David Gerrold
A fiercely independent science fiction mind who weaponized humor and heart, leaving an indelible mark on Star Trek and beyond.
Born 1944 (age 82)·American screenwriter and novelist·Birthday: January 24·The Silent Generation
Biography
David Gerrold burst onto the scene not with a novel, but with a script full of fuzzy, multiplying menaces. His 1967 Star Trek episode, 'The Trouble with Tribbles,' became an instant classic, proving that science fiction could be wildly funny and intellectually sharp at the same time. This early success set the tone for a career defined by clever subversion and emotional depth. He never settled into a single niche, moving from creating the haunting Sleestak for 'Land of the Lost' to writing the deeply personal 'The Martian Child,' a story about adoption that won major awards. Gerrold also built expansive universes of his own, most notably in the long-running 'War Against the Chtorr' series and the 'Dingillian' family saga. An openly gay writer in a genre that wasn't always welcoming, he infused his work with themes of difference, family, and resilience, mentoring generations of fans and writers with his candid, passionate voice.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
David was born in 1944, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When David Was Born
The biggest hits of 1944
#1 Movie
Going My Way
Best Picture
Going My Way
David's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1944Born
D-Day: Allied forces land at Normandy
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,400Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Swinging on a Star" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Going My Way
1949Started school
NATO founded; Mao proclaims the People's Republic of China
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Riders in the Sky" — Vaughn MonroeBest Picture: All the King's Men
1957Became a teenager
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1960Could drive
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1962Could vote
Cuban Missile Crisis brings the world to the brink
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,800Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Stranger on the Shore" — Acker BilkBest Picture: Lawrence of Arabia
1965Turned 21
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1974Turned 30
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1984Turned 40
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1994Turned 50
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2004Turned 60
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2014Turned 70
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 80
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 82 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Wrote the beloved Star Trek episode 'The Trouble with Tribbles,' frequently voted among the series' best.
- Won both the Hugo and Nebula Awards for his autobiographical novelette 'The Martian Child.'
- Created the iconic Sleestak creatures for the children's television series 'Land of the Lost.'
- Authored the influential 'War Against the Chtorr' book series, beginning with 'A Matter for Men.'
- Served as a creative consultant on the 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' series in its first season.
Did You Know?
He wrote 'The Trouble with Tribbles' when he was only 19 years old.
He was the first to publicly suggest that the character of Mr. Spock was a science officer, an idea Gene Roddenberry adopted.
He is a dedicated advocate for autism awareness, having been diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome later in life.
He wrote an episode for the original 'Star Trek' animated series titled 'Bem,' which was finally produced over 45 years later for 'Star Trek: Lower Decks.'
“Science fiction is the history of our species. It's the idea that we can be better than we are.”
