Two Star Trek Deaths

News of the passing of Alexander Courage, who composed the theme for the original Star Trek series, follows hard on the death of one of that show's most outstanding directors, Joseph Pevney.

Courage died May 15 at the age of 88, but his death was not widely known until this weekend. His work can be found in scores of scores, on television and in film, but he remains best known for the haunting, instantly memorable theme commissioned by Gene Roddenberry in 1965 for his new sci-fi pilot, Star Trek. Its trumpet fanfare, soaring French horn melody, driving percussion undercurrent, and climbing, wordless soprano line resulted in a uniquely stirring theme that set the tone for the literate, passionate drama that followed.

(Part of the theme can be heard in the teaser trailer for the Star Trek feature film, slated for summer 2009.)

Pevney is well known to Trek fans as the director of some of the series's most beloved episodes, including the seminal "City on the Edge of Forever," "Amok Time," "Arena," and "The Trouble with Tribbles." A survey of Pevney's work on Star Trek demonstrates that he was a master of conveying drama, suspense, and comedy, and had a more than solid grasp of his characters' humanity.

Pevney's recurring stint at Trek, which led to a total of 14 episodes, followed a career in film (37 films including Man of a Thousand Faces, 1957) and was followed by continued success directing television (including Adam-12, Emergency!, Bonanza, The Incredible Hulk, Trapper John M.D.). Pevney died May 18; he was 96.

The full list of Trek episodes directed by Pevney:

• "Arena" (19 January 1967)
• "The Return of the Archons" (9 February 1967)
• "A Taste of Armageddon" (23 February 1967)
• "The Devil in the Dark" (9 March 1967)
• "The City on the Edge of Forever" (6 April 1967)
• "Amok Time" (15 September 1967)
• "The Apple" (13 October 1967)
• "Catspaw" (27 October 1967)
• "Journey to Babel" (17 November 1967)
• "Friday's Child" (1 December 1967)
• "The Deadly Years" (8 December 1967)
• "Wolf in the Fold" (22 December 1967)
• "The Trouble with Tribbles" (29 December 1967)
• "The Immunity Syndrome" (19 January 1968)