Nichelle Nichols dead: Star Trek legend who played Lieutenant Uhura dies
Legendary Star Trek actress Nichelle Nichols, who appeared in the original series, has passed away aged 89.
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Nichelle Nichols as Lt Uhura in Star Trek
Star Trek actress Nichelle Nichols, who played Lieutenant Nyota Uhura, has died aged 89.
Nichelle’s son Kyle Johnson announced the news on Instagram today.
He said: “Friends, Fans, Colleagues, World.
“I regret to inform you that a great light in the firmament no longer shines for us as it has for so many years.
“Last night, my mother, Nichelle Nichols, succumbed to natural causes and passed away. Her light however, like the ancient galaxies now being seen for the first time, will remain for us and future generations to enjoy, learn from, and draw inspiration.”
Nichelle has died aged 89
Image:
( Getty Images for The People Conc)
Nichelle with her Star Trek co-stars in 1986, in a still for the film Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
Image:
( The Hollywood Archive / Avalon)
Nichelle made history when she shared the first interracial kiss ever aired on TV, with white actor William Shatner.
The ground breaking actress played the ship’s communication officer in the space opera series, which first aired in 1966, and concluded in 1969, it’s impact lasting for decades.
Hers was one of the first large roles for a black woman in a US TV show, and she broke stereotypes that had limited black female actors.
She often recalled how the Rev Martin Luther King Jr was a fan of the show and praised her role and personally encouraged her to stay with the series.
Like other original cast members, Nichols also appeared in six big-screen spinoffs, starting in 1979 with Star Trek: The Motion Picture and at Star Trek fan conventions.
Nichelle Nichols and William Shatner’s kiss in 1968 made history
Image:
( CBS via Getty Images)
Her son’s statement continued: “Hers was a life well lived and as such a model for us all.
“I, and the rest of our family, would appreciate your patience and forbearance as we grieve her loss until we can recover sufficiently to speak further.”
Concluding his post, and referencing a famous Star Trek quote, Kyle said: “Live Long and Prosper.”
Nichelle served for many years as a Nasa recruiter, helping bring minorities and women into the astronaut corps.
More recently, she had a recurring role on television’s Heroes, playing the great-aunt of a young boy with mystical powers.
Nichelle Nichols as Lt Uhura in the original Star Trek series
Image:
( PA)
Nichelle meets President Barack Obama in 2012
Tributes to the pioneer have poured in.
“I shall have more to say about the trailblazing, incomparable Nichelle Nichols, who shared the bridge with us as Lt. Uhura of the USS Enterprise, and who passed today at age 89,” her Star Trek co-star George Takei wrote on Twitter.
“For today, my heart is heavy, my eyes shining like the stars you now rest among, my dearest friend.”
Actress Lynda Carter said: “Many actors become stars, but few stars can move a nation. Nichelle Nichols showed us the extraordinary power of Black women and paved the way for a better future for all women in media. Thank you, Nichelle. We will miss you.”
One fan wrote: “Nichelle Nichols was an absolute queen. She broke so many barriers including being the first Black woman to play a lead role on TV. Rest in power.”
Nichelle as Nyota Uhura, in 1966 with her Star Trek co-stars
Image:
( Alamy)
ITV Meridian news presenter Matt Teale said: “Talk about trailblazers. Sad news about Nichelle Nichols. Proper pioneer.”
Another fan wrote: “Nichelle Nichols meant the universe to so many of us. She shone a path that made so many of us hopeful for the future. The guiding light for what could be. May she rest well…returning to the stars again, like the one she was down here on Earth.”
A fifth mourner person wrote: “Nichelle Nichols. A trailblazer in everything imaginable. She left a mark in science fiction and in NASA that opened a door for women of color for generations to come. Thank you, Nichelle. Live Long and Prosper.”
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