is an executive producer on ''[[Star Trek: Discovery]]'', ''[[Star Trek: Picard]]'', and ''[[Star Trek: Lower Decks]]''.
'''Eugene Wesley''' "'''Rod'''" '''Roddenberry Jr.''' (born February 5, 1974)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Barrett |url=https://www.startrek.com/database_article/barrett |access-date=2022-11-01 |website=Star Trek |language=en}}</ref> is an American television producer and the chief executive officer of Roddenberry Entertainment. He is the son of ''[[Star Trek]]'' creator [[Gene Roddenberry]] and [[Majel Barrett]] and is an executive producer on ''[[Star Trek: Discovery]]'', ''[[Star Trek: Picard]]'', ''[[Star Trek: Lower Decks]]'', ''[[Star Trek: Prodigy]]'' and ''[[Star Trek: Strange New Worlds]]''.


==Early life==
==Early life==
Roddenberry was born in [[Los Angeles, California]], the son of actress [[Majel Barrett]] and writer and producer [[Gene Roddenberry]], who is best known for creating the American science fiction series ''[[Star Trek]]''.<ref name=USAToday>{{cite news|last=Truitt|first=Brian|date=November 28, 2011|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/story/2011-11-28/roddenberry-star-trek-documentary/51448162/1|title=Roddenberry put 'Star Trek' light-years ahead|work=[[USA Today]]}}</ref> Roddenberry went to the [[John Thomas Dye School]] in [[Bel Air, Los Angeles|Bel Air]] and [[Harvard-Westlake School]] in [[North Hollywood]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.roddenberry.com/?action=site.eugene |title=Where SciFi Begins |publisher=Roddenberry.com |date= |accessdate=July 17, 2012}}</ref> and then attended [[Hampshire College]] in the early 1990s.
Roddenberry was born in [[Los Angeles, California]], the son of actress [[Majel Barrett]] and writer and producer [[Gene Roddenberry]], creator of the American science fiction series ''[[Star Trek]]''.<ref name="USAToday">{{Cite news |last=Truitt |first=Brian |date=November 28, 2011 |title=Roddenberry put 'Star Trek' light-years ahead |work=[[USA Today]] |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/story/2011-11-28/roddenberry-star-trek-documentary/51448162/1}}</ref> Roddenberry went to the [[John Thomas Dye School]] in [[Bel Air, Los Angeles|Bel Air]] and [[Harvard-Westlake School]] in [[North Hollywood]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Where SciFi Begins |url=http://www.roddenberry.com/?action=site.eugene |access-date=July 17, 2012 |publisher=Roddenberry.com}}</ref> and then attended [[Hampshire College]] in the early 1990s.


As a young man, Roddenberry was not closely familiar with ''Star Trek'', having never even watched it. In 1991, when he was 17 years old, his father died, after which he began to more closely examine ''Star Trek'' and discover "what made the series special" to its fans.<ref>{{cite news|first=Harshnini |last=Vakkalanka|date=July 12, 2012|url=http://www.thehindu.com/arts/radio-and-tv/article3632108.ece |title=Trekking to a new world|work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> Roddenberry struggled initially with his father's near legendary stature among ''Star Trek'' fans, commenting, "A son cannot identify with a mythical figure; my father was put up on this pedestal throughout my life." However, as Roddenberry heard many moving stories about his father's flaws and follies, he observed, "That allowed me, as a son, not just to connect with him, but actually love him."<ref name=USAToday/>
As a young man, Roddenberry was not closely familiar with ''Star Trek'', having never even watched it. In 1991, when he was 17 years old, his father died, after which he began to examine ''Star Trek'' and discover "what made the series special" to its fans.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Vakkalanka |first=Harshnini |date=July 12, 2012 |title=Trekking to a new world |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=http://www.thehindu.com/arts/radio-and-tv/article3632108.ece}}</ref> Roddenberry struggled initially with his father's near-legendary stature among ''Star Trek'' fans, commenting: "A son cannot identify with a mythical figure; my father was put up on this pedestal throughout my life." However, as Roddenberry heard many moving stories about his father's flaws and follies, he observed, "That allowed me, as a son, not just to connect with him, but actually love him."<ref name=USAToday/>


