Production was shut down on the set of Enterprise Monday when the cast and crew learned that one of their First Assistant Directors, Jerry Fleck, passed away over the weekend. Fleck was 55. Cause of death is unknown, but he reportedly died in his sleep.

The news came as a complete shock to the production team and the actors, who reported to work Monday only to find themselves consoling each other shortly thereafter. It was decided that production would be shut down for the day. Director Robert Duncan McNeill was among those who left that morning.

Fleck had been with the Star Trek franchise for 11 years, starting with the sixth season of Star Trek: The Next Generation. After serving as First A.D. on the last two years of that show, he moved over to Star Trek: Voyager and spent all seven years there, before coming on board to Enterprise. He was also First A.D. on the movies "Star Trek: First Contact" and "Star Trek: Insurrection." Other movie credits include "Edward Scissorhands" (1990) and "Beetlejuice" (1988), and his earlier TV credits include Hunter and MacGyver.  As first assistant director, Fleck was in charge of many of the production logistics on the set.

Gerald R. Fleck was born in Chicago and moved with his family to California in 1955.  In high school he displayed a talent for singing and acting, and starred in several school productions. He studied theater at Santa Barbara City College and Long Beach State, then won a scholarship to the American Academy of Dramatic Art in New York. After graduation he appeared in numerous theater productions throughout the eastern states for several years. In the mid-70s he began assisting in the production of feature films and episodic television, and in the 1980s became an assistant director on many television series.

Fleck was a member of the Directors Guild of America and was affectionately known as "the best AD in Hollywood." He is survived by his wife Katy, son Simon, daughter Emily, brother Michael, and sister JoAnne. Services were held on Sunday, September 21.

The September 24 episode, "Extinction," will end with a title card stating "In Loving Memory of Jerry Fleck."

Memorial donations may be made to the Humane Animal Rescue Team, P.O. Box 920, Fillmore, CA 93016, or to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, 5001 Angel Canyon Dr., Kanab, UT 84741-5000.

A full Los Angeles Times obituary can be found at the link below.

On behalf of the entire Star Trek community, we extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Jerry Fleck.