She played Lieutenant Uhura |
“Star Trek” star Nichelle Nichols died (89).
“Star Trek” star Nichelle Nichols is according to media reports passed away on Saturday at the age of 89.
Nichols’ son Kylie Johnson announced the sad news on Sunday.
On Instagram, Johnson wrote about a photo showing his famous mother’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame: “Friends, fans, colleagues, world. I am sorry to inform you that a great light in the firmament no longer shines for us. Last night my mother died of natural causes. However, their light will remain with us, like the ancient galaxies we are now seeing for the first time, for generations to come to learn from and be inspired by.”
She had a fulfilled life and was “a role model for all of us”. The funeral will take place in the closest family circle.
Nichelle Nichols 2011
As Lieutenant Uhura, she made history twice over
As Lieutenant Uhura, Nichelle Nichols wrote film history: In the TV series “Star Trek” she played one of the first black women in a leadership position.
Even more: Nichols was the first black woman to kiss a white man on US television in 1968 with William Shatner (91) as Captain Kirk. The scene caused a scandal.
Even if the kiss was only hinted at, it caused a scandal in prudish America in the 1960s
Nichelle Nichols, who later released several jazz albums, starred in more Star Trek movies after the series ended. She was also seen in the TV series “Heroes” and in the TV movie “Sharknado 5: Global Swarming”. In the comic series “The Simpsons” and “Futurama” she was heard as a guest speaker.
The actress also worked for the US space agency NASA, where she was responsible for recruiting young astronauts.