Star Trek actress Nichelle Nichols dies at 89

Nichelle Nichols has died at the age of 89. She played Nyota Uhura in the original Star Trek series.

Actress Nichelle Nichols, best known for her role as Nyota Uhura in the original Star Trek series, has died. His son Kyle Johnson shared the information: “I regret to inform you that the great star in the sky no longer shines for us after so many years,” he wrote on Instagram. “She’s had a full life and has always been a role model for all of us.”Nichelle Nichols was 89 years old when she died of natural causes on July 30th.

Nichelle Nichols dies at 89

To say that Nichelle Nichols was a pioneer is an understatement. She came to Hollywood at a time when opportunities for black women were scarce. In an interview given well before the end of the original Star Trek series, she explained that she considered leaving the show several times during the first season to pursue a career on Broadway, but an encounter with Martin Luther King Jr. made her change her mind. opinion. A big fan of the series, he saw Nichelle Nichols as a model, so when she told him she wanted to leave, he did everything to convince her to continue.

She played Nyota Uhura in the original Star Trek series.

In addition to her iconic role in the original Star Trek series and movie sequels, as well as appearances on shows like Heroes or Futurama, Nichelle Nichols has worked with NASA for decades helping the US space agency diversify its talent pool. She also attended the christening of the Space Shuttle Enterprise in 1976, along with Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry and most of the series’ cast. In 2015, she even flew eight hours aboard NASA’s SOFIA telescope.

We will definitely miss Nichelle Nichols. Our thoughts are with his loved ones and family.

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

— NASA (@NASA) July 31, 2022