The front page of this blog is littered with sad news of great people who have left us in the last week or so. The sadness continues:
Robert H. Justman, who helped bring the original “Star Trek” as well as “Star Trek: The Next Generation” to the small screen, died last week as a result of complications from Parkinson’s Disease at his home in Los Angeles, according to TrekWeb.com. He was 81.
Leonard Nimoy, who has brought Spock to life, said, “In quick succession we have lost Joe Pevney, who was one of the best directors of Star Trek episodes along with Marc Daniels who passed some time ago. Both brought a rich theatricality to the work which made their episodes shine.”
“We have also lost Bob Justman, who was a treasure to me,” the actor said. “He would listen wisely, with an honest ear, and respond helpfully whenever there were creative differences of opinion. Also Alexander Courage who wrote the now-unforgettable original theme music.”
Justman’s long association with Star Trek began back in 1964 when Gene Roddenberry made him associate producer and assistant director for the initial pilot episode, “The Cage.” NBC rejected that pilot, but wanted a second version. Roddenberry again asked Justman to help with “Where No Man Has Gone Before,” which NBC accepted, making “Star Trek” into a weekly series. Justman was hired as an Associate Producer on the show.
Justman became an important part of Trek, managing the show with Gene L. Coon and Herbert F. Solow. Justman served as an associate producer, technical consultant and finally co-producer for the show. He participated in decisions regarding casting, set and prop design, along with story and script revisions.
Years later, when Roddenberry began work on “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” Justman was again brought on board. Justman again had a lot of influence on the program, including his desire to cast Patrick Stewart as Capt. Jean-Luc Picard.
Near the end of Next Gen’s first season, Justman retired. He was listed as a consulting producer during that year’s last eight episodes.
“I can’t tell you how nurturing this guy was to me,” Rick Berman, who would become TNG’s executive producer, told the Los Angeles Times. “He was like a mentor and a father. He was extraordinary.” [SyFy Portal]
I read Bob Justman and Herb Solow’s book about the origins and making of Star Trek, and laughed throughout — despite the stress and craziness of the work, Justman was obviously the laughing soul of that team and I felt glad to have known him through his writing. Wish I’d known him in person.
