D.C. Fontana, Star Trek's first female writer who penned a number of classic episodes, dies at 80

The Hollywood Reporter

Dorothy Catherine “D.C.” Fontana was a trailblazer for female sci-fi writers with her work on Star Trek: The Original Series, such as 1967's "Journey to Babel" that allowed audiences to see Trek's characters as more than just their jobs, to see them as actual people. Fontana wrote under the name "D.C." to avoid discrimination when submitting her writing work. Fontana joined the Star Trek writing staff after initially working as Gene Roddenberry's production secretary. Fontana also had numerous credits on non-Star Trek shows, including The Waltons, Bonanza and The Six Million Dollar Man.