http://www.nbc4.tv/entertainment/235...107242003&ts=H

Jefferies Was 82

POSTED: 12:23 p.m. EDT July 24, 2003

The art director who designed the original USS Enterprise starship for Gene Roddenberry's first "Star Trek" television series in the 1960s has died.

Walter "Matt" Jefferies died Monday. He was 82.

According to the official "Star Trek" Web site, the cause of death was not known. He was, however, battling cancer and was recently given an "all clear" by his doctors, the site reported.

The site said Jefferies was a pilot who was obsessed with flying. "Matt was a pilot who loved nothing more than the freedom that flight afforded oneself."

Herman Zimmerman, the production designer for the latest spinoff series, "Enterprise," told the site, "Matt was a gentle soul. He has put his stamp on everything we have done since his brilliant, classic Enterprise."

The cast and crew of the original "Trek" series dubbed the crawlspaces used to get around the ship "Jefferies tubes" in tribute to the designer, a name that has stuck through all subsequent series.

Jefferies was also a production designer on the television shows "Dallas" and "Love, American Style," and an art director on "Little House on the Prairie."


Chris

Somewhere in the great Jefferies Tube #25 in the sky, a Ressikan flute plays a song for thee.



das

not a trek geek, and I never knew where Jeffreis tube came from.

Learn something every day. Sad day for trek fans though.

Nodding my head in a moment of silence.

Thank you Mister Jefferies, and Godspeed.

I love the old designs for the original Trek. Imagine if those designs could have been given the freedom of today's technology (well, look at the DS9 flashback episode for an example of the coolness.)

Warp speed, Mr. Jeffries.





What? Someone had to say it.

Spock: "Misssteeeerrrrrrrrr Scott..."

Sorry to see this. I was similarly saddened when William Ware Theiss, who designed such great uniforms and costumes on a meager budget, died a few years ago.

And when Berman and Braga heard the news, they looked at each other and asked "Who?"

Sad, but true.

Did he have anything to do with the design of the more recent treks?

I think he died when he heard Berman and braga's latest speach and became aware of the ratings of Enterprise!

Fun fact: I'm related to him on my mother's side.

Cool

He also designed the initial Next Generation uniforms. They had to alter the unitard nature of them, but the color scheme and rank insignia were both wonderful.