Who Is Nichelle Nichols? Trailblazer Who Played Lt Uhura in Star Trek Series Dies

Nichelle Nichols, a pioneering actress, best known for her role as a communications officer lieutenant Uhura on the original Star Trek television series, has died aged 89. Her son Kyle Johnson said Nichols died Saturday in Silver City, New Mexico. Nichols’ death was confirmed by Gilbert Bell, her talent manager and business partner of 15 years.

Johnson in a Facebook post wrote that his mother "succumbed to natural causes." He further added, "Her light, 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. Hers was a life well lived and as such a model for us all."

Who is Nichelle Nichols?

Nichols was born Grace Dell Nichols near Chicago in 1932. (Unhappy with Grace, she took the name Nichelle when she was a teenager.) Her grandfather was a White Southerner who married a Black woman, causing a rift in his family, writes CNN.

Nichols started performing in local clubs by the time she was 14. During those performances, she met Duke Ellington who later took her on tour. Later, she sang with his band. She also worked extensively in Chicago clubs and in theatre.

She moved to Los Angeles in the early '60s and landed a role in a Gene Roddenberry series, The Lieutenant. A number of Star Trek veterans, including Leonard Nimoy, Walter Koenig and Majel Barrett, also worked on the show. When Roddenberry was creating Trek, he remembered Nichols.

Nichols played Lt. Uhura in the original series, voiced her on Star Trek: The Animated Series and played Uhura in the first six Star Trek films. 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 also earned her accolades for breaking stereotypes that had limited Black women to acting roles as servants and included an interracial onscreen kiss with co-star William Shatner that was unheard of at the time.

An image of Nichelle Nichols shared by the official Twitter hand of NASA

Partnering with NASA

NASA later employed Nichols in an effort to encourage women and African Americans to become astronauts. NASA Astronaut Group 8, selected in 1978, included the first women and ethnic minorities to be recruited, including three who were Black. Dr Mae Jemison, the first Black woman to fly aboard the Space Shuttle, cited Star Trek as an influence in her decision to join the space agency.

Nichols remained a supporter of the space program for decades.

Later life

Nichols was married and divorced twice. She is survived by her son, Johnson.

Nichols was a regular at Star Trek conventions and events into her 80s, but her schedule became limited starting in 2018 when her son announced that she was suffering from advanced dementia.

She was placed under a court conservatorship in the control of her son, who said her mental decline made her unable to manage her affairs or make public appearances. However, some, including Nichols’ managers and her friend, film producer and actor Angelique Fawcett, objected to the conservatorship.

Star Trek alums share tributes for Nichols

“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,” George Takei wrote on Twitter. “For today, my heart is heavy, my eyes shining like the stars you now rest among, my dearest friend.”

“I am so sorry to hear about the passing of Nichelle. She was a beautiful woman & played an admirable character that did so much for redefining social issues both here in the US & throughout the world. I will certainly miss her. Sending my love and condolences to her family, ” her c0-star Shatner wrote via Twitter.

"We celebrate the life of Nichelle Nichols, Star Trek actor, trailblazer, and role model, who symbolized to so many what was possible," tweeted NASA.

Suggested Reading: Who Is Pooja Devi? First Woman Bus Driver From Jammu And Kashmir