John M. Dwyer obit

John M. Dwyer, Set Decorator for ‘Star Trek’ Series and Movies, Dies at 83

John M. Dwyer, the Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning set decorator who worked on 'Jaws,' 'Terminator 2: Judgment Day' and 'Coal Miner's Daughter,' not to mention two series and six films in the 'Star Trek' universe, has died. He was 83.

 He was not on the list.

John M. Dwyer, the Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning set decorator who worked on Jaws, Terminator 2: Judgment Day and Coal Miner’s Daughter, not to mention two series and six films in the Star Trek universe, has died. He was 83.

Dwyer died Sept. 15 of complications from Parkinson’s disease at a hospital in Encinitas, California, his wife of 29 years, Anita, told The Hollywood Reporter.

Dwyer won his Emmy in 1981 for his set decorations for The Gangster Chronicles after being nominated two years earlier for his work on another acclaimed NBC miniseries, Centennial.

Dwyer received his Academy Award nom (shared with John W. Corso) for Michael Apted’s Coal Miner’s Daughter (1980), the Loretta Lynn biopic that starred Sissy Spacek, and his amazing résumé also included Two-Minute Warning (1976), Beverly Hills Cop (1984), Rocky V (1989), Black Rain (1989), Patriot Games (1992), Larger Than Life (1996), Alien: Resurrection (1997) and Hollow Man (2000).

As a set dresser, he set up movies including The Eiger Sanction (1975), 9½ Weeks (1986) and Angel Heart (1987).

The 6-foot-6 Dwyer joined the original Star Trek for its second season in 1967, and the first episode on which he was employed was the legendary “The Trouble With Tribbles,” where he got creative using puffy blobs of fur.

He went on to dress up sets for 38 installments of the NBC series, earning an Emmy nomination (shared with Walter M. Jefferies) in 1969 for their art direction and scenic design on the episode “All Our Yesterdays.”

“In the original series we had to be really inventive, because we were dealing with stuff that nobody knew anything about,” he said in “Designing the Final Frontier,” a featurette for a Star Trek DVD. “There was no space shows, and we didn’t have any money, so you had to scrounge; in effect, scrounge everything that you got.”

Dwyer once noted that his budget was usually $500 per show, so he would squirrel away money from one episode to another when he could and picked through trash to use items like packing materials and plastic coffee lids for the Enterprise and alien environments.

“I’m not a scientist by any stretch of the imagination, but I keep in touch with materials that are going around,” he said in 2002. “On the original series, we were the first ones to use refractive Mylar, because it had just come out … and I went crazy with the stuff. In those days, nobody cared what you put on the set, so long as there was something that looked right. I’d take a piece of Masonite and cover it with some adhesive Mylar, put a two-by-four on the backside of it and hang it on a wall.”

Dwyer returned to the franchise for Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986), directed by Leonard Nimoy, then was hired as set decorator, teaming with production designer Herman Zimmerman, for the syndicated Star Trek: The Next Generation the following year.

He stayed with that show for just a season but continued his Star Trek duty with Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989), Star Trek: Generations (1994), Star Trek: First Contact (1996), Star Trek: Insurrection (1998) and Star Trek: Nemesis (2002).

A native of Los Angeles whose father and grandfather worked in Hollywood, Dwyer attended Marshall High School. He declined a UCLA basketball scholarship to enlist in the U.S. Navy and spent time aboard the aircraft carrier USS Oriskany during the Korean War.

After the service, Dwyer attended the Chouinard Art Institute in L.A. and began a stint at Universal Studios, where he often worked on several shows at the same time.

He got his first credits as a set decorator in 1966 for McHale’s Navy and Tammy and went on to work on such TV shows as The Virginian, Mr. Terrific, Then Came Bronson, The Young Lawyers, Kojak, Ellery Queen and Night Gallery.

Dwyer retired in 2002 to Encinitas after 45 years in the business.

