THE LAST OF US and STAR TREK Actress, Dies at 45. Nichelle Nichols died July 30 at age 89, according to a Facebook post by her son, Kyle Johnson. Jackson DeForest Kelley was born on January 20, 1920 in Toccoa, Georgia, to Clora (Casey) and Ernest David Kelley.He graduated from high school at age 16 and went on to sing at the Baptist church where his father was a minister. She was considered a trailblazer for Black actors and shared one of TV's first prime-time interracial kisses. He is primarily known for playing Vulcan ambassador Sarek (Spock's father) in "Star Trek: The Original Series" and a number of its spin-offs.In 1924, Lenard was born under the name "Leonard Rosenson" in Chicago Illinois. But Uhura, whose name comes from a Swahili word meaning freedom, was essential beyond the interracial kiss: A capable officer who could man other stations on the bridge when the need arose, she was one of the first African American women to be featured in a non-menial role on television. By Kalhan Rosenblatt Nichelle Nichols, the groundbreaking actor who played Lieutenant Nyota Uhura on the original "Star Trek" series, has died. All rights reserved. Legal Statement. The actress, who portrayed the capable and commanding Enterprise crew member Nyota Uhura, died Saturday night at the age of 89. She was 79. Nevertheless, it was a landmark moment. Born Grace Nichols in Robbins, Ill. on Dec. 28, 1932, Nichols began her show business career at age 16 singing with Duke Ellington in a ballet she created for one of his compositions. Moreover, unlike most minority 25 November 1920 - 14 January 2009 (age 88)Character(s): Khan Noonien Singh (T.O.S 1 episode 1967 & Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan 1982). Anton Yelchin was an American actor, known for playing Bobby in Hearts in Atlantis (2001), Chekov in the Star Trek (2009) reboot, Charlie Brewster in the Fright Night (2011) remake, and Jacob in Like Crazy (2011).He was born in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg), Russia, USSR, to a Jewish family. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. She wanted to leave because she had been offered a role in a show that was heading to Broadway,saying in an interview that her "life was theatre". Thank you, Nichelle. "opened the door for the rest of us who followed in your wake". She earned accolades for breaking stereotypes for black actresses, with the Rev. Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images Nichelle Nichols died July 30 at age 89, according to a Facebook post by her son, Kyle Johnson. She had a career on Broadway as well, appearing in Ladybug, Ladybug,The Irregular Verb to LoveandHot September, in addition to other productions. American actress Nichelle Nichols, best known for her role in 1960s sci-fi TV series Star Trek, has died aged 89. Nichols remained a supporter of the space program for decades. The news was announced via a Twitter post written by her family in the early hours of Tuesday (December 6). Dame Judith Anderson was born Frances Margaret Anderson on February 10, 1897 in Adelaide, South Australia. When aged 16, as Femina Miss India, she entered Miss Universe 1965, dressed in off-the-rack clothes she bought at the last minute. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Star Trek: The Motion Picture - The Director's Edition. Groundbreaking 'Star Trek' actress, activist Nichelle Nichols dies at 89 Her family confirmed Nichols' death from natural causes. Sending my love and condolences to her family.". Market data provided by Factset. "She was a beautiful woman and played an admirable character that did so much for redefining social issues both here in the US and throughout the world," he wrote on Twitter. She reportedly passed away due to natural causes. Notable Deaths of 2022 Former Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Len Dawson talks to head coach Hank Stram on the sidelines during a game in 1971. ", She told him she was going to leave Star Trek and he said: "You cannot. Actress Nichelle Nichols, 'Star Trek's' trail-blazing Uhura, dies at 89. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. He was an actor, known for Star Trek (1966), The Bounty Killer (1965) and Catalina Caper (1967). Goodwin died Feb. 25 in After moving to (28 March 1977 29 January 2023; age 45)Character(s): Liana (Star Trek: Enterprise) & Borg Queen Star Trek: Picard, Star Trek: The Motion Picture - The Director's Edition. If you leave, that door can be closed because your role is not a black role and it's not a female role, he can fill it with anyone, including an alien! They dont like when you do that and hurts your chances to be on the show again. He was born in 1939 in Dallas, Texas, where he lived in his early years before moving with his family to Los 22 May 1939 7 March 2004 (age 64)Character(s): Clark Terrell (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan 1982) & Dathon (T.N.G 1 episode 1991). She was an actress, known for Star Trek: Enterprise (2001), Playing by Heart (1998) and Star Trek: Voyager (1995). Variety and the Flying V logos are trademarks of Variety Media, LLC. They both sold, and both were highly successful.. Nichols shared one of the first interracial kisses in television history on Star Trek. That moment, with her co-star William Shatner, was a courageous move on the part of her, Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry and NBC considering the climate at the time, but the episode Platos Stepchildren, which aired in 1968, was written to give all involved an out: Uhura and Captain Kirk did not choose to kiss but were instead made to do so involuntarily by aliens with the ability to control the movements of humans. Deadline is a part of Penske Media Corporation. She had multiple Star Trek-related roles, though she is mostly remembered for her roles as Nurse Christine Chapel in "Star Trek: The Original Series" (1966-1969) and