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{{Short description|American screen writer and television producer}}
'''Ira Steven Behr''' is an ] ] and ]. He is mostly known for his involvement in the writing and production of ] series '']'' (TNG) and especially as ] on '']'' (DS9), as well as his trademark blue goatee. He currently serves as writer and executive producer on '']''.
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Ira Steven Behr
| image = Ira Steven Behr.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Pictured at ]
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1953|10|23}}
| birth_place = ], New York
| death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} or {{Death-date and age|Month DD, YYYY|Month DD, YYYY}} (death date then birth date) -->
| death_place =
| other_names =
| spouse = Laura Behr
| children = <!-- 2 -->
| occupation = Television screenwriter and producer
| known_for = '']''
}}


'''Ira Steven Behr''' (born October 23, 1953) is an American ] and ], best known for his work on '']'', especially '']'', on which he served as ] and executive producer. He was the executive producer and showrunner on '']'', executive producer on Syfy's '']'' and a writer and co-executive producer on '']''.


==Biography==
Behr was born in New York City to a ] family.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YmBKCAAAQBAJ&q=ira+behr |first=Yonassan |last=Gershom |title=Jewish Themes in Star Trek |date=March 13, 2013 |publisher=Lulu.com |isbn=9781458397683}}</ref> He studied at ] in ]. After graduating, he moved to ] to pursue a career writing comedies for television and film.<ref name="startrek-biog">{{cite web |title=Behr |url=https://www.startrek.com/database_article/behr |website=Star Trek.com }}</ref>

Behr is married to Laura Feder, who is credited as choreographer on three episodes of ''Deep Space Nine'' and one episode of ''Voyager''.<ref>Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episodes: "]"<!-- end credits, at approximately 44m55s, same screen as music and sound editors -->, "]", and "]". Star Trek: Voyager episode "]".</ref><ref>Erdmann (2000) page 514 "Laura Behr is a fabulous choreographer"</ref><ref>Erdmann (2000) page 666 "His wife, Laura, once again served as choreographer"</ref>

==Career==
⚫ ===Early work===
Behr's first writing job was on the dramatic series ''].''<ref name="startrek-biog" /> Behr continued to work on television dramas, throughout the 1980s, among them:


⚫ == Early career ==
Behr graduated his studies of ]s and ] in ] in ]. He was then offered a ] ] at ]. Behr decided not to accept it, and instead moved to ] in pursuit of a career in writing ] for ] and ]. Behr succeeded in starting a career, but made his mark on television drama instead. His credits during that period include:
* '']'' (1981, first job as a television writer)
* '']'' (1981, story editor) * '']'' (1981, story editor)
* '']'' (1982, writer and producer) * '']'' (1982, writer and producer)
* '']'' (1982, writer) * '']'' (1982, writer)
* '']'' (1982, writer) * '']'' (1982, writer)
* '']'' (1987, writer and producer) * '']'' (1987, writer and producer)
* '']'' (1987, writer) * '']'' (1987, writer)

⚫ ===''Star Trek''===
After several years writing and producing television, and while still a staff writer at '']'', Behr was hired as a ] during '']''{{'}}s ].

Behr felt there were too many rules and regulations and felt creatively trapped, so he left ] after a year.<ref name="Trek-0507">{{cite interview |date=July 5, 2011 |subject=Ira Behr |title=Ira Steven Behr Remembers DS9, Previews Alphas, Part 1 |url=http://www.startrek.com/article/ira-steven-behr-remembers-ds9-previews-alphas-part-1 |website=StarTrek.com }}</ref> He remained good friends with ] and wrote the season 4 episode "]" as a freelance writer. Piller persuaded him to join the new series '']'' as a supervising producer.<ref name="Trek-0507" /> At the start of the ], Behr was promoted to co-executive producer. The following year, co-creator ] left to produce the next ''Star Trek'' series, '']'' and Behr replaced him as showrunner and executive producer. As showrunner, Behr reported to head executive producer and franchise chief ]. Although they would disagree on many things, Behr said they had a good working relationship.<ref name="Trek-0607" />

Behr went on to write a total of 53 out of 176 '']'' episodes, more than any other writer.

