Trivia

During World War II, he had a friend named Kim Noonien Singh; after the war Kim disappeared, and Gene used his name for some characters in the Star Trek series (Khan Noonien Singh from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) and Noonien Soong from Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)) in hopes that Kim might recognize his name and contact him.

Passed away within 48 hours of screening Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991), the last Trek that revolved around his original characters.

Some of his ashes sent up in a rocket, launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base.

Was an officer with the Los Angeles Police Department from 1949 - 1956. He left the L.A.P.D. as a Sergeant to pursue his interest in the entertainment industry.

His series Star Trek (1966) was one of the first series to have African-American and Asian actors in leading roles.

An interviewer asked Roddenberry about the casting of Patrick Stewart as Jean-Luc Picard, saying "Wouldn't they have cured baldness by the 24th Century?". Roddenberry answered "By the 24th Century, they wouldn't care.".

In 1943 while a United States Army Air Corps pilot, he flew B-17 bombers during World War II, his plane crashed on takeoff because of a mechanical failure, killing two crew members.

Based the iconic character Mr. Spock on Los Angeles Police Chief W.H. Parker with whom he worked closely as spokesman.

Might have died in a house fire when still a toddler along with Bob, Doris, and their mother, but a milkman came along and woke them in time.

On June 19, 1947, he was deadheading (traveling while not on duty) on a Pan Am plane when it crashed in the Syrian desert, killing 7 of 9 crew and 7 of 26 passengers on board. He rescued the Maharani of Phaltan from the wreck. Rescue came in hours, but too late to save most of the luggage, and the victims' possessions, from local tribesmen and villagers.

An asteroid discovered on March 2, 1981 has been renamed 4659 Roddenberry in his honor. He also has a crater located east of Argyre Planitia in Noachis Terra on Mars named in his honor.

He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Television at 6683 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on September 4, 1985.

Shared the same birthday as Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) stars Jonathan Frakes and Diana Muldaur.

The Star Trek (1966) episode "Plato's Stepchildren" (#3.10) featured the first interracial kiss on television, between James T. Kirk and Uhura. They were forced under mind-control, but it is still regarded as a milestone.

He had many lovers and was sometimes overt about it. He and Majel Barrett had been lovers for years when he decided it was time to marry her and asked her to join him -- although he happened to be visiting Japan at the time. Gene did not adhere to any particular religion and since they were in Japan they chose to have a Shinto-Buddhist wedding on August 6, 1969. They regarded this as their real wedding, but his divorce was not yet final and they made it legal with a civil ceremony on December 29, 1969.

His old pseudonym, Robert Wesley, was used in the Star Trek (1966) episode "The Ultimate Computer" as the name of a character, portrayed by Barry Russo. There was also a reference to the same pseudonym in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) when he named the character of Dr. Beverly Crusher's son, Wesley Crusher, portrayed by Wil Wheaton.

Battled alcoholism and drug addiction most of his adult life. His health deteriorated rapidly during development and production of Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) which caused a great deal of friction with the writing staff, and later forced Roddenberry to retire in the series' third season due to failing health and memory problems.

Was close friends with Jack Webb and Ray Bradbury. Was friends with William Shatner.

During World War II, he wrote a song lyric "I Wanna Go Home", which became popular.

Attended Columbia University, the University of Miami and the University of Southern California but did not graduate.

Served on the Los Angeles Police Force from 1949 - 1956, badge number 6089. This information from "Star Trek Creator" by David Alexander.

For the 25th anniversary of Star Trek (1966), he gave TV Guide the following as his favorite episodes: Amok Time (1967), Balance of Terror (1966), The City on the Edge of Forever (1967), The Devil in the Dark (1967), The Enemy Within (1966), The Menagerie: Part I (1966) & The Menagerie: Part II (1966), The Naked Time (1966), The Return of the Archons (1967), Where No Man Has Gone Before (1966) and The Trouble with Tribbles (1967).

In the Star Trek series, he named the warrior race "Klingons" after his fellow officer on the Los Angeles Police Department, Walter Clingan.

During his years in the L.A.P.D., he was the spokesman for Police Chief W.H. Parker, the namesake for Parker Center, the headquarters of the Los Angeles Police Department.

While meeting with George Takei about a role on Star Trek (1966), Gene accidentally pronounced George's last name "Ta-kei", which is similar to the word expensive in Japanese "takai". He remembered the pronouncation by rhyming it with "okay".

His first television script sale, in 1953, was the episode ''Defense Plant Gambling'' for the series Mr. District Attorney (1954). It was broadcast March 2, 1954. In the science-fiction field, his first was "The Secret Weapon of 117", broadcast March 6, 1956 on the anthology series "Chevron Hall of Stars".

Posthumously inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame (2007) and the Television Academy Hall of Fame (2010).

On June 6, 1991, he was attended by cast members of both Star Trek (1966) and Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) for the 25th anniversary of the Star Trek franchise and the dedication of a building renamed in his honor on the Paramount Studios lot.

Father of actress Dawn Roddenberry and Darleen Anita Roddenberry who died on October 29, 1995 in an automobile accident.

Father, with Majel Barrett, of Rod Roddenberry.

Grew up in Los Angeles, California.

He was the son of Caroline Glen (Golemon) and Eugene Edward Roddenberry. He had deep southern roots, including in Alabama and Georgia.

Biography in: "American National Biography". Supplement 1, pp. 521-522. New York: Oxford University Press (2002).

His grandson, Zale Eugene Roddenberry, was born on August 6, 2013, 10:40 p.m. PT, and weighed 6 pounds, 11 ounces.

Passed away on October 24, 1991, exactly ten years after Marina Sirtis' father.