Michael Piller Dies

[Joe Giliberti 0]

Michael Piller, who produced and wrote for TNG, DS9, VGR, ENT, and some of the movies, succombed to cancer today. He was 57. Yet another great Star Trek mind lost in 2005

[WesleyMustDie 0]

Darn it. Another one. :P

[Joe Giliberti 0]

So far:

James Doohan

Brock Peters

Robert Wise

Michael Piller

 

Did I miss anyone?

[WxMurray 0]

From TrekWeb.com:

TrekWeb has learned that Michael Piller succumbed to a fight with cancer this morning. He lost his long battle with an aggressive form of head and neck cancer at 4:51 AM at his home in Los Angeles. He was 57. He is survived by his wife Sandra, daughter Brent and son Shawn.

 

Michael Piller was a fan of TrekWeb and one of the very first celebrity chats I had the opportunity to conduct here on the site. In 1997 I emailed Piller by chance after searching for his email address online. Amazingly, he received the note and forwarded it to his assistant at the time Eric A. Stillwell, who contacted me and said that Michael was very interested in doing a "live" chat to discuss the writing of the ninth STAR TREK feature, which would become INSURRECTION. The chat was well received and helped encourage other STAR TREK writers to join the fans at TrekWeb and I was always grateful to Michael for that.

 

Piller's name first came to my attention during one of many repeat viewings of my favorite TNG episode "Best of Both Worlds." As a child I took note of his name because he wrote the piece and so Michael and his work helped inspire a lifelong love of STAR TREK, writing, this web site, and even a move to Los Angeles to pursue the Hollywood dream. I had the opportunity to meet Michael in L.A. in 1998 and again at the Las Vegas premiere of INSURRECTION. Later, in 2003, I interned at the offices of his company Piller2 in Hollywood. Michael was always a fan of TrekWeb and I appreciated his attention to my efforts as well as encouragement in all endeavors.

 

Michael Piller was a wonderful writer and he will be missed by all who knew him and enjoyed his work. If anyone who knew and worked with Michael would like to offer a message about him, please e-mail me and I will be happy to publish it.

 

* * * * *

 

Michael served as creative consultant for Star Trek: Voyager, which he co-created, until the series concluded in May 2001. He also co-created Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and served as executive producer on Star Trek: The Next Generation (1989-1994), Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1992-1995) and Star Trek: Voyager (1994-1996). During the 1994-95 television season, Michael also co-created and executive produced the UPN network series Legend.

 

In 1998, he wrote and co-produced Star Trek: Insurrection, the ninth installment in the enormously successful Star Trek feature film franchise for Paramount Pictures.

 

In 1999, Michael partnered with his son Shawn Piller to form Piller2, Inc., a Hollywood-based production company where they developed and produced new television and motion picture properties. The father/son duo are also the co-creators of USA Network's top-rated cable drama series 'The Dead Zone", and the ABC Family Channel's 'Wildfire."

 

Michael, in addition to serving on the Advisory Board for the Department of Communications Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, gave a major grant to his alma mater to help launch a nationally distinctive screenwriting program.

 

* * * * *

 

With Michael Piller at the helm of Star Trek: The Next Generation, the show became the first syndicated series in the 90's to receive an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Drama. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine continued the success of the franchise during its seven seasons on the air. Star Trek: Voyager also completed seven seasons in 2001.

 

An Emmy Award-winning journalist, Michael began his broadcasting career with CBS News in New York. He subsequently served as managing editor of the WBTV-TV News in Charlotte, North Carolina, and assistant news director at WBBM-TV, the CBS affiliate in Chicago.

 

His first position in entertainment television was as a censor in the CBS docudrama unit. Piller then spent two years as a programming executive before leaving CBS to write full-time.

 

Michael's credits as a writer-producer include the series Simon and Simon, Cagney and Lacey, Miami Vice, Probe, and Hard Time on Planet Earth. In addition, he co-created and executive produced the syndicated series Group One Medical.

