Oscar Katz

Oscar Katz was a television producer, who was the head of production at Desilu between 1964 and 1965. Previously, he worked as a television executive in New York City, serving among others, as Vice President of Network Programs at CBS.

Katz was hired by Lucille Ball to oversee the developement and production of Desilu's programs in 1964. His main task was to find writers/producers with new ideas, and develop them into successful television pilots. Katz, who was very unexperienced with West Coast studio production and business, soon hired Herb Solow as his assistant. Together, they helped to bring Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek and 's Mission: Impossible to life. He served as Executive in Charge of Production on the first pilot,. However, one year after he was hired, Katz left Desilu. Solow succeeded him in his position, and remained there until the studio was merged with Paramount Pictures.

After he left Desilu, Katz retired from the television business and became a securities analyst and stock market investor. He died of pneumonia in Los Angeles, California. (Inside Star Trek: The Real Story, pp 6-11, 441)