Survivors also include his son, Matthew.

 

Set Decorator

Brent Spiner, Patrick Stewart, and Tom Hardy in Star Trek: Nemesis (2002)

Star Trek: Nemesis

6.4

Set Decorator

2002

 

Kevin Bacon and Elisabeth Shue in Hollow Man (2000)

Hollow Man

5.9

Set Decorator

2000

 

F. Murray Abraham in Star Trek: Insurrection (1998)

Star Trek: Insurrection

6.4

Set Decorator (as John Dwyer)

1998

 

The Pentagon Wars (1998)

The Pentagon Wars

7.1

TV Movie

Set Decorator (as John Dwyer)

1998

 

Winona Ryder and Sigourney Weaver in Alien Resurrection (1997)

Alien Resurrection

6.2

Set Decorator

1997

 

Alice Krige, Brent Spiner, and Patrick Stewart in Star Trek: First Contact (1996)

Star Trek: First Contact

7.6

Set Decorator

1996

 

Bill Murray and Tai in Larger Than Life (1996)

Larger Than Life

5.6

Set Decorator

1996

 

William Shatner and Patrick Stewart in Star Trek: Generations (1994)

Star Trek: Generations

6.6

Set Decorator

1994

 

Emilio Estevez, Cuba Gooding Jr., Stephen Dorff, and Denis Leary in Judgment Night (1993)

Judgment Night

6.6

Set Decorator (as John Dwyer)

1993

 

Harrison Ford, Anne Archer, and Sean Bean in Patriot Games (1992)

Patriot Games

6.8

Set Decorator

1992

 

Thora Birch, Leslie Nielsen, and Ethan Embry in All I Want for Christmas (1991)

All I Want for Christmas

5.9

Set Decorator

1991

 

Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

Terminator 2: Judgment Day

8.6

Set Decorator

1991

 

Sylvester Stallone in Rocky V (1990)

Rocky V

5.4

Set Decorator (as John Dywer)

1990

 

Michael Douglas in Black Rain (1989)

Black Rain

6.6

Set Decorator

1989

 

Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989)

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier

5.5

Set Decorator

1989

 

Michael Dorn, Jonathan Frakes, Gates McFadden, Marina Sirtis, Brent Spiner, LeVar Burton, and Patrick Stewart in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

Star Trek: The Next Generation

8.7

TV Series

Set Decorator (as John Dwyer)

1987–1988

25 episodes

 

Lorraine Gary and Bruce in Jaws: The Revenge (1987)

Jaws: The Revenge

3.0

Set Decorator

1987

 

Richard Dean Anderson in MacGyver (1985)

MacGyver

7.6

TV Series

Set Decorator

1985–1987

3 episodes

 

Outlaws (1986)

Outlaws

7.0

TV Series

Set Decorator

1987

5 episodes

 

Walter Koenig, Leonard Nimoy, William Shatner, James Doohan, DeForest Kelley, George Takei, and Nichelle Nichols in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986)

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

7.3

Set Decorator (as John Dwyer)

1986

 

Harvey Korman and Valerie Perrine in Leo & Liz in Beverly Hills (1986)

Leo & Liz in Beverly Hills

6.2

TV Series

Set Decorator

1986

1 episode

 

Courteney Cox, Kevin Peter Hall, Dean Paul Martin, and Mark Thomas Miller in Misfits of Science (1985)

Misfits of Science

7.3

TV Series

Set Decorator

1985

6 episodes

 

Eddie Murphy in Beverly Hills Cop (1984)

Beverly Hills Cop

7.4

Set Decorator

1984

 

Kerrie Keane, Eric Pierpoint, and Michael Preston in Hot Pursuit (1984)

Hot Pursuit

6.9

TV Series

Set Decorator (as John Dwyer)

1984

1 episode

 

Teachers (1984)

Teachers

6.1

Set Decorator (as John Dywer)

1984

 

