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Nichelle Nichols, Lieutenant Uhura on ‘Star Trek,’ Dies at 89

She was among the first Black women to have a leading role in a TV series. She later worked with NASA to recruit minorities for the space program.

By Bruce Weber

Nichelle Nichols, the actress revered by “Star Trek” fans for her role as Lieutenant Uhura, the communications officer on the starship U.S.S. Enterprise, died on Saturday in Silver City, N.M. She was 89.

The cause was heart failure, said Sky Conway, a writer and a film producer who said he had been asked by Kyle Johnson, Ms. Nichols’s son, to speak for the family.

Ms. Nichols had a long career as an entertainer, beginning as a teenage supper-club singer and dancer in Chicago, her hometown, and later appearing on television.

But she will forever be best remembered for her work on “Star Trek,” the cult-inspiring space adventure series that aired from 1966 to 1969 and starred William Shatner as Captain Kirk, the heroic leader of the starship crew; Leonard Nimoy as his science officer and adviser, Mr. Spock, an ultralogical humanoid from the planet Vulcan; and DeForest Kelley as Dr. McCoy, a.k.a. Bones, the ship’s physician.

A striking beauty, Ms. Nichols provided a frisson of sexiness on the bridge of the Enterprise. She was generally clad in a snug red doublet and black tights; Ebony magazine called her the “most heavenly body in ‘Star Trek’” on its 1967 cover. Her role, however, was both substantial and historically significant.

Uhura was an officer and a highly educated and well-trained technician who maintained a businesslike demeanor while performing her high-minded duties. Ms. Nichols was among the first Black women to have a leading role on a network television series, making her an anomaly on the small screen, which until that time had rarely depicted Black women in anything other than subservient roles.

In a November 1968 episode, during the show’s third and final season, Captain Kirk and Lieutenant Uhura are forced to embrace by the inhabitants of a strange planet, resulting in what is widely thought to be the first interracial kiss in television history.

Ms. Nichols’s first appearances on “Star Trek” predated the 1968 sitcom “Julia,” in which Diahann Carroll, playing a widowed mother who works as a nurse, became the first Black woman to star in a non-stereotypical role in a network series.

(A series called “Beulah,” also called “The Beulah Show,” starring Ethel Waters — and later Louise Beavers and Hattie McDaniel — as the maid for a white family, was broadcast on ABC in the early 1950s and subsequently cited by civil rights activists for its demeaning portraits of Black people.)

But Uhura’s influence reached far beyond television. In 1977, Ms. Nichols began an association with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, contracting as a representative and speaker to help recruit female and minority candidates for spaceflight training; the following year’s class of astronaut candidates was the first to include women and members of minority groups.

In subsequent years, Ms. Nichols made public appearances and recorded public service announcements on behalf of the agency. In 2012, after she was the keynote speaker at the Goddard Space Center during a celebration of African American History Month, a NASA news release about the event lauded her help for the cause of diversity in space exploration.

“Nichols’s role as one of television’s first Black characters to be more than just a stereotype and one of the first women in a position of authority (she was fourth in command of the Enterprise) inspired thousands of applications from women and minorities,” the release said. “Among them: Ronald McNair, Frederick Gregory, Judith Resnik, first American woman in space Sally Ride and current NASA administrator Charlie Bolden.”

Grace Dell Nichols was born in Robbins, Ill., on Dec. 28, 1932 (some sources give a later year), and grew up in Chicago. Her father, a chemist, was the mayor of Robbins for a time. At 13 or 14, tired of being called Gracie by her friends, she requested a different name from her mother, who liked Michelle but suggested Nichelle for the alliteration.

Ms. Nichols was a ballet dancer as a child and had a singing voice with a naturally wide range — more than four octaves, she later said. While attending Englewood High School in Chicago she landed her first professional gig, in a revue at the College Inn, a well-known nightspot in the city.

There she was seen by Duke Ellington, who employed her a year or two later with his touring orchestra as a dancer in one of his jazz suites.

Ms. Nichols appeared in several musical theater productions around the country during the 1950s. In an interview with the Archive of American Television, she recalled performing at the Playboy Club in New York City while serving as an understudy for Ms. Carroll in the Broadway musical “No Strings” (though she never went on).

In 1959, she was a dancer in Otto Preminger’s film version of “Porgy and Bess.” She made her television debut in 1963 in an episode of “The Lieutenant,” a short-lived dramatic series, created by Gene Roddenberry, about Marines at Camp Pendleton. Mr. Roddenberry went on to create “Star Trek.”

Ms. Nichols appeared on other television shows over the years — among them “Peyton Place” (1966), “Head of the Class” (1988) and “Heroes” (2007). She also appeared onstage in Los Angeles, including in a one-woman show in which she did impressions of, and paid homage to, Black female entertainers who preceded her, including Lena Horne, Pearl Bailey and Eartha Kitt.

But Uhura was to be her legacy. A decade after “Star Trek” went off the air, Ms. Nichols reprised the role in “Star Trek: The Motion Picture,” and she appeared as Uhura, by then a commander, in five subsequent movie sequels through 1991.

Besides her son, her survivors include two sisters, Marian Smothers and Diane Robinson.

Ms. Nichols was married and divorced twice. In her 1995 autobiography, “Beyond Uhura: Star Trek and Other Memories,” she disclosed that she and Mr. Roddenberry, who died in 1991, had been romantically involved for a time. In an interview in 2010 for the Archive of American Television, she said that he had little to do with her casting in “Star Trek” but that he defended her when studio executives wanted to replace her.

When she took the role of Uhura, Ms. Nichols said, she thought of it as a mere job at the time, valuable as a résumé enhancer; she fully intended to return to the stage, as she wanted a career on Broadway. Indeed, she threatened to leave the show after its first season and submitted her resignation to Mr. Roddenberry. He told her to think it over for a few days.

