Los Angeles

George Clayton Johnson, Writer of First ‘Star Trek' Episode, Dies at 86

George Clayton Johnson, who wrote the script for the first "Star Trek" episode to air and co-wrote "Logan's Run," died Friday, Dec. 25 in the Los Angeles area following a battle with cancer, according to his son, Paul Johnson. He was 86.

He was born in Cheyenne, Wyo., in 1929. He broke into the entertainment business in 1959 when he wrote the "I'll Take Care of You" episode for "Alfred Hitchcock Presents." During his career he also wrote eight episodes for "Twilight Zone," the seminal sci-fi series from the 60s; and wrote a short story that would serve as the basis for Frank Sinatra's 1960 movie "Ocean's 11" and the George Clooney-Brad Pitt remake in 2001.

His script "The Man Trap" was the basis for the first "Star Trek" episode, which aired on Sept. 8, 1966. It centered on salt-hungry creature who terrorized the crew of the USS Enterprise.

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