Nichelle Nichols Passed Away!

Nichelle Nichols passed away at the age of 89.

A legendary actress who starred in the sci-fi drama Star Trek passed away at the age of 89.

Nichelle Nichols had died of natural causes. 

Her son, Kyle Johnson confirmed on social media that his mother had passed away after succumbing to natural causes. 

"I regret to inform you that a great light in the firmament no longer shines for us as it has for so many years," he posted on Nichols official Facebook page.

Nichelle Nichols played Uhura on Star Trek.

Nichelle played Nyota Uhura in the Star Trek: The Original Series and it was groundbreaking for an African American woman to be on American television. An attractive Black woman in go go boots and mini skirt was instant attraction for male viewers. No doubt.

Born Grace Dell Nichols, Nichelle was the third of six children in 1932 in Robbins, Illinois. 

After graduating Englewood High School in 1951, Nichelle took an interest in acting. She had her break through the 1961 Kicks and Co., an Oscar Brown musical that didn't fare well but is remarkable.

She would end up doing a thinly satire of a Playboy model named Hazel Sharpe, a voluptuous campus queen who was tempted by the devil and Orgy Magazine to be the "Maiden of the Month."

Hugh Hefner saw interest in her and invited her to the Playboy Club Chicago. She also played in productions of Carmen Jones and Porgy and Bess.

Her beauty and style graced the cover of Ebony Magazine in 1967 and it led to television roles and then of course, Star Trek.

We lived long and prospered together. pic.twitter.com/MgLjOeZ98X

— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) July 31, 2022

We celebrate the life of Nichelle Nichols, Star Trek actor, trailblazer, and role model, who symbolized to so many what was possible. She partnered with us to recruit some of the first women and minority astronauts, and inspired generations to reach for the stars. pic.twitter.com/pmQaKDb5zw

— NASA (@NASA) July 31, 2022

At first, she found the series distasteful. She felt that she was reducing her Broadway role for a "damsel in distress" type of role. She was encouraged by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to stay on the show and continue. She felt that being a Trekkie was a good thing for Black children. It also inspired African Americans to get into space.

Mae Jemison said that Nichelle gave her inspiration to become a NASA astronaut.

Nichelle also had did the iconic kiss with William Shatner which broke ground in interracial relationships.

Nichelle also continued on acting throughout her time once Star Trek was cancelled. She appeared in the Isaac Hayes' movie Truck Turner in which she played Dorinda, a madam of a prostitution brothel rivaling against lethal large scale pimp Harvard Blue played by Yaphet Kotto.  

Former President Barack Obama gave the Vulcan salute with Nichelle.

She had reprised her role in Star Trek in the feature films opposite Shatner, George Takei and Leonard Nimoy. The sequels, The Wrath of Khan, The Search for Spock, The Voyage Home, The Final Frontier and Undiscovered Country were also released with her playing her role as Uhura.

She also voiced on Disney's Gargoyles as Diana Maza, the mother of NYPD detective Elisa Maza. 

Nichelle was not the only voice on the show who had ties to Star Trek. Some of the voices were on Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Voyager and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. There were Marina Sirtis (TNG), Jonathan Frakes (TNG), Michael Dorn (TNG), Kate Mulgrew (Voyager), Brent Spiner (TNG), Avery Brooks (DS9), Colm Meaney (TNG) and LeVar Burton (TNG).

She also had guest voice roles on The Simpsons, Futurama and Batman: The Animated Series.

She had a recurring role on the cult action drama Heroes. 

Nichelle also had a singing career. She released two albums. Down to Earth and Out of This World.

Nichelle was a honorary member of NASA. She was recruited as an influencer. She was part of the Women in Motion program which gave inspiration to Christa McAuliffe, Ronald McNair and Judith Resnick, the astronauts who died in the 1986 Challenger explosion.

Nichelle continued acting until 2020. She had suffered a mild stroke in 2015. 

Nichelle leaves behind her son, actor Kyle Johnson. She was married to Foster Johnson and Duke Mondy. She a relationship with Gene Roddenberry, the creator of Star Trek during the show's run.

She broke it off with Roddenberry after she found out he was dating Majel Barrett, whom he later married.