In a story she often told, she was a guest that Saturday night at an event in Beverly Hills, Calif. — “I believe it was an N.A.A.C.P. fund-raiser,” she recalled in the Archive interview — where the organizer introduced her to someone he described as “your biggest fan.”

“He’s desperate to meet you,” she recalled the organizer saying.

The fan, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., introduced himself.

“He said, ‘We admire you greatly, you know,’ ” Ms. Nichols said, and she thanked him and told him that she was about to leave the show. “He said, ‘You cannot. You cannot.’”

Dr. King told her that her role as a dignified, authoritative figure in a popular show was too important to the cause of civil rights for her to forgo. As Ms. Nichols recalled it, he said, “For the first time, we will be seen on television the way we should be seen every day.”

On Monday morning, she returned to Mr. Roddenberry’s office and told him what had happened.

“And I said, ‘If you still want me to stay, I’ll stay. I have to.’”

Eduardo Medina contributed reporting.

An earlier version of this obituary misspelled the surname of one of the astronauts NASA said were inspired to join the American space program by Ms. Nichols’s role on “Star Trek.” She was Judith Resnik, not Resnick.

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Nichelle Nichols, groundbreaking 'Star Trek' actor, dead at 89

Nichelle Nichols, the groundbreaking actor who played Lieutenant Nyota Uhura on the original "Star Trek" series, has died.

She was 89.

Nichols' death was confirmed on Sunday by her son, Kyle Johnson, on her website. Johnson said his mother died of natural causes.

"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," Johnson said in a statement posted to the website.

Johnson said his mother's life was "well-lived and as such a model for" everyone. He asked for privacy for the family.

Nichols and her “Star Trek” character Uhura broke barriers as one of the first Black female leads on television.

Rod Roddenberry, executive producer of the current iterations of "Star Trek" and son of the show's creator Gene Roddenberry mourned Nichols' passing on Sunday.

"It is with great sorrow that we report the passing on the legendary icon Nichelle Nichols," he tweeted. "No words."

Nichols, was born in Illinois as Grace Nichols. She was discovered in Chicago by composer and musician Duke Ellington as a teenager while working as a dancer and choreographer, according to the National Space Society , for which Nichols was on the board of governors.

"As I learned to believe in my talent, my voice, myself, I learned that I could make others believe as well," Nichols wrote on her website .

Prior to appearing in "Star Trek," Nichols was an accomplished dancer but only had a handful of acting roles.

Nichols appeared on "Star Trek" in its debut season in 1966. Initially, she considered leaving the show, feeling her character lacked depth. However, after meeting Martin Luther King, Jr., who was a fan of the show, she decided to stay.

It was then she worked alongside Roddenberry to give Uhura revolutionary authority and dominance, something not seen prior in that era of television.

"When I was on those wonderful sets with all of the cast members, the universe of Star Trek began to feel not so much a fantasy but an opportunity to lay the groundwork for what we might actually achieve by the 23rd Century … a bold aspiration and an affirmation of Uhura as we eagerly await her arrival," Nichols wrote on her website.

One moment that broke boundaries, in 1968, was a kiss between Nichols' Uhura and and William Shatner's Capt. James T. Kirk on the episode “Plato’s Stepchildren.” The episode helped to re-shape what viewers thought of as acceptable on television and was an early statement about the acceptance of interracial marriages.

After the original "Star Trek" ended, Nichols became a spokesperson for NASA, according to her website. She helped to recruit astronauts and appeared in PSAs.

NASA credited Nichols with helping to recruit Sally Ride and Frederick Gregory, according to the Los Angeles Times .

"In motivating them as others once did me, it’s as if my life had come back, full circle, to where the dreams of a young woman began," she wrote about the experience on her website.

On Sunday NASA memorialized Nichols as a global inspiration who helped it evolve.

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

In her autobiography, she wrote that she loved attending "Star Trek" conventions, the LA Times reported.

Following news of her death, co-stars and admirers alike mourned her loss.

"I shall have more to say about the trailblazing, incomparable Nichelle Nichols, who shared the bridge with us as Lt. Uhura of the USS Enterprise, and who passed today at age 89. For today, my heart is heavy, my eyes shining like the stars you now rest among, my dearest friend," tweeted George Takei, who played alongside Nichols as "Star Trek" helmsman Hikaru Sulu.

Bernice King, daughter of Martin Luther King, Jr., praised Nichols for her representation.

"Representation matters. Excellence in representation matters even more. Thank you, #NichelleNichols ," she wrote. "Rest well, ancestor."

Kalhan Rosenblatt is a reporter covering youth and internet culture for NBC News, based in New York.

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Nichelle Nichols, Lt. Uhura on 'Star Trek,' dies at 89

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Nichelle Nichols made history for her role as communications officer Lt. Uhura on Star Trek. CBS via Getty Images hide caption

Nichelle Nichols made history for her role as communications officer Lt. Uhura on Star Trek.

Actress and singer Nichelle Nichols, best known as Star Trek 's communications officer Lieutenant Uhura, died Saturday night in Silver City, New Mexico. She was 89 years old.

"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 son Kyle Johnson wrote on the website Uhura.com . "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."

Nichols was one of the first Black women featured in a major television series, and her role as Lt. Nyota Uhura on the original TV series was groundbreaking: an African American woman whose name came from Uhuru, the Swahili word for "freedom."

"Here I was projecting in the 23rd century what should have been quite simple," Nichols told NPR in 2011 . "We're on a starship. I was head communications officer. Fourth in command on a starship. They didn't see this as being, oh, it doesn't happen til the 23rd century. Young people and adults saw it as now."

