John Donald Francis Black (December 30, 1932 – November 29, 2018) was a screenwriter, TV producer, and TV director. He is best known for his work on the TV series Star Trek: The Original Series in 1966, and its sequel series, Star Trek: The Next Generation during the 1980s.
Work Black was the associate producer for ten episodes of Star Trek made during the program's first season, all of which were broadcast from September 8, 1966, through December 15, 1966. Black also wrote the teleplay for and was the associate producer of one of the early episodes of Star Trek—"The Naked Time". During the 1980s, Black was also given credit for the story for the Star Trek: The Next Generation sequel episode, "The Naked Now." Black also received shared story-writing credit (with Worley Thorne, who wrote the teleplay) for an episode in the series, "Justice", under the pseudonym of "Ralph Wills".
Black also wrote for many other TV series, including The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Charlie's Angels, Hawaii Five-O, The Fugitive, Mission: Impossible, and Mannix.
In his work for motion pictures, Black co-wrote the movie adaptation of Shaft (1971), along with co-writer Ernest Tidyman, who had written the original novel of Shaft. Black also was the screenwriter and executive producer of the detective film Trouble Man (1972), which starred Robert Hooks and whose musical score was written by Marvin Gaye.
Films Year Film Credit Notes 1957The UnearthlyScreenplay ByCredited as Geoffrey Dennis 1967Gunfight in AbileneScreenplay ByCo-Wrote screenplay with "Bernie Giler"1968Nobody's PerfectScreenplay ByBased on the novel "The Crows of Edwina Hill" by "Allan R. Bosworth"Three Guns For TexasWritten By1971ShaftScreenplay ByCo-Wrote screenplay with "Ernest Tidyman", Based on the novel "Shaft" by "Ernest Tidyman"ThiefWritten ByTelevision MovieDo Not Fold, Spindle or MutilateScreenplay ByTelevision Movie, Based on the novel "Do Not Fold, Spindle, or Mutilate" by "Doris Miles Disney"1972The Carey TreatmentScreenplay ByCredited as James P. Bonner, Co-Wrote screenplay with "Harriet Frank Jr." and "Irving Ravetch", Based on the novel "A Case of Need" by Jeffery Hudson"Trouble ManWritten By, Executive Producer 1973The Fuzz BrothersWritten By, Produced By 1974Wonder WomanWritten By, Executive Producer 1975A Shadow in the StreetsWritten By, Produced By 1976SurvivalScreenplay By 1978The Clone MasterWritten By, Produced By
Television Year TV Series Credit Notes 1959Johnny StaccatoWriter1961-62Surfside 6Writer2 EpisodesLawmanWriter9 Episodes 1962Have Gun – Will TravelWriter1 Episode 1962-63The UntouchablesWriter3 Episodes1963Combat!Writer1 EpisodeThe FugitiveWriter1 EpisodeThe Eleventh HourWriter1 EpisodeKraft Suspense TheatreWriter1 Episode 1963-70The VirginianWriter2 Episodes 1964-65Mr. NovakWriter6 Episodes 1965-66LaredoWriter7 Episodes1966Star TrekWriter, Associate ProducerRun for your LifeWriter1 Episode 1966-67InsightWriter3 Episodes 1967Cimarron StripWriter1 Episode 1968-69The F.B.I.Writer3 Episodes 1968-71Mission: ImpossibleWriter3 Episodes 1968-72Hawaii Five-OWriter10 Episodes 1969The High ChaparralWriter1 Episode 1970The Mary Tyler Moore ShowWriter1 Episode 1970-71Room 222Writer6 Episodes1971MannixWriter1 EpisodeThe Bill Cosby ShowWriter1 EpisodeGetting TogetherWriter1 Episode 1973-76The Streets of San FranciscoWriter3 Episodes 1976Jigsaw JohnWriter1 Episode1977DelvecchioWriter1 EpisodeMan from AtlantisWriter1 EpisodeMost WantedWriter1 EpisodeCharlie's AngelsWriter, Director 1985Hell TownWriter1 Episode1987Star Trek: The Next GenerationWriter2 EpisodesMurder, She WroteWriter1 Episode????Safe at HomeWriter1 Episode 2015Star Trek ContinuesScript Consultant1 Episode
Awards In 1972, Black received an Edgar Award from the Writers Guild of America in the category of "Best Television Feature or Miniseries Teleplay" for writing the script for the made-for-TV movie Thief.
Death According to Black's widow Mary Black, he died peacefully of natural causes at the Motion Picture Hospital in Woodland Hills, California.
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