Maurice Hurley

Last updated
Maurice Hurley
Born
Maurice Hurley

August 16, 1939
Boston, Massachusetts
DiedFebruary 24, 2015 (aged 75)
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)Screenwriter and producer

Maurice Hurley (August 16, 1939 – February 24, 2015) was an American screenwriter and producer known best for his work on Star Trek: The Next Generation . [1]

Contents

Career

In the 1980s, his work for television included writing scripts for The Equalizer and Miami Vice . He also produced some episodes of The Equalizer.

He wrote the script for the film Firebird 2015 AD in 1981, and in 2002 co-wrote the film Groom Lake with William Shatner.

Hurley co-created the show Pointman with Joel Surnow & Steve Hattman; Surnow would go on to create 24 & La Femme Nikita and Hurley would work with him for a time there as a writer/producer. [2] Other TV efforts included writing and/or producing episodes of Baywatch , Baywatch Nights , Kung Fu: The Legend Continues and Diagnosis: Murder . [2]

In Star Trek: The Next Generation, Hurley was the series' first head writer and show runner. His influence was substantial as he introduced creative elements on the series that became part of the franchise, like the Borg. Hurley was responsible for firing Gates McFadden, who played the role of Dr. Beverly Crusher, at the end of the show's first season. [3] Executive producer Rick Berman recalled that Hurley "had a real bone to pick" with McFadden and did not like her acting. [3] He left the series after its second season, which left the door open for Rick Berman to rehire McFadden after dismissing her replacement Diana Muldaur. Hurley was replaced by Michael I. Wagner for four episodes and ultimately by Michael Piller.

In 1993, he returned to the franchise briefly, asked by Berman to write an initial draft for the first Next Generation feature film Star Trek Generations that would transition the film series from the original Enterprise crew to the new crew. Hurley's story treatment involved a plot in which James T. Kirk is somehow propelled into the future, where he manifests on the holodeck and works with Jean-Luc Picard to help solve a dilemma involving an interdimensional species, but Berman ultimately chose a script treatment proposed by Ronald D. Moore and Brannon Braga. [4] [5]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Katherine Pulaski</span> Fictional character, chief medical officer in Star Trek: The Next Generation

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<i>Star Trek: The Next Generation</i> (season 1) Season of television series

The first season of the American television science fiction series Star Trek: The Next Generation commenced airing in broadcast syndication in the United States on September 28, 1987, and concluded on May 16, 1988, after 26 episodes were broadcast. Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures of the crew of the Starfleet starship Enterprise-D. It was the first live-action television series in the franchise to be broadcast since Star Trek: The Original Series was cancelled in 1969, and the first to feature all new characters. Paramount Television eventually sought the advice of the creator of Star Trek, Gene Roddenberry, who set about creating the new show with mostly former The Original Series staff members. An entirely new cast were sought, which concerned some members of The Original Series crew, as Roddenberry did not want to re-tread the same steps as he had in the first series to the extent that well-known Star Trek aliens such as Vulcans, Klingons and Romulans were banned at first.

<i>Star Trek: The Next Generation</i> (season 2) Season of television series

The second season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation commenced airing in broadcast syndication in the United States on November 21, 1988, and concluded on July 17, 1989, after airing 22 episodes. Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures of the crew of the Starfleet starship Enterprise-D. Season two featured changes to the main cast, following the departure of Gates McFadden. Diana Muldaur was cast as Dr. Katherine Pulaski for a single season before the return of McFadden in season three. Academy Award winner Whoopi Goldberg also joined the cast after pursuing a role from the producers.

<i>Star Trek: The Next Generation</i> (season 3) Season of television series

The third season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation commenced airing in broadcast syndication in the United States on September 25, 1989 and concluded on June 18, 1990 after airing 26 episodes. Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures of the crew of the Starfleet starship Enterprise-D. This season featured the return of Gates McFadden as Dr. Beverly Crusher after she was replaced by Diana Muldaur for the second season. The season also saw the debut of several actors who would reappear in the same roles and others throughout the franchise, such as Dwight Schultz as Lt. Reginald Barclay, and Tony Todd as Kurn.

References

  1. Barnes, Mike (February 26, 2015). "'Star Trek: The Next Generation' Writer and Producer Maurice Hurley Dies at 75". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
  2. 1 2 Lentz III, Harris (April 2015). "Obituaries". Classic Images (478): 50–56.
  3. 1 2 Pascale, Anthony (2009-08-26). "Rick Berman Talks 18 Years of Trek In Extensive Oral History". TrekMovie.com.
  4. Nemecek, Larry (7 January 2003). Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion (3rd ed.). Pocket Books. p. 308. ISBN   0743457986.
  5. Cinefantastique, Vol 26 #2, p. 16 Beeler, Michael (February 1995). "Star Trek Generations". p. 16. Retrieved 2021-09-11 via Internet Archive. who wrote a competing script, which may be used for subsequent movies{{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)