In 1968, Nichols made headlines when Uhura shared an intimate kiss with Captain James T. Kirk (played by William Shatner) in an episode called "Plato's Stepchildren." Their interracial kiss on the lips was revolutionary, one of the first such moments on TV.

Nichelle Nichols shared one of the first interracial kisses in TV history with William Shatner.

Nichols was born Grace Dell Nichols in a Chicago suburb where her father was the mayor. She grew up singing and dancing, aspiring to star in musical theater. She got her first break in the 1961 musical Kicks and Co ., a thinly veiled satire of Playboy magazine. She was the star of the Chicago stock company production of Carmen Jones, and in New York performed in Porgy and Bess .

'To me, the highlight and the epitome of my life as a singer and actor and a dancer/choreographer was to star on Broadway," she told NPR in 2011, adding that as her popularity on Star Trek grew, she was beginning to get other offers. "I decided I was going to leave, go to New York and make my way on the Broadway stage."

Nichols said she went to Gene Roddenberry, the creator of Star Trek , and announced she was quitting. "He was very upset about it. And he said, take the weekend and think about what I am trying to achieve here in this show. You're an integral part and very important to it."

The Two-Way

For mlk day: 'lt. uhura' on how rev. king told her to stay on 'star trek'.

So that weekend, she went to an NAACP fundraiser in Beverly Hills and was asked to meet a man who said he was her number one fan: Martin Luther King, Jr.

"He complimented me on the manner in which I'd created the character. I thanked him, and I think I said something like, 'Dr. King, I wish I could be out there marching with you.' He said, 'no, no, no. No, you don't understand. We don't need you ... to march. You are marching. You are reflecting what we are fighting for.' So, I said to him, 'thank you so much. And I'm going to miss my co-stars.'"

"His face got very, very serious," she recalled. "And he said, 'what are you talking about?' And I said, 'well, I told Gene just yesterday that I'm going to leave the show after the first year because I've been offered... And he stopped me and said: 'You cannot do that.' I was stunned. He said, 'don't you understand what this man has achieved? For the first time, we are being seen the world over as we should be seen. He says, do you understand that this is the only show that my wife Coretta and I will allow our little children to stay up and watch.' I was speechless."

Nichols returned to the series, which lasted until 1969. She also reprised her famous role in six subsequent feature films, including Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan , where Uhura was promoted to commander .

Much More Than A 5-Year Mission: 'Star Trek' Turns 50

For years, Nichols also helped diversify the real-life space program, helping to recruit astronauts Sally Ride, Judith Resnik, Guion Bluford, and others. And she had her own science foundation, Women in Motion .

"Many actors become stars, but few stars can move a nation," tweeted actress Lynda Carter, who played Wonder Woman on TV in the 1970s. "Nichelle Nichols showed us the extraordinary power of Black women and paved the way for a better future for all women in media. Thank you, Nichelle. We will miss you."

George Takei, who costarred on Star Trek as helmsman Hikaru Sulu tweeted: "I shall have more to say about the trailblazing, incomparable Nichelle Nichols, who shared the bridge with us as Lt. Uhura of the USS Enterprise," her wrote. "For today, my heart is heavy, my eyes shining like the stars you now rest among, my dearest friend."

He also posted a photo of his longtime friend, both of them flashing the Vulcan greeting, and these words: "We lived long and prospered together."

We lived long and prospered together. pic.twitter.com/MgLjOeZ98X — George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) July 31, 2022

Nichelle Nichols, who played Lt. Uhura on ‘Star Trek,’ dies at 89

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Nichelle Nichols, who played the communications officer on the Starship Enterprise on “Star Trek” and famously participated in what was thought to be the first interracial kiss on television, has died.

Nichols died of heart failure Saturday night at a hospital in Silver City, N.M., a friend of the family handling media inquiries for Nichols’ son confirmed Sunday to the Los Angeles Times. She was 89.

Nichols suffered a stroke at her Woodland Hills home in 2015 and was struggling with dementia. She had been in a years-long conservatorship battle that pitted the son, Kyle Johnson, against a former manager and a close friend. Last year Johnson moved Nichols to New Mexico, citing the need to protect his mother from what he called exploitation by the manager and others.

Nichols gained fame as the beautiful, composed, immensely competent Lt. Uhura on three seasons of “Star Trek” on TV and in six “Star Trek” movies. A Black American cast as a master of 23rd century intergalactic technology, she had a role that defied the typical portrayal of Black women as domestics or entertainers. When she contemplated leaving the show for a Broadway play after its first season, she was dissuaded by none other than the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

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When they met at an NAACP fundraising event in Beverly Hills, King was appalled when she spoke of quitting, according to Nichols’ 2010 reminiscence on the Archive of American Television.

“The world sees us for the first time as we should be seen,” King told her. “Gene Roddenberry [‘Star Trek’s’ creator] has opened a door. If you leave, that door can be closed. Your role is not a Black role and not a female role — he can fill it with anything, including an alien.”

“I could say nothing,” she recalled. “I just stood there, realizing that every word he said was the truth.”

“He told me that it was the only show that he and his wife, Coretta, would allow their little children to stay up and watch,” Nichols recounted to CNN years later. More important, the Nobel Prize winner told Nichols that she was breaking important new ground for Black Americans and had to keep doing it.

“For the first time,” King told her, “the world sees us as we should be seen. This is what we’re marching for.”

Comic-Con 2018: Nichelle Nichols reveals how Martin Luther King Jr. convinced her to stay on ‘Star Trek’

Before “Black Panther,” Nichelle Nichols began paving the way for afro-futurism and black representation in pop culture.

July 20, 2018

“Besides,” said King, who confessed to being a huge “Star Trek” fan, “you’re the fourth in command — you’re the head communications officer.”

Days later, she told Roddenberry she’d changed her mind.

