Star Trek: Prolific TV Composer Fred Steiner Dies at 88

Fred Steiner, a veteran composer of television and movie scores has died at the age of 88. He had previously suffered a stroke and died at his home in Mexico of natural causes.

In addition to contributing to such films as Time Limit (1957), First to Fight (1967), The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre (1967), and The Color Purple (1985), Steiner left a big mark on classic television shows. He wrote the theme music for The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show, Perry Mason, and The Bullwinkle Show.

Steiner also composed the music for dozens of episodes of TV shows like Have Gun – Will Travel, The Untouchables, The Twilight Zone, Rawhide, Gunsmoke, Hogan’s Heroes, Lost in Space, The Wild Wild West, Mannix, Hawaii 5-0, Dynasty, Rawhide, Tiny Toon Adventures, and many others.

As TrekMovie notes, Steiner left an indelible mark on the Star Trek universe. He composed the music for many of the early episodes that influenced the composers that would follow him. He wrote the music for a dozen episodes — more than anyone else. At the request of series producer Robert Justman, he returned 20 years later to provide some of the music for Star Trek: The Next Generation. In 1979, he also provided some orchestrations for Star Trek: The Motion Picture.

Steiner is survived by his wife of 64 years, Shirley Steiner; their daughter, singer-songwriter Wendy Waldman; his sister, Kay Gellert; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

What do you think? How will you best remember the work of Fred Steiner?