as 23 February 1932 - 18 December 2008 (age 76)Character(s): Number One (Pilot 1964/1986 T.O.S 2 episodes 1966), Christine Chapel (T.O.S 36 episodes 1966 - 1969), T.A.S 21 episodes 1973 -1974, Star Trek: The Motion Picture 1979, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home 1986, Lwaxana Troi (T.N.G 6 episodes 1987 - 1993, D.S.9 3 episodes 1993 -1996) & Computer Voice (1966 - 2009). She is pictured on the right at the Los Angeles Comic Con event in December 2021. saying in an interview that her "life was theatre". Martin Luther King Jr., who was a fan of the series and understood the importance of her character in opening doors for other African Americans on television, personally persuaded her to stay on the show, she told astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson in an interview for the Archive of American Television. Kirstie Louise Alley was an American actress. For today, my heart is heavy, my eyes shining like the stars you now rest among, my dearest friend.. 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, Takei wrote. She waseventuallyplaced under a court conservatorship that her son controlled,with Johnson saying her mental decline made it impossible for her to take care of herself or make public appearances. They took six women, they took three African-American men it was a very fulfilling accomplishment for me, she once said. You can listen to it below. called Nichols "a remarkable woman in a remarkable role.". The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Web(28 December 1932 30 July 2022; age 89) Character(s): Nyota Uhura (Star Trek 66-69, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Star Trek III: The Before her dementia diagnosis, Nichols continued to regularly be part of Star Trek conventions and events. In the meantime, I had turned down the two comedies, pulled my name out of consideration, she said. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. As well as working as an actress, Ms Nicholls also became an ambassador for the US space agency Nasa, helping to recruit women and minorities to its Space programme. Nichelle was a singular inspiration. Send story tips to tracy.wright@fox.com. George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) July 31, 2022. I declined.. Get our latest storiesin the feed of your favorite networks. She appeared in the television film Yuma in 1971. Her co-star, George Takei, tweeted a picture with his legendary friend from one of the many fan-centered, comic circuits they attended together through the years. But she wasconvinced otherwise by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who described her character as the "first non-stereotypical role portrayed by a black woman in television history". The film and Thrett made a brief appearance in Quentin TarantinosOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood, as a TV ad for the movie plays on TV in the background during one scene. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. She also voiced the character in Star Trek: The Animated Series., Last night, my mother, Nichelle Nichols, succumbed to natural causes and passed away, Nichols son, Kyle Johnson, wrote in a statement on the actress official Facebook page. 2 min read. Uhura was promoted to lieutenant commander in Star Trek: The Motion Picture and to full commander in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.. It was technically very interesting, Hays told We Love Soaps. In Hollywood, she studied acting with Jeff Corey and, when he was away, his fill-in, Nimoy. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. "I regret Eric Diaz. All Rights Reserved. The world was not the same. All Rights Reserved. Fox News "Last night, my mother, Nichelle Nichols, succumbed to natural causes and passed away. "Star Trek" star Nichelle Nichols died at the age of 89 on July 31, 2022. Meanwhile, Goodwin had a choice: she had offers to make pilots for two network comedies. Nasa described Nicholls as a "trailblazer" and "role model". Enterprise, died on Thank you, #NichelleNichols. The Star Trek TV series broke down stereotypes in the 1960s by casting black and minority actors in high-profile roles. pic.twitter.com/pmQaKDb5zw, J.J. Abrams, who was behind the 2009 Star Trek reboot and its 2013 follow-up Star Trek Into Darkness, called Nichols "a remarkable woman in a remarkable role. She is pictured on the right at the Los Angeles Comic Con event in December 2021. Girls! He shared a photo of them together and wrote: 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. For today, my heart is heavy, my eyes shining like the stars you now rest among, my dearest friend, Takei wrote. Goodwin co-produced the Burt Reynolds-Loni Anderson film Stroker Ace (1983) alongside her husband, Walter Wood, who had acquired the rights to the book on which the movie was based. American actress Nichelle Nichols, best known for her role in 1960s sci-fi TV series Star Trek, has died aged 89. Peter Duryea was born on July 14, 1939 in Los Angeles, California, USA. Nichelle Nichols (left, as Uhura), Canadian actor William Shatner (as Captain James T. Kirk) holds a plate on the bridge of the USS Enterprise in a scene from 'The Man Trap,' the premiere episode of 'Star Trek,' which aired on Sept. 8, 1966. She played the titular mute hero, Gem, in The Empath.. and starred alongside Jeffrey Hunter in The Cage, the rejected first pilot made for Star Trek, has died. A year earlier on Movin With Nancy, Sammy Davis Jr. kissed Nancy Sinatra on the cheek in what appeared to be a spontaneous gesture but was in fact carefully planned. Nichols had beenhired by the space agency in the 1970s toaidin recruiting and is credited with helping draw the first US woman astronaut Sally Ride and the first black woman astronaut Mae Jemisonto the program. She appeared in a supporting role in a 1983 TV adaptation of Antony