“He took out my resignation letter, which was torn into a hundred pieces, and handed me the pile. I said, ‘Thank you, Gene.’ ”

Nichols came to embrace her role and appeared at “Star Trek” events throughout her life. She became an eloquent advocate for the U.S. space program and led a successful drive to recruit women and minorities into astronaut training.

“My heart is heavy, my eyes shining like the stars you now rest among, my dearest friend,” her “Star Trek” co-star George Takei wrote Sunday on Twitter, calling Nichols an incomparable trailblazer.

Elegant, assertive and capable of rigging up a subspace bypass circuit in practically no time at all, Uhura inspired a generation of Black women. Comedian Whoopi Goldberg, on first seeing Nichols when she was about 9, remembered running through the house yelling, “Everybody, come quick, come quick — there’s a Black lady on television and she ain’t no maid!”

After only three seasons, “Star Trek” was canceled in 1969. In its afterlife, it became far more popular, sparking additional TV series and more than a dozen feature films.

Nichols appeared in 66 episodes of the original “Star Trek.” She was popular fixture at “Star Trek” conventions, where fans asked her about one plot point more than any others: the long clinch between Uhura and Capt. James Kirk that was widely thought to be TV’s first interracial kiss.

The first thing people want to talk about is the first interracial kiss and what it did for them.

— Nichelle Nichols

“The first thing people want to talk about is the first interracial kiss and what it did for them,” she said in a 2010 interview for the Archive of American Television. “And they thought of the world differently — they thought of people differently.”

First aired on Nov. 22, 1968, the episode called “Plato’s Stepchildren” featured a race of aliens who worshiped the earthly philosopher Plato. In their study of humanity, they wanted to observe human intimacy — and telekinetically forced Uhura and Kirk, played by William Shatner, to kiss.

By the standards of the day, it was a potentially explosive scene. Just one year earlier, the Supreme Court struck down state bans on interracial marriage. “Star Trek” producers were so worried about public reaction that they tried to film one version of the scene with the kiss and another with only an embrace, for use on stations in the South.

However, the kiss-less approach was thwarted when, in take after take, Nichols and Shatner deliberately flubbed their lines.

In her autobiography, “Beyond Uhura,” Nichols recalled Shatner hamming it up strategically: “Bill shook me and hissed menacingly in his best ham-fisted Kirkian staccato delivery, ‘I! WON’T! KISS! YOU! I! WON’T! KISS! YOU!’ It was absolutely awful, and we were hysterical and ecstatic.”

Finally, a seemingly usable take was filmed and everyone went home for the evening. Only the next day did producers realize that Shatner had crossed his eyes as the camera caught his face during the non-kiss. At that point, executives abandoned their Southern strategy.

“I guess they figured we were going to be canceled in a few months anyway,” Nichols said. “And so the kiss stayed.”

The anticipated backlash never arose. The scene became more famous as time went on, even though TV historians point to a number of previous, less heralded, interracial TV kisses, including a peck on the cheek from Sammy Davis Jr. to Nancy Sinatra a few months earlier.

Nichelle Nichols, turning 85 today and still busy acting, talks about life after ‘Star Trek’

Dec. 28, 2017

Born into a large family in Robbins, Ill., on Dec. 28, 1932, Grace Dell Nichols adopted the name Nichelle as a teenager. Her father, Samuel Nichols, served as mayor and chief magistrate of the small Chicago suburb, which was founded in 1917 as a haven for Black American families.

A student of ballet and Afro-Cuban dancing, young Nichelle appeared in a revue at Chicago’s Sherman House hotel, where she caught the eye of the renowned Duke Ellington. As a teenager, she sang and danced with Ellington’s touring company and later performed with jazz great Lionel Hampton’s orchestra.

In the 1950s, Nichols appeared at nightclubs throughout the U.S. and Canada. She did an opening act for comedian Redd Foxx and danced in Otto Preminger’s screen version of “Porgy and Bess” in 1959. In 1963, she was cast in an episode of “The Lieutenant,” a TV show written by Gene Roddenberry , who later created “Star Trek.” The two had a fleeting romance that turned into a longtime friendship; in 1966, he asked her to join the crew of the Starship Enterprise.

They agreed to name her character Uhura — a variant of Uhuru, a Swahili word for freedom.

After one season, Nichols was fed up. Her character didn’t seem all that important and her lines were sparse. Besides, her heart lay in musical comedies and she yearned for Broadway.

A New Enterprise : Nichelle Nichols reflects on her influences, from Josephine Baker to Mahalia Jackson

Nichelle Nichols, mercurially slipping in and out of wigs and costumes, vocally unleashes Ella and Eartha and Lena and Bessie and 10 other lustrous women of song in a unique cabaret show at the Westwood Playhouse that takes Nichols back to her musical theater roots.

Feb. 18, 1990

She stuck it out, though, through the very last episode. “When you have a man like Martin Luther King say you can’t leave a show, it’s daunting,” she told USA Today in 1994. “It humbled my heart and I couldn’t leave.”

The year after their chance meeting at the NAACP banquet, Nichols sang at King’s funeral.

After the original “Star Trek” ended, Nichols embraced her role at “Star Trek” events. At a Trek convention in Chicago, a talk by NASA scientist Jesco von Puttkamer inspired her to embrace NASA as well.

“For someone who used to think that the only civilian benefits of the space program were Teflon and Tang, it’s funny that I became a NASA missionary,” she told the Chicago Tribune years later.

A recruitment drive led by Nichols in 1977 drew applications from more than 2,600 women and minority astronaut hopefuls. They included Sally Ride , the first American woman in space; and three of the astronauts who died in the 1986 Challenger space shuttle explosion: Judith Resnik, Ronald McNair and Ellison Onizuka .

