Gene Roddenberry was born on August 18, 1921 in El Paso, Texas. He grew up in Los Angeles, California. He graduated from Los Angeles City College in 1941. He serves in the Army Air Corps. He also served as a pilot and a police officer. Roddenberry didn't believe in religion but did believe in a "God".

     Before he began to write and produce Star Trek, he wrote for other series. This included Highway Patrol.

     Gene and Majel Barrett were unofficially married having a private Shinto-Buddhist ceremony on August 6, 1989.  They were officially married on December 29, 1969, just two days after his divorce from his first wife was final.

     Roddenberry finally received his star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame on September 4, 1985.

      Roddenberry was a heavy drinker for most of his life. He also used a variety of drugs. He would also have an extramarital affair with a staff member. This continued until his death.

     By 1991, Roddenberry's health had been declining. He believed that he couldn't write as fast as he used to and had stopped by the end of The Next Generation's first season.

     Two weeks before the release of Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, Roddenberry died on October 24, 1991. He was 70. The TNG episodes "Unification, Parts 1 and 2" was dedicated in his memory.

     At the time of his passing, he left behind Dawn (from his first marriage), Majel, and Gene Roddenberry Jr. His other daughter (from his first marriage) died in 1995.

     His ashes flew on the space shuttle Columbia in October 1992.

     Two further series ideas were developed from Roddenberry's notes, Genesis II and Andromeda. After an initial order for two seasons, 110 episodes of Andromeda were aired over five seasons from 2000 to 2005.

     The Science Fiction Hall of Fame inducted Roddenberry in 2007 and the Television Academy Hall of Fame in January 2010.