Senensky died on Saturday, November 1, in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. Lisa Lupo-Silvas, his niece and costume designer, says, “He was 100 percent sharp until the end.” Even though he was 102, his mind was as sharp as that of a 30-year-old.
Senensky was born in Mason City, Iowa, in 1923. He began his career as a stage director and switched to television in the late 1950s. He directed memorable episodes of classic TV shows, such as “Star Trek” (seven episodes that fans loved, including “This Side of Paradise,” “Metamorphosis,” and “The Tholian Web”).
“The Waltons” (episodes that focus on Ellen Corby and have emotional storylines), “Dynasty” (the three-part pilot from 1981). Senensky also directed shows like “Dr. Kildare,” “Naked City,” “Barnaby Jones,” “The Partridge Family,” “12 O’Clock High,” and ABC’s groundbreaking “Breaking Point,” which told one of TV’s first gay stories in 1963.
Senensky’s style combined warmth and clarity, which had a lasting effect on TV drama over the years. Fans of “Star Trek” especially love him for his thoughtful direction and memorable character moments. His firing halfway through his seventh “Star Trek” episode is still a famous story from behind the scenes, but his work still has an impact on the genre.