Nichols married tap dancer Foster Johnson in 1951 and songwriter Duke Mondy in 1968. Both marriages ended in divorce. A brother, Thomas Nichols, died in the 1997 mass suicide of the Heaven’s Gate cult at Rancho Santa Fe, near San Diego. Survivors include son Kyle, whose announcement of Nichols’ death likened his mother’s light to “the ancient galaxies now being seen for the first time” — something from which present and future generations could “enjoy, learn from, and draw inspiration.”

Inside the heartbreaking conservatorship battle of a ‘Star Trek’ legend

Nichelle Nichols, the beloved Lt. Uhura on ‘Star Trek,’ is living with dementia and struggling financially. Three parties fight to control her fate.

Aug. 15, 2021

In addition to her “Star Trek” and NASA work, Nichols recorded an album, wrote two science fiction novels and created “Reflections,” a one-woman stage tribute to Black American singers including Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith, Josephine Baker, Mahalia Jackson, Ella Fitzgerald, Lena Horne — and herself.

But Nichols’ most lasting legacy may be in the memories of people like Mae C. Jemison, an astronaut who became a close friend.

In 1992, Jemison boarded the space shuttle Endeavour and became the first Black American woman in space. In a tribute to the woman who had inspired her, Jemison started each shift of her eight-day trip with the announcement that had become Nichols’ signature line as the Enterprise blazed past strange new worlds:

“Hailing frequencies open!”

Chawkins is a former Times staff writer.

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A former obituary writer, Steve Chawkins joined the Los Angeles Times in 1987 after working as a reporter and editor at the Santa Fe Reporter in New Mexico and the Rocky Mountain News in Denver. He has been a roving state correspondent and a columnist and reporter in the Ventura County edition. He also was managing editor of the Ventura Star-Free Press. He graduated in 1969 from Trinity College in Hartford, Conn. Chawkins left The Times in 2015.

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Nichelle Nichols, who played Uhura in Star Trek franchise, dies at 89

She helped break ground on tv by showing a black woman in a position of authority and who shared with co-star william shatner one of the first interracial kisses on american prime-time television.

Nichelle Nichols, an actress whose role as the communications chief Uhura in the original Star Trek franchise in the 1960s helped break ground on TV by showing a Black woman in a position of authority and who shared with co-star William Shatner one of the first interracial kisses on American prime-time television, died July 30 in Silver City, N.M. She was 89.

Her son, Kyle Johnson, announced the death on Facebook . Her former agent Zachery McGinnis also confirmed the death but did not have further details. Ms. Nichols had a stroke in 2015.

Ms. Nichols, a statuesque dancer and nightclub chanteuse, had a few acting credits when she was cast in “Star Trek.” She said she viewed the TV series as a “nice steppingstone” to Broadway stardom, hardly anticipating that a low-tech science-fiction show would become a cultural touchstone and bring her enduring recognition.

“Star Trek” was barrier-breaking in many ways. While other network programs of the era offered domestic witches and talking horses, “Star Trek” delivered allegorical tales about violence, prejudice and war — the roiling social issues of the era — in the guise of a 23rd-century intergalactic adventure. The show featured Black and Asian cast members in supporting but nonetheless visible, non-stereotypical roles.

Ms. Nichols worked with series creator Gene Roddenberry, her onetime lover, to imbue Uhura with authority — a striking departure for a Black TV actress when “Star Trek” debuted on NBC in 1966. Actress Whoopi Goldberg often said that when she saw “Star Trek” as an adolescent, she screamed to her family, “Come quick, come quick. There’s a Black lady on television and she ain’t no maid!”

On the bridge of the starship Enterprise, in a red minidress that permitted her to flaunt her dancer’s legs, Ms. Nichols stood out among the otherwise all-male officers. Uhura was presented matter-of-factly as fourth in command, exemplifying a hopeful future when Blacks would enjoy full equality.

The show received middling reviews and ratings and was canceled after three seasons, but it became a TV mainstay in syndication. An animated “Star Trek” aired in the early 1970s, with Ms. Nichols voicing Uhura. Communities of fans known as “Trekkies” or “Trekkers” soon burst forth at large-scale conventions where they dressed in character.

Ms. Nichols reprised Uhura, promoted from lieutenant to commander, in six feature films between 1979 and 1991 that helped make “Star Trek” a juggernaut. She was joined by much of the original cast, which included Shatner as the heroic captain, James T. Kirk, and Leonard Nimoy as the half-human, half-Vulcan science officer Spock; DeForest Kelley as the acerbic Dr. McCoy; George Takei as the Enterprise’s helmsman, Sulu; James Doohan as the chief engineer, Scotty; and Walter Koenig as the navigator, Chekov.

Ms. Nichols said Roddenberry allowed her to name Uhura, which she said was a feminized version of a Swahili word for “freedom.” She envisioned her character as a renowned linguist who, from a blinking console on the bridge, presides over a hidden communications staff in the spaceship’s bowels.

But by the end of the first season, she said, her role had been reduced to little more than a “glorified telephone operator in space,” remembered for her oft-quoted line to the captain, “Hailing frequencies open, sir.”

In her 1994 memoir, “ Beyond Uhura ,” she said that, during filming, her lines and those of other supporting actors were routinely cut. She blamed Shatner, whom she called an “insensitive, hurtful egotist” who used his star billing to hog the spotlight. She also said studio personnel tried to undermine her contract negotiating power by hiding her ample fan mail.

Years later, Ms. Nichols claimed in interviews that she had threatened to quit during the first season but reconsidered after meeting civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. at an NAACP fundraiser. She said he introduced himself as a fan and grew visibly horrified when she explained her desire to abandon her role, one of the few nonservile parts for Blacks on television.

“Because of Martin,” she told the “Entertainment Tonight” website, “I looked at work differently. There was something more than just a job.”

