Rod Roddenberry

Eugene Wesley “Rod” Roddenberry Jr. grew up smack in the middle of Hollywood’s sci-fi royalty, thanks to his parents—Majel Barrett and the OG mastermind behind Star Trek, Gene Roddenberry. Born in L.A. back in ’74, Rod pretty much had starships and phasers in his blood from day one. He’s not just riding on the family name, though. Since taking the reins at Roddenberry Entertainment in 2001, he’s been all about keeping that legacy alive but with his own spin—think new shows, comics, merch, you name it. He even spearheaded “Trek Nation” in 2011, which got serious kudos from both Trekkies and regular folks. But Rod’s not just glued to a director’s chair. The dude’s a hardcore scuba diver—divemaster certified and everything, since the early ‘90s. In 2010, he kicked off the Roddenberry Dive Team, taking the whole “exploration” thing underwater. Whether it’s coral reefs or sunken wrecks, he’s probably been there, always pushing for ocean conservation while having a blast diving in wild places around the globe. Basically, Roddenberry Jr. is mixing sci-fi imagination with real-world adventure and a bit of eco-warrior spirit, keeping the family torch blazing in a way that’s fresh but still totally Roddenberry.