Michael Piller (co-creator of Star Trek DS9) dead at 57

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 a.m. 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 Networks top-rated cable drama series The Dead Zone, and the ABC Family Channels 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 90s 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. Michaels 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.

Donations in Michaels name can be made to: The Michael Piller Distinguished Professorship at Carolina Writing for the Screen and Stage Program Arts and Sciences Foundation c/o Emily Stevens 134 East Franklin Street Chapel Hill, NC 27514 link