Award-winning director John Erman, who helmed Star Trek’s “The Empath”, has died aged 85

John Erman, via the Directors Guild of America

JUNE 30, 2021 - John Erman, whose extensive television directing career included the Star Trek: The Original Series episode “The Empath,” has died at the age of 85, as confirmed by Deadline.com. A friend of Erman’s told Deadline that he died after a “brief illness”.

Erman began his career in show business with a brief stint as an actor before becoming a television director in the 1960s. He was most known for his work on classic ‘60s shows like The Flying Nun, My Favorite Martian, and That Girl.

In 1968, Erman was tapped to helm “The Empath,” in The Original Series’ third season. Series veteran John Meredyth Lucas was originally slated to direct the episode, but according to the reference book These Are the Voyages: TOS Season Three, his involvement was quashed by Paramount executives after going over schedule and budget shooting the episode “Elaan of Troyius.” 

Third season budget issues are noticeable in “The Empath”, which was filmed with minimalistic set design as Kirk, Spock, and McCoy become the subjects of a torturous science experiment conducted by mysterious aliens called Vians. The unique filming style stood out for DeForest Kelley, who shared in These Are the Voyages that it was one of his favorite episodes. “I thought it was so dramatically done,” he said. “The entire stage was blacked out in black curtains, and everything was done in 'pen spots'. It was so unique in production values and the cinematography on it.”

In the 1970’s Erman moved into the burgeoning realm of TV mini-series, garnering Emmy nominations and a win, also receiving Directors’ Guild awards for Roots, starring LeVar Burton, and An Early Frost, which was the first TV movie to address the AIDS crisis.

Please join Daily Star Trek News in extending our condolences to John Erman’s friends and family.