==Career==
==Career==
[[File:Rod and Heidi Roddenberry.jpeg|right|thumb|upright|Roddenberry, with his wife, Heidi.]]
[[File:Rod and Heidi Roddenberry.jpeg|right|thumb|upright|Roddenberry with his wife, Heidi.]]
In 2001, Roddenberry became chief executive officer of Roddenberry Entertainment, which builds upon his father's work, and develops multimedia science fiction properties including comics, television and film projects.<ref name="Rod-bio">{{cite web |author=Eugene "Rod" Roddenberry |url=http://www.roddenberry.com/corporate-rod-biography |title=Bios: Eugene "Rod" Roddenberry |publisher=Roddenberry.com |date=April 23, 2010 |accessdate=July 17, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120813165541/http://www.roddenberry.com/corporate-rod-biography |archivedate=August 13, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
In 2001, Roddenberry became chief executive officer of Roddenberry Entertainment, which builds upon his father's work, and develops multimedia science fiction properties including comics, television and film projects.<ref name="Rod-bio">{{Cite web |last=Eugene "Rod" Roddenberry |date=April 23, 2010 |title=Bios: Eugene "Rod" Roddenberry |url=http://www.roddenberry.com/corporate-rod-biography |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120813165541/http://www.roddenberry.com/corporate-rod-biography |archive-date=August 13, 2012 |access-date=July 17, 2012 |publisher=Roddenberry.com |df=mdy-all}}</ref>


In mid-2009, the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' reported that Roddenberry approved of the 2009 ''[[Star Trek (film)|Star Trek]]'' film by J. J. Abrams. Roddenberry opined that the producers and writers "made ''Star Trek'' cool again" with the film.<ref name=LATimes>{{cite news|last=Whitmore|first=Linda|date=August 6, 2009|url=https://articles.latimes.com/2009/aug/06/entertainment/et-herorefer6 |title=The Roddenberry stamp of approval|work=[[The Los Angeles Times]]}} {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130415035241/http://articles.latimes.com/2009/aug/06/entertainment/et-herorefer6 |date=April 15, 2013 }}</ref>
In mid-2009, the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' reported that Roddenberry approved of the 2009 ''[[Star Trek (film)|Star Trek]]'' film by J.J. Abrams. Roddenberry opined that the producers and writers "made ''Star Trek'' cool again" with the film.<ref name="LATimes">{{Cite news |last=Whitmore |first=Linda |date=August 6, 2009 |title=The Roddenberry stamp of approval |work=[[The Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://articles.latimes.com/2009/aug/06/entertainment/et-herorefer6 |url-status=dead |access-date=April 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130415035241/http://articles.latimes.com/2009/aug/06/entertainment/et-herorefer6 |archive-date=April 15, 2013}}</ref>


In 2010, Roddenberry, an avid scuba diver since 1993, founded the Roddenberry Dive Team, to allow people "to embark on undersea experiences and discover the diversity beneath the ocean." Roddenberry leads the dive team in its exploration of underwater worlds and hopes to inspire stewardship of the world's oceans. Roddenberry, who holds a Divemaster certification, has led or participated in more than 1,000 dives from exotic locations around the world.<ref name=USAToday/><ref name="Rod-bio"/>
In 2010, Roddenberry, an avid scuba diver since 1993, founded the Roddenberry Dive Team, to allow people "to embark on undersea experiences and discover the diversity beneath the ocean." Roddenberry leads the dive team in its exploration of underwater worlds and hopes to inspire stewardship of the world's oceans. Roddenberry, who holds a Divemaster certification, has led or participated in more than 1,000 dives from exotic locations around the world.<ref name=USAToday/><ref name="Rod-bio" />


