Sargent Passes
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Joseph Sargent, known to Trek fans for directing an early Star Trek episode, has passed away at the age of 89.
The cause of death was from COPD.
Born in 1925 as Guiseppe Danielle Sorgente, Sargent began his career as a Broadway chorus performer and actor.
Sargent directed episodes of many classic television shows of the 1960s, before moving on to directing television movies. Some of the series included Lassie, Bonanza, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Daniel Boone, The Fugitive, It Takes a Thief, and Star Trek.
The Star Trek episode directed by Sargent was The Corbomite Maneuver.
Sargent worked until he was eighty-four, over the years receiving four Emmys for his work (Kojak, Love is Never Silent, Caroline?, and Miss Rose White). He also received four Directors Guild of America Awards.
“With eight DGA Awards nominations in movies for television, more than any other director in this category, Joe embodied directorial excellence on the small screen,” said DGA president Paris Barclay. “He was unafraid of taking risks, believing in his heart that television audiences demanded the highest quality stories — whether chronicling uncomfortable historic events like the infamous Tuskegee syphilis study in Miss Evers’ Boys or compelling personal stories about inspiring individuals like heart surgery pioneers Alfred Blalock and Vivien Thomas in Something the Lord Made.”
Sargent is survived by his wife, Caroline, daughters Lia and Athena, and two nieces.
Thanks to Kenneth C for the tip!
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He made some great TV shows. If he directed “Corbomite,” that was the first episode of “Star Trek” filmed, even though I think they showed it third. Not including the two pilots, of course. RIP.
A truly great director with an impressive list of both feature film and television credits. We exchanged letters once, and he was most kind and gracious, and appreciative of my love for his directing work. His “Colossus: The Forbin Project” was one of the very best sci-fi films of its time.
Sargent also made the original “The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3”. Great flick.
http://variety.com/2014/film/news/star-trek-3-sets-july-8-2016-release-date-1201386320/
That link has nothing to do with Joseph Sargent.
Mr. Nimoy says in his autobiography that Mr. Sargent helped him to find the character of Spock by directing him to “be the scientist, be cool” during this episode when the Bridge crew was reacting to the cube. That means that Mr. Sargent’s role in Star Trek was a lot larger than directing a single episode might lead us to believe.
Condolences to Mr. Sargent’s family.