As executive producer, Behr was largely responsible for the ] of the show, from ] politics to the ]. This complex serialized story was a departure from the traditional ''Star Trek'' episodic format, and the war narrative was a break from the typically hopeful ''Star Trek'' vision of the future.<ref name="Trek-0607">{{cite interview |date=July 6, 2011 |subject=Ira Behr |title=Ira Steven Behr Remembers DS9, Part 2 |url=https://www.startrek.com/article/ira-steven-behr-remembers-ds9-part-2 |website=StarTrek.com }}</ref>


⚫ Behr wrote or co-wrote some of the most important episodes in the ] arc, including "]", "]", "]", "]", "]", "]", "]", "]", "]", "]" and the final episode, "]".


⚫ ====Developing the Ferengi====
⚫ == Star Trek period ==
Behr also had a significant role in the development of the ] alien race during his work on ''Deep Space Nine''.<ref name="startrek-biog" /> Although the Ferengi were first introduced in the ] of ''The Next Generation'' as a potential major antagonist, they proved unsuccessful, and in subsequent seasons became an occasional source of ]. But it was not until ''Deep Space Nine'', which included a ] in its regular cast, that the Ferengi were truly explored in any depth. Behr was involved with most of the early Ferengi-related episodes, and introduced the concept of the Ferengi ] and wrote most of the rules which appeared on the show. These rules were later published as ''The Ferengi Rules of Acquisition, by Quark as told to Ira Steven Behr'' ({{ISBN|0-671-52936-6}}). Along with fellow ''Deep Space Nine'' producer ], Behr also co-wrote ''Legends of the Ferengi'', a collection of short stories involving the Rules of Acquisition.({{ISBN|0-671-57901-0}})


====Documentary====
Behr's first involvement with Star Trek began as a ] for TNG during its ]. Behr left the series to seek a screenwriting career at the end of the season. During this time, he also served as a writer for the television series '']'' (1991).
Behr was the driving force behind the documentary '']''.<ref>{{cite web |date=May 9, 2019 |title=Ira Steven Behr on Passion Project That Dominated Six Years of His Life |url=https://www.startrek.com/news/deep-space-nine-what-we-left-behind-ira-behr-interview |website=StarTrek.com }}</ref><ref name="Gullickson">{{cite web |date=13 July 2019 |author=Brad Gullickson |title=Ira Steven Behr Confronts His Legacy and Fandom in 'What We Left Behind' |url=https://filmschoolrejects.com/ira-steven-behr-star-trek-interview/ |website=] }}</ref>


⚫ ===Post-''Star Trek'' ===
Behr's major involvement in Star Trek began in 1993 when he was appointed ] for the pilot of DS9, ]. in the ] of the show he became a co-executive producer, and later during the show he took the full responsibility of an executive producer. He appeared in the second part of the final episode of the series as an uncredited extra, along with most of the show's production staff.


Behr left ''Star Trek'' following the completion of ''Deep Space Nine''{{'}}s seventh season in 1999. He again worked with ] on season two of <!-- Fox -->'']'' (2000) as a ]. Behr served as writer and executive producer on the short lived series <!-- ABC -->'']'' (2001), which was created by and starred ].<ref>{{cite web |date=3 November 2001 |author= |title=ABC Takes 'Patterson' Off Lineup |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-nov-03-fi-65281-story.html |website=] }}</ref>
=== Contributions to the Star Trek Universe ===
He returned to Paramount for the revival of '']'' (2002) as writer and executive producer. It aired on ] directly after '']'',<ref>{{cite web |date=September 23, 2002 |author=Susan King |title=UPN Hoping It Can Revive the Magic of 'Twilight Zone' Series |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-sep-23-et-susan23-story.html |website=] |quote=pitching Twilight Zone as a companion piece to the UPN series Star Trek: Enterprise }}</ref> and ran for a single season of 42 episodes. Behr described the fast production turnaround as insane but, despite the difficulty he found the camaraderie and the dedication in the writer's room rewarding, and said that almost all of the writers would have been willing to do it again for another season if they had been given the chance. He thought ] did not really want the show, and that it was not a good fit for the network.<ref name="Trek-0607" /> He also worked as writer and consulting producer on the series '']'' (2004). René Echevarria created the series <!-- CBS -->'']'' (2004–2007), which Behr joined as a writer and took over as executive producer. The series ran for four seasons, and Behr enjoyed the experience and thought "we did some really good episodes."<ref name="Trek-0607" /><ref>{{cite web |date=May 30, 2007 |last=Pascale |first=Anthony |title=Behr on Voyager, Trek XI & Future of 4400 |url=https://trekmovie.com/2007/05/30/behr-on-voyager-and-trek-xi/ |website=TrekMovie.com |quote=The 4400 has more Trek connections beyond Behr. The show was created by DS9 writer/producer René Echevarria.}}</ref>
⚫ ====Development of the Ferengi race====
Behr had a significant role in the development of the ] alien race during his work on DS9. He wrote or was involved in the creation of many important Ferengi-related episodes. Behr introduced the concept of the Ferengi ], wrote most of them and published them in a humorous book carrying this name. He also co-wrote with ] a collection of short stories and fables based on the Ferengi Rules of Acquisition entitled "Legends of the Ferengi," which was published by ].


