Lt. Uhura dead.

[RAF4EVER]

Trailblazing Star Trek actress Nichelle Nichols dies at 89.

 

American actress Nichelle Nichols, best known for her role in 1960s sci-fi TV series Star Trek, has died aged 89.

Ms Nichols broke barriers in her role as Lieutenant Uhura in the series, becoming one of the first black actresses in the US to play a figure in authority.

She was later employed by Nasa in an effort to encourage more women and African-Americans to become astronauts.

She died of natural causes on Saturday night, her son Kyle Johnson said.

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.

"Her light however, 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."

The Star Trek TV series broke down stereotypes in the 1960s by casting black and minority actors in high-profile roles.

Ms Nicholls was cast in the series as Lt Uhura, who was portrayed as a competent and level-headed communications officer - shattering stereotypes.

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.

Despite her success, however, Ms Nicholls had initially considered leaving the show. But she was convinced otherwise by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who described her as the "first non-stereotypical role portrayed by a black woman in television history".

She went onto feature in the first six Star Trek movies following the series' end in 1969.

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.

[Black Knight]

You've said it all

What we see on the screens today as 'normal' really only started with Nichelle

She showed the way for both women and coloured people

and it was also the show's producers who took the risk of destroying stereotypes by making her a 'Bridge Officer'

[stevehnz]

Saw this on the telly tonight, she was quite the girl in many ways. RIP Lt Uhura.

Steve.

[RobL]

RIP

[Vince1159]

16 hours ago, RAF4EVER said:

Ms Nicholls also became an ambassador for the US space agency Nasa, helping to recruit women and minorities to its Space programme.

I'm a big fan of the original ST but didn't know that,fantastic...RIP...

[Mark Harmsworth]

This is worth a read:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-62373143

 

And the name is Uhura not Uhara - could you correct the title?

[Tzulscha]

😭

[bentwaters81tfw]

And to think she survived all those landing parties.

[Mike]

We're currently exposing the Lad to his first watch of Old Skool Star Trek, and he's loving it.  Such a shame to lose her.  There can't be many people that were in the original show left now, apart from The Big Giant Head, sorry I meant James Kirk.

[Markh-75]

In the words of Spock; Live long and prosper. She did, and has.

[One 48]

RIP Remember her well, the original Star Trek and its follow on films were the only ones I watched, she was a good actor and important member of the cast, glad she lived to a good old age.