Robert Urich, Mary Crosby, Michael D. Roberts, and Bruce Vilanch in The Ice Pirates (1984)

The Ice Pirates

5.6

Set Decorator

1984

 

V (1983)

V

7.8

TV Mini Series

Set Decorator (as John Dwyer)

1983

2 episodes

 

Melissa Sue Anderson, Melissa Gilbert, Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, Richard Bull, Sidney Greenbush, Jonathan Gilbert, Rachel Lindsay Greenbush, and Katherine MacGregor in Little House on the Prairie (1974)

Little House on the Prairie

7.5

TV Series

Set Decorator

1982

1 episode

 

The Thing (1982)

The Thing

8.2

Set Decorator (as John Dwyer)

1982

 

The Gangster Chronicles (1981)

The Gangster Chronicles

8.1

TV Mini Series

Set Decorator

1981

13 episodes

 

Bustin' Loose (1981)

Bustin' Loose

6.0

Set Decorator

1981

 

James Caan in Thief (1981)

Thief

7.4

Set Decorator (as John Dwyer)

1981

 

Tom Selleck in Magnum, P.I. (1980)

Magnum, P.I.

7.5

TV Series

Set Decorator (set decorations)

1980

2 episodes

 

Sissy Spacek in Coal Miner's Daughter (1980)

Coal Miner's Daughter

7.5

Set Decorator

1980

 

Centennial (1978)

Centennial

8.3

TV Mini Series

Set Decorator

1978–1979

10 episodes

 

Nancy Allen, Eddie Deezen, Theresa Saldana, and Wendie Jo Sperber in I Wanna Hold Your Hand (1978)

I Wanna Hold Your Hand

6.8

Set Decorator (as John Dwyer, set decorations)

1978

 

Gray Lady Down (1978)

Gray Lady Down

6.2

Set Decorator (as John Dwyer, set decorations)

1978

 

The Other Side of the Mountain: Part II (1978)

The Other Side of the Mountain: Part II

6.2

Set Decorator

1978

 

Richard Pryor in Which Way Is Up? (1977)

Which Way Is Up?

6.2

Set Decorator

1977

 

Two-Minute Warning (1976)

Two-Minute Warning

6.2

Set Decorator

1976

 

Midway (1976)

Midway

6.8

Set Decorator (as John Dwyer)

1976

 

Ellery Queen (1975)

Ellery Queen

8.3

TV Series

Set Decorator (set decorations)

1975–1976

12 episodes

 

Susan Backlinie and Bruce in Jaws (1975)

Jaws

8.1

Set Decorator

1975

 

Kolchak: The Night Stalker (1974)

Kolchak: The Night Stalker

8.4

TV Series

Set Decorator (set decorations)

1975

1 episode

 

Teresa Graves in Get Christie Love! (1974)

Get Christie Love!

6.4

TV Series

Set Decorator

1974

1 episode

 

Telly Savalas in Kojak (1973)

Kojak

7.1

TV Series

Set Decorator

1973–1974

19 episodes

 

Peter Falk in Columbo (1971)

Columbo

8.3

TV Series

Set Decorator (set decorations)

1973

1 episode

 

Rod Serling in Night Gallery (1969)

Night Gallery

7.9

TV Series

Set Decorator

1971–1973

26 episodes

 

Beg, Borrow ... or Steal (1973)

Beg, Borrow ... or Steal

6.6

TV Movie

Set Decorator

1973

 

You'll Never See Me Again (1973)

You'll Never See Me Again

6.5

TV Movie

Set Decorator

1973

 

Hec Ramsey (1972)

Hec Ramsey

7.7

TV Series

Set Decorator

1972–1973

4 episodes

 

Female Artillery (1973)

Female Artillery

6.4

TV Movie

Set Decorator (set decorations)

1973

 

The Bold Ones: The Lawyers (1969)

The Bold Ones: The Lawyers

7.0

TV Series

Set Decorator

1971–1972

5 episodes

 