In 2017 Behr produced the feature film ] starring ].<ref name="Gullickson" />
The Ferengi race was first introduced in the ] of TNG, and was supposed to act as a major ] of the series. The Ferengi instead became a source of ] and continued to play this role on Deep Space Nine where Ferengi-related stories provided comic takes on such issues as ], ], ] and ].


====Deep Space Nine's story arc==== ===''Crash: Season 2''===
In February 2009, Behr was named head writer for the Starz TV series '']'' (based on the Paul Haggis film) as it headed into Season 2, which aired in the fall of 2009.<ref>{{cite web |date=23 February 2009 |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |title=Starz's 'Crash' getting retooled |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/starzs-crash-retooled-79742/ |website=] |access-date=October 1, 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=February 24, 2009 |last=Goldman |first=Eric |title=4400 Executive Producer Will Crash |publisher=].com |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/02/24/4400-executive-producer-will-crash |access-date=October 1, 2021 }}</ref> After his disappointment at the cancellation of ''The 4400'', people were surprised that Behr chose to join the struggling show. He saw it as an opportunity, as they would be more open and willing to do things differently than if it had been a more successful show.<ref>{{cite web |date=2009-09-18 |author=Jim Halterman (TFC) |title=Interview: "Crash" Executive Producer Ira Steven Behr |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/rant.aspx?id=20090918_crash |website=] }}</ref> Lead actor ] died in May 2010 and the series was not renewed for a third season.<ref>{{cite web |date=13 January 2010 |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |title=Starz mulling future of 'Crash' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/starz-mulling-future-crash-19502/ |website=] }}</ref><ref name="Trek-0607" />
As executive producer, Behr held great responsibility for the ] of the show, revolving around the ] people and the ]. This prolonged and complex story was a departure from the traditional Star Trek episodic format. It was also a departure for Star Trek in dealing with a long-term ] (much as had been done on another contemporary science fiction television series, '']'').


===''Alphas''===
⚫ Behr personally wrote or co-wrote some of the most important episodes in the ] arc, including ], ], ],], ], ], ], ], ], ] and the final episode, ].
In December 2010, Behr was appointed head writer, show runner, and executive producer for Syfy Channel's '']'', for which a pilot, written by ] and Michael Karnow and directed by ], had been produced. Behr oversaw the remaining ten episodes of the eleven-episode first season.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2010/12/ira-steven-behr-to-run-syfy-series-alphas-92009/ |title=Ira Steven Behr To Run SyFy Series 'Alphas' |work=] |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=December 20, 2010 |access-date=December 28, 2014 }}</ref>


===''Outlander''===
⚫ == Post Star Trek period ==
From 2014 to 2016, Behr served as writer and co-executive producer on '']'', alongside fellow ''Deep Space Nine'' contributor ].<ref>{{cite podcast |date=14 July 2015 |author=Blake Larsen |title=Outlander Cast Chats w/ Outlander Executive Producer/Writer Ira Steven Behr - Episode 30 |url=https://www.outlandercast.com/2015/07/outlander-cast-chats-w-outlander-executive-producerwriter-ira-steven-behr-episode-30.html |website=OutlanderCast.com }}</ref>


==References==
Behr didn't return to Star Trek production after the completion of DS9's seven season run in 1999. Instead, he has been involved in the writing and production of other television shows. His credits include:
{{Reflist}}
* "]" (2000, ])
{{Refbegin}}
* "]" (2001, writer and executive producer)
* {{Cite book |last1=Erdmann |first1=Terry J. |title=Deep Space Nine Companion |last2=Block |first2=Paula M. |date=2000 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=978-0-671-50106-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kDe3VS07YSMC&pg=PA514 |via=Google Books }}
* "]" (2002, writer and executive producer)
{{Refend}}
* "]" (2004, writer and executive producer)
* "]" (2004 writer and consulting producer)


