Nichelle Nichols: The Star Trek Actress dies at the Age of 89

As one of the first Black women to play a major role on television, she made history. Nichelle Nichols, the groundbreaking black actress who played the cool and authoritative communications officer Nyota Uhura on the popular 1960s series “Star Trek”. She died at the age of 89.  Furthermore, Her son Kyle Johnson announced her passing on her official website, uhura.com, writing: “Last night, her mother Nichelle Nichols died of natural causes.

STAR TREK ACTRESS NICHELLE NICHOLS DIES AT 89

A spokesman for her family said Nichols died in Silver City, New Mexico, where she lived with her son. Her accolades soon flooded in, including a long list of dedicated Trekkies.

WILLIAM SHATNER CONDOLENCE

Similarly, William Shatner, who played  Captain James T. Kirk on the USS Enterprise, offered his condolences to the Nichols family.  “She was a beautiful woman and was playing a wonderful character who did so much to redefine social issues here in America and around the world. We will  miss her.” Lieutenant Uhura was on the same bridge as Captain George Takei, who described her as “trailblazing and unequaled.”

Furthermore, he says, I’ll have more to say about the legendary, ground-breaking Nichelle Nichols. who pass away today at the age of 89 and was on the bridge with us as Lt. Uhura of the USS Enterprise. My dearest friend, though my heart is heavy today, my eyes sparkle like the stars you are currently surrounded by. Additionally, Nichols “redefined what is achievable for Black Americans and women,” according to US Vice President Joe Biden.

In a statement, he adds, “Our country is forever beholden to great artists like Nichelle Nichols. who shows us a future where unity, dignity, and respect are the pillars of every community.” Nichols, who pioneering with her forceful performance at a time. when Black performers were more frequently cast as servants or criminals, was once hailed by Martin Luther King Jr.

AN EQUAL PART

Nichols, who had a background in ballet and musical theatre, had expressed her desire to leave “Star Trek” and go back to the theatre to its creator, Gene Roddenberry. But in a coincidental encounter describe by the Hollywood Reporter, she tells King about that: “He lost all of his smiles and says, “You can’t do that.” Don’t you realize that we are being perceived the way we ought to be for the first time? You do not play a Black character. You play an equal part.”

SHE REMAINED.

Nichols was a NASA recruiter. who was successful in persuading a number of gifting African-Americans and women of all races to think about employment with the space agency. After the agency contacted her after she criticized it for its lack of diversity. In a tweet on Sunday night, NASA paying respect to her career by referring to her as a “trailblazer and role model” who “symbolize to so many what was achievable.”

Her work outside of the screen was appreciating by the National Air and Space Museum as well. Similarly, In addition to her breakthrough work on Star Trek, she also worked with NASA to encourage more women and people of color to apply to be astronauts, according to a tweet from the museum.

Moreover, Nichols had a diverse career despite being best recognizing for her role as Uhura. She performed in “Porgy and Bess,” “Heroes,” and recorded an album in addition to dancing with Sammy Davis Jr. She also appear in the first six “Star Trek” films as Uhura, a character whose name is deriving from the Swahili word for “freedom.” Furthermore, The crimson space jacket Nichols donn as Uhura in the “Star Trek” series, which is currently on exhibit at the National Museum of American History, was publishing on Twitter by The Smithsonian, the US national museum network.

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