In October 2011, The Roddenberry Foundation, which was founded by Rod Roddenberry, made its largest gift of $5 million to the [[J. David Gladstone Institutes]] in San Francisco to establish the Roddenberry Center for Stem Cell Biology and Medicine.<ref name=USAToday/> The Roddenberry Foundation believes that the center's innovative technology that converts adult skin cells into life-changing stem cells will radically advance the fight against Alzheimer's and heart disease.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.roddenberry.com/index.php/corporatestories/index/detail/id/57 |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2013-05-23 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130405043904/https://www.roddenberry.com/index.php/corporatestories/index/detail/id/57 |archivedate=April 5, 2013 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><!--SECONDARY SOURCE REQUIRED FOR THIS! RODENBERRY'S OWN SITE IS NOT SUFFICIENT PER WP:PSTS!-->
In October 2011, the Roddenberry Foundation, which was founded by Rod Roddenberry, made its largest gift of $5 million to the [[J. David Gladstone Institutes]] in San Francisco to establish the Roddenberry Center for Stem Cell Biology and Medicine.<ref name=USAToday/> The Roddenberry Foundation believes that "the center's innovative technology that converts adult skin cells into life-changing stem cells will radically advance the fight against Alzheimer's and heart disease."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gladstone Institutes Announces Roddenberry Center for Stem Cell Biology and Medicine |url=https://www.roddenberry.com/index.php/corporatestories/index/detail/id/57 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130405043904/https://www.roddenberry.com/index.php/corporatestories/index/detail/id/57 |archive-date=April 5, 2013 |access-date=2013-05-23 |df=mdy-all}}</ref><!--SECONDARY SOURCE REQUIRED FOR THIS! RODENBERRY'S OWN SITE IS NOT SUFFICIENT PER WP:PSTS!-->


On March 3, 2016, it was announced that Roddenberry and Trevor Roth, chief operating officer of Roddenberry Entertainment, would join the production of the then-upcoming TV series ''[[Star Trek: Discovery]]'' as executive producers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/cbs-new-star-trek-adds-872557|accessdate=March 3, 2016|date=March 3, 2016|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|first=Graeme|last=McMillan|title=CBS' New 'Star Trek' Adds Gene Roddenberry's Son as Exec Producer|publisher=[[Prometheus Global Media]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|work=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|publisher=[[Penske Media Corporation]]|url=https://deadline.com/2016/03/star-trek-rod-roddenberry-trevor-roth-join-cbs-digital-series-as-eps-1201713922/|accessdate=March 3, 2016|date=March 3, 2016|first=Ross A.|last=Lincoln|title=‘Star Trek’: Rod Roddenberry & Trevor Roth Join CBS Digital Series As EPs}}</ref>
Roddenberry started to become directly involved in the ''Star Trek'' franchise in 2016 when he signed on as an executive producer of the TV series ''[[Star Trek: Discovery]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McMillan |first=Graeme |date=March 3, 2016 |title=CBS' New 'Star Trek' Adds Gene Roddenberry's Son as Exec Producer |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/cbs-new-star-trek-adds-872557 |access-date=March 3, 2016 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |publisher=[[Prometheus Global Media]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lincoln |first=Ross A. |date=March 3, 2016 |title='Star Trek': Rod Roddenberry & Trevor Roth Join CBS Digital Series As EPs |url=https://deadline.com/2016/03/star-trek-rod-roddenberry-trevor-roth-join-cbs-digital-series-as-eps-1201713922/ |access-date=March 3, 2016 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |publisher=[[Penske Media Corporation]]}}</ref>