== External links == ==External links==
⚫ * {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100622052752/http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/series/TNG/creative/69091.html |date=June 22, 2010 }} at , the official ] site
* {{IMDb name|0066985}}
<!-- Please note ]. If these can be used as inline references, then include them in the main article instead -->
* interviewed by ], 2009-10-10
* {{usurped|1=}} interviewed by ], 2009-09-09 (includes audio podcast)


{{Authority control}}
⚫ * at , the official ] site
* at the
*{{Memoryalpha}}


] {{DEFAULTSORT:Behr, Ira Steven}}
] ]
] ]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]

Latest revision as of 19:04, 26 December 2024

American screen writer and television producer

Ira Steven Behr
Pictured at San Diego Comicon 2011
Born (1953-10-23) October 23, 1953 (age 71)
New York, New York
Occupation(s)Television screenwriter and producer
Known forStar Trek: Deep Space Nine
SpouseLaura Behr

Ira Steven Behr (born October 23, 1953) is an American screenwriter and television producer, best known for his work on Star Trek, especially Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, on which he served as showrunner and executive producer. He was the executive producer and showrunner on Crash, executive producer on Syfy's Alphas and a writer and co-executive producer on Outlander.

Biography

Behr was born in New York City to a Jewish family. He studied at Lehman College in New York City. After graduating, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career writing comedies for television and film.

Behr is married to Laura Feder, who is credited as choreographer on three episodes of Deep Space Nine and one episode of Voyager.

Career

Early work

Behr's first writing job was on the dramatic series Bret Maverick. Behr continued to work on television dramas, throughout the 1980s, among them:

Star Trek

After several years writing and producing television, and while still a staff writer at Beyond Reality, Behr was hired as a producer during Star Trek: The Next Generation's third season.

Behr felt there were too many rules and regulations and felt creatively trapped, so he left The Next Generation after a year. He remained good friends with Michael Piller and wrote the season 4 episode "Qpid" as a freelance writer. Piller persuaded him to join the new series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as a supervising producer. At the start of the second season, Behr was promoted to co-executive producer. The following year, co-creator Michael Piller left to produce the next Star Trek series, Star Trek: Voyager and Behr replaced him as showrunner and executive producer. As showrunner, Behr reported to head executive producer and franchise chief Rick Berman. Although they would disagree on many things, Behr said they had a good working relationship.

Behr went on to write a total of 53 out of 176 Deep Space Nine episodes, more than any other writer.

As executive producer, Behr was largely responsible for the story arc of the show, from Bajoran politics to the Dominion War. This complex serialized story was a departure from the traditional Star Trek episodic format, and the war narrative was a break from the typically hopeful Star Trek vision of the future.

Behr wrote or co-wrote some of the most important episodes in the Dominion arc, including "The Jem'Hadar", "The Search", "The Way of the Warrior", "Broken Link", "Apocalypse Rising", "In Purgatory's Shadow", "By Inferno's Light", "Call to Arms", "Sacrifice of Angels", "Tears of the Prophets" and the final episode, "What You Leave Behind".

Developing the Ferengi

Behr also had a significant role in the development of the Ferengi alien race during his work on Deep Space Nine. Although the Ferengi were first introduced in the first season of The Next Generation as a potential major antagonist, they proved unsuccessful, and in subsequent seasons became an occasional source of comic relief. But it was not until Deep Space Nine, which included a Ferengi character in its regular cast, that the Ferengi were truly explored in any depth. Behr was involved with most of the early Ferengi-related episodes, and introduced the concept of the Ferengi Rules of Acquisition and wrote most of the rules which appeared on the show. These rules were later published as The Ferengi Rules of Acquisition, by Quark as told to Ira Steven Behr (ISBN 0-671-52936-6). Along with fellow Deep Space Nine producer Robert Hewitt Wolfe, Behr also co-wrote Legends of the Ferengi, a collection of short stories involving the Rules of Acquisition.(ISBN 0-671-57901-0)

Documentary

Behr was the driving force behind the documentary What We Left Behind.