Escape (1971)

Escape

5.5

TV Movie

Set Decorator

1971

 

The Young Lawyers (1969)

The Young Lawyers

7.0

TV Series

Set Decorator

1970–1971

24 episodes

 

Michael Parks in Then Came Bronson (1969)

Then Came Bronson

7.9

TV Series

Set Decorator

1969

6 episodes

 

Star Trek (1966)

Star Trek

8.4

TV Series

Set Decorator

1967–1969

38 episodes

 

To Die in Paris

6.1

TV Movie

Set Decorator

1968

 

It Takes a Thief (1968)

It Takes a Thief

7.5

TV Series

Set Decorator

1968

1 episode

 

Mr. Terrific (1967)

Mr. Terrific

6.8

TV Series

Set Decorator

1967

16 episodes

 

Richard Egan, Peter Graves, and Lois Nettleton in Valley of Mystery (1967)

Valley of Mystery

5.7

TV Movie

Set Decorator

1967

 

James Drury, Doug McClure, and John McIntire in The Virginian (1962)

The Virginian

7.6

TV Series

Set Decorator

1966–1967

5 episodes

 

Laredo (1965)

Laredo

7.5

TV Series

Set Decorator

1966–1967

16 episodes

 

Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (1963)

Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre

7.4

TV Series

Set Decorator

1967

1 episode

 

McHale's Navy (1962)

McHale's Navy

7.4

TV Series

Set Decorator

1966

10 episodes

 

Tammy (1965)

Tammy

6.9

TV Series

Set Decorator

1966

1 episode

 

Art Department

Morphine (2004)

Morphine

6.6

property master (as ikeno)

2004

 

Michael Caine in A Shock to the System (1990)

A Shock to the System

6.6

lead set dresser

1990

 

Robert De Niro in Jacknife (1989)

Jacknife

6.4

leadman: Connecticut (as John Dwyer)

1989

 

Jery Hewitt in Five Corners (1987)

Five Corners

6.1

property master (as John Dwyer)

1987

 

Robert De Niro and Mickey Rourke in Angel Heart (1987)

Angel Heart

7.2

lead set dresser (as John Dwyer)

1987

 

Kim Basinger and Mickey Rourke in 9½ Weeks (1986)

9½ Weeks

5.9

set dresser (as John Dwyer)

1986

 

Ed Harris and Amy Madigan in Alamo Bay (1985)

Alamo Bay

6.1

set dresser (as John Dwyer)

1985

 

John Wood in Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Computers... But Were Afraid to Ask (1984)

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Computers... But Were Afraid to Ask

Video

assistant property master (as John Dwyer)

1984

 

The Eiger Sanction (1975)

The Eiger Sanction

6.4

set decorations-United States (as John Dwyer)

1975

 

Camera and Electrical Department

Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun (1999)

Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun

7.8

Video Game

key grip

1999

 

Dune 2000 (1998)

Dune 2000

7.7

Video Game

gaffer

1998

 

Command & Conquer: Red Alert - Retaliation (1998)

Command & Conquer: Red Alert - Retaliation

7.4

Video Game

gaffer

1998

 

Drew Barrymore and Chris O'Donnell in Mad Love (1995)

Mad Love

5.4

grip

1995

 

Costume Department

Kim Basinger and Mickey Rourke in 9½ Weeks (1986)

9½ Weeks

5.9

costumer

1986

 

Self

Denise Crosby, Michael Dorn, Jonathan Frakes, Gates McFadden, Marina Sirtis, Brent Spiner, Wil Wheaton, LeVar Burton, and Patrick Stewart in Stardate Revisited: The Origin of Star Trek - The Next Generation (2012)

Stardate Revisited: The Origin of Star Trek - The Next Generation

7.9

Self

2012

 

Archive Footage

The Oscars (2019)

The Oscars

5.5

TV Special

Self - Set Decorator (In Memoriam) (archive footage)

2019