==Filmography==
==Filmography==
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|''[[Trek Nation]]''
|''[[Trek Nation]]''
|Producer and star
|Producer and star
|Documentary chronicling Roddenberry's exploration of his father's work. Includes interviews with fans, ''Star Trek'' alumni and notable celebrities such as [[George Lucas]], [[J. J. Abrams]] and [[Seth MacFarlane]].
|Documentary chronicling Roddenberry's exploration of his father's work. Includes interviews with fans, ''Star Trek'' alumni, and notable celebrities such as [[George Lucas]], [[J. J. Abrams]] and [[Seth MacFarlane]].
|-
|-
|2012
|2012
|"[[White Room: 02B3]]"
|''White Room: 02B3''
|Executive producer
|Executive producer
|A 15-minute, 360-degree narrative{{clarify|date=November 2014}} short film starring [[Breckin Meyer]], [[Tamlyn Tomita]], [[David Blue (actor)|David Blue]] and [[Rachel True]]
|A 15-minute, 360-degree narrative{{clarify|date=November 2014}} short film starring [[Breckin Meyer]], [[Tamlyn Tomita]], [[David Blue (actor)|David Blue]] and [[Rachel True]]
Line 71: Line 73:
|
|
|-
|-
|2018–2020
|2018–present
|''[[Star Trek: Short Treks]]''
|''[[Star Trek: Short Treks]]''
|Executive producer
|Executive producer
|
|
|-
|-
|2020–2023
⚫
|2020–present
|''[[Star Trek: Picard]]''
|''[[Star Trek: Picard]]''
|Executive producer
|Executive producer
|
|
|-
|-
⚫
|2020–present
|2020
|''[[Star Trek: Lower Decks]]''
|''[[Star Trek: Lower Decks]]''
|Executive producer
|Executive producer
|
|
|-
|2021
|''[[Star Trek: Prodigy]]''
|Executive producer
|
|-
|2022–present
|''[[Star Trek: Strange New Worlds]]''
|Executive producer<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sperling |first=Nicole |date=2021-08-01 |title=Can Paramount+ Succeed? One Producer Hopes to Make It So. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/01/business/media/alex-kurtzman-paramount-cbs-star-trek.html |access-date=2021-08-05 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
|
|-
|2022<ref>{{Citation |last1=Lay |first1=Roger Jr. |title=The Roddenberry Archive: The Cage |date=2022-05-03 |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt19494964/ |type=Documentary, Short |publisher=Roddenberry Entertainment, OTOY, Roddenberry Entertainment |access-date=2022-10-06 |last2=Baena |first2=Carlos}}</ref>
|''[[The Roddenberry Archive]]: The Cage''
|Executive producer
|Documentary short series with interviews of surviving cast and crew from Star Trek's 1964 pilot episode "The Cage", featuring 3D and filmed recreations of the sets, characters, and events from Star Trek's history.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Donnelly |first1=Matt |date=2022-05-03 |title=Cast and Crew of Original 'Star Trek' Pilot Reunite for Virtual Set Recreation by Otoy |url=https://variety.com/2022/film/news/star-trek-pilot-recreation-set-otoy-virtual-1235257230/ |access-date=2022-10-06 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>
|}
|}


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[[Category:Television producers from California]]
[[Category:Television producers from California]]
[[Category:American television writers]]
[[Category:American television writers]]
[[Category:Male television writers]]
[[Category:American male television writers]]
[[Category:Hampshire College alumni]]
[[Category:Hampshire College alumni]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]

Latest revision as of 23:28, 27 September 2023

Rod Roddenberry
Roddenberry in 2017
Born
Eugene Wesley Roddenberry Jr.

(1974-02-05) February 5, 1974 (age 50)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Alma materHampshire College
OccupationTelevision producer
Spouse
Heidi Roddenberry
​
(m. 2002)​
Children1
Parents

Eugene Wesley "Rod" Roddenberry Jr. (born February 5, 1974)[1] is an American television producer and the chief executive officer of Roddenberry Entertainment. He is the son of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry and Majel Barrett and is an executive producer on Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Picard, Star Trek: Lower Decks, Star Trek: Prodigy and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

Early life[edit]

Roddenberry was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of actress Majel Barrett and writer and producer Gene Roddenberry, creator of the American science fiction series Star Trek.[2] Roddenberry went to the John Thomas Dye School in Bel Air and Harvard-Westlake School in North Hollywood.[3] and then attended Hampshire College in the early 1990s.

As a young man, Roddenberry was not closely familiar with Star Trek, having never even watched it. In 1991, when he was 17 years old, his father died, after which he began to examine Star Trek and discover "what made the series special" to its fans.[4] Roddenberry struggled initially with his father's near-legendary stature among Star Trek fans, commenting: "A son cannot identify with a mythical figure; my father was put up on this pedestal throughout my life." However, as Roddenberry heard many moving stories about his father's flaws and follies, he observed, "That allowed me, as a son, not just to connect with him, but actually love him."[2]

Career[edit]

Roddenberry with his wife, Heidi.