Post-Star Trek

Behr left Star Trek following the completion of Deep Space Nine's seventh season in 1999. He again worked with René Echevarria on season two of Dark Angel (2000) as a consulting producer. Behr served as writer and executive producer on the short lived series Bob Patterson (2001), which was created by and starred Jason Alexander. He returned to Paramount for the revival of The Twilight Zone (2002) as writer and executive producer. It aired on UPN directly after Star Trek: Enterprise, and ran for a single season of 42 episodes. Behr described the fast production turnaround as insane but, despite the difficulty he found the camaraderie and the dedication in the writer's room rewarding, and said that almost all of the writers would have been willing to do it again for another season if they had been given the chance. He thought UPN did not really want the show, and that it was not a good fit for the network. He also worked as writer and consulting producer on the series Dr. Vegas (2004). René Echevarria created the series The 4400 (2004–2007), which Behr joined as a writer and took over as executive producer. The series ran for four seasons, and Behr enjoyed the experience and thought "we did some really good episodes."

In 2017 Behr produced the feature film Lucky starring Harry Dean Stanton.

Crash: Season 2

In February 2009, Behr was named head writer for the Starz TV series Crash (based on the Paul Haggis film) as it headed into Season 2, which aired in the fall of 2009. After his disappointment at the cancellation of The 4400, people were surprised that Behr chose to join the struggling show. He saw it as an opportunity, as they would be more open and willing to do things differently than if it had been a more successful show. Lead actor Dennis Hopper died in May 2010 and the series was not renewed for a third season.

Alphas

In December 2010, Behr was appointed head writer, show runner, and executive producer for Syfy Channel's Alphas, for which a pilot, written by Zak Penn and Michael Karnow and directed by Jack Bender, had been produced. Behr oversaw the remaining ten episodes of the eleven-episode first season.

Outlander

From 2014 to 2016, Behr served as writer and co-executive producer on Outlander, alongside fellow Deep Space Nine contributor Ronald D. Moore.

References

  1. Gershom, Yonassan (March 13, 2013). Jewish Themes in Star Trek. Lulu.com. ISBN 9781458397683.
  2. ^ "Behr". Star Trek.com.
  3. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episodes: "Statistical Probabilities", "His Way", and "Badda-Bing Badda-Bang". Star Trek: Voyager episode "Someone to Watch Over Me".
  4. Erdmann (2000) page 514 "Laura Behr is a fabulous choreographer"
  5. Erdmann (2000) page 666 "His wife, Laura, once again served as choreographer"
  6. ^ Ira Behr (July 5, 2011). "Ira Steven Behr Remembers DS9, Previews Alphas, Part 1". StarTrek.com (Interview).
  7. ^ Ira Behr (July 6, 2011). "Ira Steven Behr Remembers DS9, Part 2". StarTrek.com (Interview).
  8. "Ira Steven Behr on Passion Project That Dominated Six Years of His Life". StarTrek.com. May 9, 2019.
  9. ^ Brad Gullickson (July 13, 2019). "Ira Steven Behr Confronts His Legacy and Fandom in 'What We Left Behind'". Film School Rejects.
  10. "ABC Takes 'Patterson' Off Lineup". Los Angeles Times. November 3, 2001.
  11. Susan King (September 23, 2002). "UPN Hoping It Can Revive the Magic of 'Twilight Zone' Series". Los Angeles Times. pitching Twilight Zone as a companion piece to the UPN series Star Trek: Enterprise
  12. Pascale, Anthony (May 30, 2007). "Behr on Voyager, Trek XI & Future of 4400". TrekMovie.com. The 4400 has more Trek connections beyond Behr. The show was created by DS9 writer/producer René Echevarria.
  13. Andreeva, Nellie (February 23, 2009). "Starz's 'Crash' getting retooled". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  14. Goldman, Eric (February 24, 2009). "4400 Executive Producer Will Crash". IGN.com. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  15. Jim Halterman (TFC) (September 18, 2009). "Interview: "Crash" Executive Producer Ira Steven Behr". The Futon Critic.
  16. Andreeva, Nellie (January 13, 2010). "Starz mulling future of 'Crash'". The Hollywood Reporter.
  17. Andreeva, Nellie (December 20, 2010). "Ira Steven Behr To Run SyFy Series 'Alphas'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 28, 2014.
  18. Blake Larsen (July 14, 2015). "Outlander Cast Chats w/ Outlander Executive Producer/Writer Ira Steven Behr - Episode 30". OutlanderCast.com (Podcast).

External links

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