After David Warner, another famous member of the “Star Trek” family has died. Nichelle Nichols, who played Lt. Nyota Uhura on Star Trek and became famous for it, has died. The actress, who was one of the first Black women to play the main role in a TV show, died at the age of 89.
Her son Kyle Johnson told her fans in an Instagram post: “Last night, my mother, Nichelle Nichols, died of natural causes.” “Her light, however, will stay for us and future generations to enjoy, learn from, and be inspired by, just like the light from ancient galaxies that are now being seen for the first time,” Johnson said. He also wrote, “Hers was a good life, and that makes her an example for all of us. I and the rest of our family would appreciate it if you could be patient and kind with us while we mourn her death until we are ready to talk more.
People who were sad about her death used the word “trailblazer” to describe her. “RIP. In our world, he was a very important actor who broke new ground and showed America the future. In the hopeful universe that people want to create, he was the fourth person in charge of the Starship Enterprise. People will miss you, respect you, and remember you. Forever. #Uhura #NichelleNichols #StarTrekTOS, “one fan wrote. While someone else said, “As a young Trekkie, I didn’t know or understand that Nichelle Nichols was a leader. I just thought she was cool. She was a wonderful person who will be missed.” One more individual said, “Today, my heart is broken. This woman was a leader, a friend, a queen, and many other things. RIP Nichelle Nichols.”
Some of her fans remember that she broke new ground for Black women. One said, “Nichelle Nichols was always someone I was proud of. Her grace and beauty could not be matched. She helped black people and changed how the rest of the world saw us. Her life is a good example to follow. People will miss you. Stay strong.” While someone else pointed out that Nichols and her co-star William Shatner were the first people of different races to kiss on TV. This was a brave move on her part at the time “Nichelle Nichols was part of the first kiss between two people of different races that was shown on TV. As she got older, she became more convinced that black don’t crack. When another important part of my childhood dies, it makes me sad. Sail on, madam.”
According to the National Space Society, where Nichols was on the board of governors, she was born Grace Nichols in Illinois and found by composer and musician Duke Ellington when she was a teenager dancing and choreographing in Chicago.
Nichols was in the movie “Porgy and Bess” in 1959 and the TV show “The Lieutenant” in 1964. She was on the first season of “Star Trek” in 1966. At first, she thought about leaving the show because she thought her character didn’t have enough depth. But when she met Martin Luther King Jr., who liked the show, she changed her mind and decided to stay. And in 1991, Nichols was the first African American woman to have her handprints put in stone at the TCL Chinese Theatre.