In 2001, Roddenberry became chief executive officer of Roddenberry Entertainment, which builds upon his father's work, and develops multimedia science fiction properties including comics, television and film projects.[5]

In mid-2009, the Los Angeles Times reported that Roddenberry approved of the 2009 Star Trek film by J.J. Abrams. Roddenberry opined that the producers and writers "made Star Trek cool again" with the film.[6]

In 2010, Roddenberry, an avid scuba diver since 1993, founded the Roddenberry Dive Team, to allow people "to embark on undersea experiences and discover the diversity beneath the ocean." Roddenberry leads the dive team in its exploration of underwater worlds and hopes to inspire stewardship of the world's oceans. Roddenberry, who holds a Divemaster certification, has led or participated in more than 1,000 dives from exotic locations around the world.[2][5]

In October 2011, the Roddenberry Foundation, which was founded by Rod Roddenberry, made its largest gift of $5 million to the J. David Gladstone Institutes in San Francisco to establish the Roddenberry Center for Stem Cell Biology and Medicine.[2] The Roddenberry Foundation believes that "the center's innovative technology that converts adult skin cells into life-changing stem cells will radically advance the fight against Alzheimer's and heart disease."[7]

Roddenberry started to become directly involved in the Star Trek franchise in 2016 when he signed on as an executive producer of the TV series Star Trek: Discovery.[8][9]

Filmography[edit]

Year Film/Series Role Notes
1990 Star Trek: The Next Generation Production assistant
1997 Earth: Final Conflict Writer (technical advisor) Produced through his production company, Roddenberry Entertainment
2004–2011 Star Trek: New Voyages Consulting producer Star Trek fan series
2011 Trek Nation Producer and star Documentary chronicling Roddenberry's exploration of his father's work. Includes interviews with fans, Star Trek alumni, and notable celebrities such as George Lucas, J. J. Abrams and Seth MacFarlane.
2012 White Room: 02B3 Executive producer A 15-minute, 360-degree narrative[clarification needed] short film starring Breckin Meyer, Tamlyn Tomita, David Blue and Rachel True
2017–present Star Trek: Discovery Executive producer
2018–2020 Star Trek: Short Treks Executive producer
2020–2023 Star Trek: Picard Executive producer
2020–present Star Trek: Lower Decks Executive producer
2021 Star Trek: Prodigy Executive producer
2022–present Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Executive producer[10]
2022[11] The Roddenberry Archive: The Cage Executive producer Documentary short series with interviews of surviving cast and crew from Star Trek's 1964 pilot episode "The Cage", featuring 3D and filmed recreations of the sets, characters, and events from Star Trek's history.[12]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Barrett". Star Trek. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d Truitt, Brian (November 28, 2011). "Roddenberry put 'Star Trek' light-years ahead". USA Today.
  3. ^ "Where SciFi Begins". Roddenberry.com. Retrieved July 17, 2012.
  4. ^ Vakkalanka, Harshnini (July 12, 2012). "Trekking to a new world". The Hindu.
  5. ^ a b Eugene "Rod" Roddenberry (April 23, 2010). "Bios: Eugene "Rod" Roddenberry". Roddenberry.com. Archived from the original on August 13, 2012. Retrieved July 17, 2012.
  6. ^ Whitmore, Linda (August 6, 2009). "The Roddenberry stamp of approval". The Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on April 15, 2013. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  7. ^ "Gladstone Institutes Announces Roddenberry Center for Stem Cell Biology and Medicine". Archived from the original on April 5, 2013. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
  8. ^ McMillan, Graeme (March 3, 2016). "CBS' New 'Star Trek' Adds Gene Roddenberry's Son as Exec Producer". The Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  9. ^ Lincoln, Ross A. (March 3, 2016). "'Star Trek': Rod Roddenberry & Trevor Roth Join CBS Digital Series As EPs". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  10. ^ Sperling, Nicole (August 1, 2021). "Can Paramount+ Succeed? One Producer Hopes to Make It So". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  11. ^ Lay, Roger Jr.; Baena, Carlos (May 3, 2022), The Roddenberry Archive: The Cage (Documentary, Short), Roddenberry Entertainment, OTOY, Roddenberry Entertainment, retrieved October 6, 2022
  12. ^ Donnelly, Matt (May 3, 2022). "Cast and Crew of Original 'Star Trek' Pilot Reunite for Virtual Set Recreation by Otoy". Variety. Retrieved October 6, 2022.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rod_Roddenberry&oldid=1177527746"