American special effects technician who created the on-set mechanical and pyrotechnic effects of the original Star Trek and was nominated for an Emmy Award for the work.
Jim Rugg was responsible for the physical special effects of the original Star Trek, as distinct from the optical effects added later by outside companies.
His department handled everything that had to happen in front of the camera: exploding consoles and sparks on the bridge, smoke, the blinking lights and moving displays of the Enterprise sets, working props and many of the machines and devices encountered on alien planets. He is also credited with building practical creations such as the robot probe Nomad seen in The Changeling.
Rugg received an Emmy nomination for the series' effects, shared with the optical effects contractors, and remained with the production for its full run.