American Writer and Novelist. Johnson was a science fiction writer, most notable for writing the script for the first 'Star Trek' episode to air and for co-writing the novel 'Logan's Run' with William F. Nolan, the basis for the 1976 film. An eighth-grade dropout, he briefly served as a telegraph operator and draftsman in the Army, then enrolled at the Alabama Polytechnic Institute. He continued to work as a draftsman before becoming a writer. He broke into the entertainment business in 1959 when he wrote the "I'll Take Care of You" episode for 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents'. He met 'Twilight Zone' producer Rod Serling, and went on to write eight episodes for the seminal sci-fi series including "Nothing in the Dark", "Kick the Can", "A Game of Pool" and "A Penny for Your Thoughts". Johnson sold a short story that would serve as the basis for Frank Sinatra's 1960 movie 'Ocean's 11'. His script "The Man Trap" was the basis for the first 'Star Trek' episode, which aired on September 8, 1966. Among other shows he also wrote episodes for were 'Route 66', 'The Law and Mrs. Jones' and 'Kung Fu'. Johnson, who in his later years wrote comic books and was a frequent guest at sci-fi and comics conventions, died after a lengthy battle with cancer.
American Writer and Novelist. Johnson was a science fiction writer, most notable for writing the script for the first 'Star Trek' episode to air and for co-writing the novel 'Logan's Run' with William F. Nolan, the basis for the 1976 film. An eighth-grade dropout, he briefly served as a telegraph operator and draftsman in the Army, then enrolled at the Alabama Polytechnic Institute. He continued to work as a draftsman before becoming a writer. He broke into the entertainment business in 1959 when he wrote the "I'll Take Care of You" episode for 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents'. He met 'Twilight Zone' producer Rod Serling, and went on to write eight episodes for the seminal sci-fi series including "Nothing in the Dark", "Kick the Can", "A Game of Pool" and "A Penny for Your Thoughts". Johnson sold a short story that would serve as the basis for Frank Sinatra's 1960 movie 'Ocean's 11'. His script "The Man Trap" was the basis for the first 'Star Trek' episode, which aired on September 8, 1966. Among other shows he also wrote episodes for were 'Route 66', 'The Law and Mrs. Jones' and 'Kung Fu'. Johnson, who in his later years wrote comic books and was a frequent guest at sci-fi and comics conventions, died after a lengthy battle with cancer.
Bio by: Louis du Mort
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