Her most prominent “Star Trek” moment came in a 1968 episode, “Plato’s Stepchildren,” about a group of “superior” beings who use mind control to make the visiting Enterprise crew submit to their will. They force Kirk and Uhura, platonic colleagues, to kiss passionately .

In later decades, Ms. Nichols and Shatner touted the smooch as a landmark event that was highly controversial within the network. It garnered almost no public attention at the time, perhaps because of the show’s tepid ratings but also because Hollywood films had already broken such taboos. A year before the “Star Trek” episode, NBC had aired Nancy Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. giving each other a peck on the lips during a TV special.

“Star Trek” went off the air in 1969, but Ms. Nichols’s continued association with Uhura at Trekkie conventions led to a NASA contract in 1977 to help recruit women and minorities to the nascent space shuttle astronaut corps.

NASA historians said its recruiting drive — the first since 1969 — had many prongs, and Ms. Nichols’s specific impact as a roving ambassador was modest. But the astronaut class of 1978 had six women, three Black men and one Asian American man among the 35 chosen.

Grace Dell Nichols, the daughter of a chemist and a homemaker, was born in Robbins, Ill., on Dec. 28, 1932, and grew up in nearby Chicago.

After studying classical ballet and Afro-Cuban dance, she made her professional debut at 14 at the College Inn, a high-society Chicago supper club. Her performance, in a tribute to the pioneering Black dancer Katherine Dunham, reputedly impressed bandleader Duke Ellington, who was in the audience. A few years later, newly re-christened Nichelle, she briefly appeared in his traveling show as a dancer and singer.

At 18, she married Foster Johnson, a tap dancer 15 years her senior. They had a son before divorcing. As a single mother, Ms. Nichols continued working the grind of the nightclub circuit.

In the late 1950s, she moved to Los Angeles and entered a cultural milieu that included Pearl Bailey, Sidney Poitier and Sammy Davis Jr., with whom she had what she described as a “short, stormy, exciting” affair. She landed an uncredited role in director Otto Preminger’s film version of “Porgy and Bess” (1959) and assisted her then-boyfriend, actor and director Frank Silvera, in his theatrical stagings.

In 1963, she won a guest role on “The Lieutenant,” an NBC military drama created by Roddenberry. She began an affair with Roddenberry, who was married, but broke things off when she discovered he was also seriously involved with actress Majel Barrett. “I could not be the other woman to the other woman,” she wrote in “Beyond Uhura.” (Roddenberry later married Barrett, who played a nurse on “Star Trek.”)

Ms. Nichols’s second marriage, to songwriter and arranger Duke Mondy, ended in divorce. Besides her son, Kyle Johnson, an actor who starred in writer-director Gordon Parks’s 1969 film “The Learning Tree,” a complete list of survivors was not immediately available.

After her role on “Star Trek,” Ms. Nichols played a hard-boiled madam opposite Isaac Hayes in the 1974 blaxploitation film “Truck Turner .” For many years, she performed a one-woman show honoring Black entertainers such as Lena Horne , Eartha Kitt and Leontyne Price. She also was credited as co-author of two science-fiction novels featuring a heroine named Saturna.

Ms. Nichols did not appear in director J.J. Abrams’s “Star Trek” film reboot that included actress Zoe Saldana as Uhura. But she gamely continued to promote the franchise and spoke with candor about her part in a role that eclipsed all her others.

“If you’ve got to be typecast,” Ms. Nichols told the UPI news service, “at least it’s someone with dignity.”

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Nichelle Nichols, who played Lt Uhura in original Star Trek, dies aged 89

Actor achieved worldwide fame and broke ground for Black women while playing Nyota Uhura in the original TV hit

Nichelle Nichols, who played communications officer Lt Nyota Uhura on the original Star Trek series and helped to create a new era for television in the 1960s, has died in New Mexico at the age of 89.

Nichols’ son, Kyle Johnson, announced her death on Sunday via Facebook , saying: “I regret to inform you that a great light in the firmament no longer shines for us as it has for so many years.” Nichols’s death, on Saturday night in Silver City, was later confirmed by her agent.

Johnson said his mother had succumbed to natural causes, seven years after suffered a stroke.

“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.”

Nichols will be remembered chiefly for her role in the sci-fi adventure series, but she began her career as a dancer and nightclub singer.

US president Joe Biden paid tribute to Nichols, saying she “shattered stereotypes”. “Our nation has lost a trailblazer of stage and screen who redefined what is possible for Black Americans and women”.

“Our nation is forever indebted to inspiring artists like Nichelle Nichols, who show us a future where unity, dignity, and respect are cornerstones of every society.”

Co-star George Takei tweeted that his heart was heavy, “my eyes shining like the stars you now rest among, my dearest friend” and he would have more to say soon on the “incomparable” trailblazer.

I shall have more to say about the trailblazing, incomparable Nichelle Nichols, who shared the bridge with us as Lt. Uhura of the USS Enterprise, and who passed today at age 89. For today, my heart is heavy, my eyes shining like the stars you now rest among, my dearest friend. — George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) July 31, 2022

Prominent Georgia Democrat and voting rights organizer Stacey Abrams , who is running again for the state governorship and is a longtime Star Trek fan, tweeted a picture of herself with Nichols.

“One of my most treasured photos – Godspeed to Nichelle Nichols, champion, warrior and tremendous actor. Her kindness and bravery lit the path for many,” she wrote. “May she forever dwell among the stars.”

One of my most treasured photos - Godspeed to Nichelle Nichols, champion, warrior and tremendous actor. Her kindness and bravery lit the path for many. May she forever dwell among the stars. #RIPNichelle #Uhura pic.twitter.com/nFXHif8HEC — Stacey Abrams (@staceyabrams) July 31, 2022

Star Trek brought Nichols enduring recognition and helped to break down some racial barriers in the television business, as they were rampant elsewhere.

