Herbert F. Solow

Herbert F. Solow was an American television executive and producer.

Solow began his career in the William Morris Agency mailroom. He moved to NBC and worked in foreign sales before rising to become the network’s West Coast head of daytime programming. He also served as head of programming and production for the NBC film division. He later became program director at Desilu Studios, working with its co-founder Lucille Ball, and ultimately would be promoted to vice-president and executive in charge of production. Solow was brought in by Ball to help revive Desilu, where he helped develop and sell the original Star Trek to NBC.

Along with Star Trek, Solow was instrumental in the development of such 1960s and ’70s television dramas as Mission: Impossible, Mannix, Medical Center, Courtship of Eddie’s Father, and Then Came Bronson.

In addition to his posts at Desilu and NBC, Solow’s different jobs during his long career included vice-president and head of worldwide motion pictures and television production at MGM, vice-president of Paramount Pictures television, vice-president of Hanna-Barbera Studios, and director of daytime programs for CBS.

Solow also wrote 1996’s Inside Star Trek: The Real Story, which is considered among the most definitive books about the franchise. He also published The Star Trek Sketchbook the following year.

In later years, Solow worked as an independent producer, director, writer, and consultant on films.

Solow died November 19, 2020, in Malibu, California. He was 89.