and Cleopatra that also featured her Star Trek co-star Walter Koenig. King Jrs daughter Bernice King reflected on the importance of representation on television in her tribute, saying: Representation matters. Their secret is that they are made both beautiful and irresistible by taking a so-called Venus drug given to them by one of the series most memorable rascals, Harry Mudd (Roger Carmel). Nichelle Nichols (far right) on the set of the film Star Trek: The Final Frontier in 1989, Nichelle Nichols at a Comic Con event in Los Angeles, California in 2021, Nichols did not regret staying at Star Trek. She was the reminder that not only can we reach the stars, but our influence is essential to their survival. Nichols suffered a stroke in 2015 and was diagnosed with dementia in 2018, touching off a conservatorship dispute between her manager Bell and her son as well as a friend. Over 55 years, Star Trek has had all kinds of uniforms. Nichols faced health issuesin the past few years. She was a trailblazer who navigated a very challenging trail with grit, grace, and a gorgeous fire we are not likely to see again. In a statement posted on Facebook, Mr Johnson wrote: "I regret to inform you that a great light in the firmament no longer shines for us as it has for so many years. Persis Khambatta was born on October 2, 1948 in Bombay, India. Maggie Thrett, the actress and singer who most memorably played Ruth in the Mudds Women episode of the original Star Trek, died December 18, her family announced. Excellence in representation matters even more. The two characters always had a platonic relationship on the show but were forced by aliens controlling their brains to kiss in one episode. Jeffrey Hunter was born Henry Herman McKinnies Jr. on November 25, 1926 in New Orleans, Louisiana, an only child. WebThis is a list of the dates of deaths of individuals who have worked on Star Trek. He is primarily remembered for portraying Dr. David Marcus in the science fiction films "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" (1982) and "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock" (1984). From 1997 to 2000, she starred in the sitcom Veronica's Closet, earning additional Emmy and Golden Globe (January 12, 1951 December 5, 2022; aged 71)Character(s): Saavik (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan). Nichols starred as Lieutenant Uhura in the original "Star Trek" series. As opposed to the more socially dramatic roles Hays was used to playing, in 2010 she recalled the interstellar appearance as one of the most unique experiences of her career. Later, she sang with his band. Itwas one of several smaller film and television roles before she landed the Star Trek gig. Buddwing and the Sandra Dee vehicle Doctor, Youve Got to Be Kidding! before she was cast on Star Trek.. Nichols visited former President Barack Obama in 2012,and the two posed for a photo in the Oval Office while they both made the Vulcan hand signal. Nichols appeared on the original Star Trek for three years between 1966 and 1969. By Kofi Outlaw - February 28, 2023 01:24 pm EST. Grace Lee Whitney was a versatile actress and vocalist born in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Celebrity Deaths in 2022 Stephen tWITCH Boss Sept. 29, 1982-Dec. 13, 2022 Stephen tWITCH Boss was a regular on The Ellen DeGeneres Show talk show and a runner-up on So You Think You Can Dance shocked and saddened fans when he died of suicide. We celebrate the life of Nichelle Nichols, Star Trek actor, trailblazer, and role model, who symbolized to so many what was possible. Barry Jenner was born on January 14, 1941 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. She was 79. Fans of the groundbreaking sci-fi franchise "Star Trek" have already been in mourning following the All Rights Reserved. Christopher Pike and Nimoy as Mr. Spock in The Cage for Gene Roddenberrys Star Trek. 2 MIN READ. Look's Who's Talking actress Kirstie Alley has died at the age of 71 following a 'private battle' with cancer. 1 Tiger Shapiro (1983), Ray Walston (2001), Jack C. Haldeman II, Benjamin W.S. 6 The Janeway Collective. Send us a tip using our annonymous form. She was a singer and dancer before turning to acting and finding fame in her groundbreaking role of Lt. Nyota Uhura in the Star Trek (1966) series.As long as she could remember, (28 December 1932 30 July 2022; age 89)Character(s): Nyota Uhura (Star Trek 66-69, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country). The importance of Nichelle's legacy cannot be over-emphasized. James T. Kirk, mourned the loss of his co-star on Sunday. The two memorably share a dance in the clever The Wall Have Ears number. In 1968, she and Star Trek star William Shatner, who played Captain Kirk in the series, broke new ground when they shared one of television's first interracial kisses - though it was not a romantic one. She is survived by her son, Kyle Johnson. Mudds Women is one of the most memorable episodes of the 1960s Star Trek, in no small part because it featured three stunningly beautiful women (Thrett, Karen Steele and Susan Denberg) who seem to have strange powers over the male members of the Enterprise crew except Spock, of course. Despite her success, however, Nichols had initially considered leaving the show. I got in during the very last remnants of the old studio system, which believe me, lasted about six to eight months, she said in Tom Lisantis 2003 book, Drive-in Dream Girls: A Galaxy of B-Movie Starlets of the Sixties. At the end of the recruitment, NASA had so many highly qualified people. ", Nichols explained: "I could say nothing, I just stood there realising that everything he said was the truth. Actress and singer Nichelle Nichols, best known as Star Trek 's communications officer Lieutenant Uhura, died Saturday night in Silver City, New Mexico. 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