Richard Compton (2 March 1938 – 11 August 2007; age 69) was a director, writer, and producer. He began his career as an actor, during which he appeared in two episodes of Star Trek: The Original Series. Compton filmed his scenes for "The Doomsday Machine" on Friday 23 June 1967 and Monday 26 June 1967 at Desilu Stage 9, and his scene for "The Enterprise Incident" on Monday 24 June 1968 at Paramount Stage 3.
Two decades later, he directed the Star Trek: The Next Generation first season episode "Haven". Along with Larry Dobkin, Andrew Robinson, Rainn Wilson, Lea Thompson, and Leslie Hope, Compton is one of the six non-series regulars who both acted and directed on Star Trek.
Career[]
Compton wrote and directed Macon County Line (1974) and Return to Macon County (1975). He then turned to directing for television, making his mark on such programs as T. J. Hooker (starring William Shatner, James Darren and Richard Herd), Hill Street Blues, Miami Vice, Home Improvement, L.A. Law (starring Corbin Bernsen), Charmed, and The X-Files. He also directed and produced episodes of Babylon 5 (starring Claudia Christian, Andreas Katsulas, Bill Mumy and Patricia Tallman), and Sliders (starring Jerry O'Connell and John Rhys-Davies).
Compton was the husband of actress Veronica Cartwright (best known for her role as Lambert in Alien) and the brother-in-law of Lost in Space child star Angela Cartwright. It was the latter who reported Compton's death on 11 August 2007 at the age of 69. [1]