She shared one of the first lip-to-lip interracial kisses on television – with co-star William Shatner, aka Captain Kirk. The kiss at the time was considered a forward-looking move on the part of the actors, as well as Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry and the network that broadcast the show, NBC.

The episode in question, titled Plato’s Stepchildren, aired in 1968 and was fashioned in a way that gave those involved something of an out from any potential discriminatory backlash: Uhura and Kirk did not choose to kiss but were instead made to do so after being inhabited by aliens.

Roddenberry had reportedly insisted on an integrated crew for Starship Enterprise – a bold move given that interracial marriage was still illegal in 17 US states. Only a year earlier, Variety reported, Sammy Davis Jr had gone no further than kiss Nancy Sinatra on the cheek on Movin’ With Nancy.

The original Star Trek premiered on NBC on 8 September 1966. Its multicultural, multiracial cast was creator Gene Roddenberry’s message to viewers that in the far-off future, the 23rd century, human diversity would be fully accepted.

“I think many people took it into their hearts … that what was being said on TV at that time was a reason to celebrate,” Nichols said in 1992 when a Star Trek exhibit was on view at the Smithsonian Institution.

She often recalled how civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr was a fan of the show and praised her role.

She met him at a civil rights gathering in 1967, at a time when she had decided not to return for the show’s second season.

“When I told him I was going to miss my co-stars and I was leaving the show, he became very serious and said ‘You cannot do that’,” she told The Tulsa World in a 2008 interview.

“‘You’ve changed the face of television forever, and therefore, you’ve changed the minds of people’,” she said the civil rights leader told her.

Nichols said: “That foresight Dr King had was a lightning bolt in my life.”

More recently, she had a recurring role on television’s Heroes, playing the great-aunt of a young boy with mystical powers.

Nichols, trained as a dancer and also worked as a nightclub chanteuse, with the Washington Post reporting that she thought being cast in Star Trek would be a “nice stepping stone” to Broadway stage fame, not realizing that the TV show and her character would be an iconic and enduring smash hit.

Actor Wilson Cruz wrote on Twitter that “representation matters”.

Nichols “modeled it for us. With her very presence and her grace she shone a light on who we as people of color are and inspired us to reach for our potential,” he wrote . “Rest well, glittering diamond in the sky.”

Before we understood how much #RepresentationMatters #NichelleNichols modeled it for us. With her very presence & her grace she shone a light on who we as people of color are & inspired us to reach for our potential. Rest well glittering diamond in the sky https://t.co/DmeLFbg825 — Wilson Cruz (@wcruz73) July 31, 2022

The Smithsonian tweeted a picture of Lt Uhura’s iconic red mini-dress and noted that Nichols made “history for African American women in TV and film. Nichols also volunteered to recruit women and people of color for Nasa.”

Today we remember Nichelle Nichols. She starred as Lieutenant Uhura on "Star Trek" wearing this uniform now in our @NMAAHC , making history for African American women in TV and film. Nichols also volunteered to recruit women and people of color for NASA. #BecauseOfHerStory pic.twitter.com/fZZqfGlomz — Smithsonian (@smithsonian) July 31, 2022

Nichols was born Grace Dell Nichols in Robbins, Illinois, on December 28 1932. According to the National Space Society , she sang as a 16-year-old with jazz great Duke Ellington – her career getting under way at an early age – in a ballet she created, and later joined his band.

Her big break in the 1961 Chicago musical Kicks and Co. Nichols later appeared in the title role in Carmen Jones and in a New York staging of Porgy and Bess as well as in Jean Genet’s The Blacks, and landed small film roles.

Nichols was married and divorced twice, and is survived by her son, Kyle Johnson.

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Nichelle Nichols, Pioneering ‘Star Trek’ Actress, Dies at 89

She made history as one of the first Black women to appear in a leading role on television

Daily Correspondent

Nichelle Nichols, who captivated television audiences as Nyota Uhura in the original “ Star Trek ” series, died on July 30 at age 89.

“[A] great light in the firmament no longer shines for us as it has for so many years,” says her son, Kyle Johnson, in a statement . “Last night, my mother, Nichelle Nichols, succumbed to natural causes and passed away. 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.”

He adds: “Hers was a life well lived and as such a model for us all.”

Nichols left a lasting mark on television, science fiction and the field of science more broadly. She served as an inspiration “for young Black people whose dreams of space science and travel were emboldened by her character’s futuristic adventures,” as critic Gene Seymour writes for  CNN .

Grace Dell Nichols was born in a Chicago suburb in 1932. As a teenager fed up with being called Gracie, she adopted Nichelle as her first name. With an impressive  four-octave vocal range and a love for ballet and musical theater, Nichols began performing in Chicago clubs when she was just 14 years old. She briefly worked as a dancer in Duke Ellington ’s touring orchestra.

In the early 1960s, she moved to Los Angeles, where “ Star Trek ” creator  Gene Roddenberry took note of her acting skills. She landed a role in Roddenberry’s series “ The Lieutenant ”—and then, a few years later, she landed another one in “Star Trek.”

Amid the racial tensions of the civil rights movement, Nichols played Lieutenant Nyota Uhura, a communications officer who was fourth in command of the Starship Enterprise . Martin Luther King Jr. once said that Uhura was the “ first non-stereotypical role portrayed by a Black woman in television history.” 

After a successful first season in 1966, Nichols decided to leave the show to pursue her musical theater dreams. While attending a fundraiser, however, she ran into King, who ultimately helped convince her to stay on the show.

“He said, ‘You cannot leave,’” Nichols told  Smithsonian magazine ’s Arcynta Ali Childs in 2011. “‘Don’t you see what this man [Roddenberry] has brought? He has changed the face of television forever, unless you leave.’”

