'Star Trek' writer, story editor DC Fontana dead at age 80

NEW YORK (AP) - D.C. Fontana, a writer and story editor for the original 'œStar Trek'ť television series and later a contributor to 'œStar Trek: The Next Generation" and other related projects, has died at age 80.

Fran Evans, a family friend, told The Associated Press that she died Tuesday after a brief illness.

Dorothy Catherine Fontana, who used the initials D.C. after struggling to find work in a male-dominated industry, had befriended 'œStar Trek'ť creator Gene Roddenberry and rose from secretary to story editor for the 1960s show. Her credits included such episodes as 'œJourney to Babel'ť and 'œFriday's Child" and Leonard Nimoy would praise her for broadening the back story of Mr. Spock's Vulcan culture. William Shatner, who starred as Capt. James T. Kirk, tweeted that Fontana was a 'œpioneer'ť and added that 'œher work will continue to influence for generations to come.'ť

A native of Sussex, New Jersey, Fontana worked on a wide range of other TV shows, from 'œBonanza'ť and 'œBen Casey,'ť along with 'œStar Trek: The Next Generation" and 'œStar Trek: New Voyages." She also wrote the 'œStar Trek'ť novel 'œVulcan's Glory," about Spock's first mission on the U.S.S. Enterprise.