Profile of the Day: Gene Roddenberry

Are you a Star Trek fan? On this day in 1921, Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry was born in El Paso, Texas.

Image: Gene Roddenberry / NASA

As a young man, Roddenberry became interested in aeronautical engineering and earned a pilot license through the Civilian Pilot Training Program. During World War II, Roddenberry enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps and flew an estimated 89 combat missions. He was awarded the Air Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Did you know Roddenberry also worked for the Los Angeles Police Department while pursuing his career as a screenwriter? He wrote television scripts under the pseudonym Robert Wesley.

In 1966, Star Trek made its television debut and ran for only three seasons before it was canceled. However, its popularity in syndication led to several major films and turned the franchise into a cultural phenomenon. The series has since spawned more blockbuster films, several popular television shows, books, and games. Even today, the Star Trek universe continues to find new life and popularity with several new shows streaming exclusively on digital platforms.

Explore Gene Roddenberry’s family tree and find your connection to the Star Trek creator.

View Gene Roddenberry’s Geni Profile