Maurice Hurley (August 16, 1939 – February 24, 2015) was an American screenwriter and producer known best for his work on
Star Trek: The Next Generation. He was the series' initial head writer/show runner. His influence was substantial; according to
Rick Berman, it was Hurley who successfully pushed for the firing of
Gates McFadden, who played the role of Dr.
Beverly Crusher. Hurley left the series after its second season, which allowed the return of McFadden to the role of Dr. Crusher. Hurley was replaced by
Michael I. Wagner (for four episodes) and ultimately by
Michael Piller.