 

From STARTREK.com:

Michael Piller Succumbs to Cancer, Age 57

 

Michael Piller, best known to television viewers around the world as the executive producer/co-creator of more than 500 hours of Star Trek, lost his long battle with an aggressive form of head & neck cancer on Tuesday, November 1, 2005 at 4:51 AM at his home in Los Angeles. He was 57. He is survived by his wife Sandra, daughter Brent and son Shawn.

 

Michael served as creative consultant for Star Trek: Voyager, which he co-created, until the series concluded in May 2001. He also co-created Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and served as executive producer on Star Trek: The Next Generation (1989-1994), Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1992-1995) and Star Trek: Voyager (1994-1996). During the 1994-95 television season, Michael also co-created and executive produced the UPN network series Legend.

 

In 1998, he wrote and co-produced "Star Trek: Insurrection," the ninth installment in the enormously successful Star Trek feature film franchise for Paramount Pictures.

 

In 1999, Michael partnered with his son Shawn Piller to form Piller2, Inc., a Hollywood-based production company where they developed and produced new television and motion picture properties. The father/son duo are also the co-creators of USA Network's top-rated cable drama series The Dead Zone, and the ABC Family Channel's Wildfire.

 

Michael, in addition to serving on the Advisory Board for the Department of Communications Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, gave a major grant to his alma mater to help launch a nationally distinctive screenwriting program.

 

With Michael Piller at the helm of Star Trek: The Next Generation, the show became the first syndicated series in the 90's to receive an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Drama. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine continued the success of the franchise during its seven seasons on the air. Star Trek: Voyager also ran for seven seasons.

 

An Emmy Award-winning journalist, Michael began his broadcasting career with CBS News in New York. He subsequently served as managing editor of the WBTV-TV News in Charlotte, North Carolina, and assistant news director at WBBM-TV, the CBS affiliate in Chicago.

 

His first position in entertainment television was as a censor in the CBS docudrama unit. Piller then spent two years as a programming executive before leaving CBS to write full-time.

 

Michael's credits as a writer-producer include the series Simon & Simon, Cagney & Lacey, Miami Vice, Probe, and Hard Time on Planet Earth. In addition, he co-created and executive produced the syndicated series Group One Medical.

 

So sad. He was so young, too. :P RIP.

[MisterSmith 0]

He was the mind behind Star Trek's greatest.

 

Star Trek: The Next Generation: Executive Producer (1989-1994)

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Executive Producer (1992-1995)

Star Trek: Voyager: Co-creator, Executive Producer (1995-1996)

Star Trek: Insurrection: (1998) Writer, Co-Producer

 

He will surely be missed.

[Joe Giliberti 0]

His daughter's name is Brent?

[Cougar 0]

:P I had no idea that he had cancer.

 

RIP Mr. Piller B)

[WxMurray 0]

His daughter's name is Brent?

Apparently so. :P Kinda odd, but whatever.

[Kansas_Jones 0]

My condolences go out to Mr. Piller's family.

[Elgor 0]

*Klingon Death Scream*

Look into eyes

"The body is but a shell now dispose of it as u wish."

EVEN THOUGH THIS MAN WAS NOT KLINGON THE GODS SHOULD STILL FEAR HIM!

 

A grat man died but he lives on in the best Star Trek works of all time.

 

R.I.P.

 

:P

[Tachyon 0]

Oh wow. I didn't expect this at all. Michael Piller was one of the best writers of the franchise, and his guidance is one of the reasons Trek flourished. Wow. :P

[DaryusZaphodDracal 0]

Very sad news indeed. RIP

[Cmdr JFarrington 0]

So far:

James Doohan

Brock Peters

Robert Wise

Michael Piller

 

Did I miss anyone?

DeForest Kelly (Dr. McCoy)

Mark Lenard (Sarek)

 

They live on in our memories. They kept the dream alive.

[Joe Giliberti 0]

DeForest Kelly (Dr. McCoy)

Mark Lenard (Sarek)

 

They live on in our memories. They kept the dream alive.

I meant for this year. Kelley and Lenard were 1999, and of course, Roddenberry, in 1991