King went on, Nichols recalled, to say that she had a “God-given opportunity to change the face of television, change the way we think.”

In 1968, during the show’s last season, Nichols and William Shatner (who played Captain Kirk) shared one of the first interracial kisses in television history. 

When the show ended after three seasons, Nichols continued to pave the way for women and people of color by working with NASA . With Nichols’ involvement, which included an appearance in a promotional recruitment video, the space agency began hiring more diverse astronauts, including  Guion Bluford , the first Black American in space, and  Sally Ride , the first American woman in space.

“Nichelle’s advocacy transcended television and transformed NASA,” says NASA administrator Bill Nelson in a statement . “After Apollo 11, Nichelle made it her mission to inspire women and people of color to join this agency, change the face of STEM and explore the cosmos. Nichelle’s mission is NASA’s mission.”

To this day, the agency is still “guided by the legacy of Nichelle Nichols,” adds Nelson.

Nichols later reprised her role as Uhura in Star Trek: The Motion Picture and five movie sequels produced through 1991.

We lived long and prospered together. pic.twitter.com/MgLjOeZ98X — George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) July 31, 2022

As news of Nichols’ death spread, friends, fans and colleagues began sharing tributes to the actress. George Takei , who acted alongside Nichols in “Star Trek” as Hikaru Sulu, the Entreprise ’s helmsman, describes her as “trailblazing” and “incomparable.”

"For today, my heart is heavy, my eyes shining like the stars you now rest among, my dearest friend,” writes Takei on  Twitter .

Television director Adam Nimoy , whose late father  Leonard Nimoy played the stoic Vulcan  Spock on the franchise for nearly 50 years, posted a  photo on Twitter of the two actors on set, writing that it is his favorite photo of the pair. 

He adds, “The importance of Nichelle’s legacy cannot be over-emphasized.” 

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Sarah Kuta is a writer and editor based in Longmont, Colorado. She covers history, science, travel, food and beverage, sustainability, economics and other topics.

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Nichelle Nichols, Barrier-Breaking 'Star Trek' Actress, Dead at 89

Nichelle Nichols was one of the first Black women to play a major role on primetime television

Nichelle Nichols, who broke a major race barrier as the star of the 1960s sci-fi series Star Trek , has died. She was 89.

Nichols' death was confirmed by her talent manager and business partner of 15 years, Gilbert Bell, to Variety on Sunday. She died in Silver City, New Mexico.

A representative for Nichols did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.

Last December, the star made her final convention appearance before her many fans as part of a three-day farewell celebration at L.A. Comic-Con. Nichols was seen waving, blowing kisses and flashing Star Trek's famous Vulcan salute to the many fans who turned out to bid her farewell. She was surrounded by members of her family and longtime friends including Nichols' son Kyle Johnson, who served as her spokesperson; her younger sister Marian Michaels; actresses Judy Pace and Beverly Todd; and former astronaut Dr. Mae Jemison, who joined NASA as a result of Nichols' role in recruiting women and minorities into the space program in the 1970s and 1980s as a result of her Star Trek fame.

For more on Nichelle Nichols, listen below to our daily podcast PEOPLE Every Day.

Nichols enjoyed decades in the spotlight thanks to her screen work, her music career and her activism to help more women succeed in the field of astronomy.

Born Grace Dell Nichols in Robbins, Illinois, Nichols studied dance at the Chicago Ballet Academy as a teenager before she was discovered by jazz legend Duke Ellington. Nichols joined Ellington's tour as a ballet dancer, but ended up as the lead singer, touring all over North America and Europe.

In 1959, she made her big-screen debut as a dancer in Sammy Davis Jr.'s Porgy and Bess . She went on to act in other films and TV series, including making a guest appearance in Gene Roddenberry's show, The Lieutenant , in 1964.

But Nichols' breakout role came when Roddenberry cast the actress as Lt. Nyota Uhura on the original Star Trek series. When the show first aired in 1966, Nichols was one of the first Black women to play a major role on primetime television.

She is popularly cited as having the first interracial kiss on American television, when her character famously locked lips with white leading man William Shatner 's Captain James T. Kirk. Martin Luther King Jr. once called Nichols' role "the first non-stereotypical role portrayed by a black woman in television history."

Following the end of the science-fiction series, Nichols worked to recruit diverse astronauts to NASA, including women and ethnic minorities. Among those who were recruited as a result of the program was Sally Ride, the first female American astronaut.

During her acting career, Nichols starred in six Star Trek movies from 1979–91. Some of her most recent work included the 2002 Disney picture Snow Dogs , in which she played Cuba Gooding Jr. 's mother. In 2005, she acted alongside Ice Cube as Miss Mable in the comedy Are We There Yet?, and in 2007, she had a reoccurring role on the NBC series Heroes as Nana Dawson. Nichols appeared in the long-running daytime soap opera The Young and the Restless as recently as 2016.

In 1992, Nichols was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. And when the original Star Trek cast was honored in front of Hollywood's Grauman's Chinese Theatre in 1991, she became the first African-American to place her handprints and signature at the iconic spot.

In addition to acting, Nichols also recorded two albums, Down to Earth and Out of This World.

Nichols' death comes after a battle for her conservatorship was revealed in May 2019, when her manager Gilbert Bell provided Atlanta's CBS46 with a disturbing video apparently taken by him. In the video, the actress could be heard screaming in protest as she held what Bell claimed were legal guardianship documents filed by her son, Kyle Johnson, who was named her legal conservator by a court.

Bell told PEOPLE at the time the situation was "devastating." Nichols' close friend Angelique Fawcette told PEOPLE she was shocked by the video, which was reportedly recorded on April 23.

"I knew [Nichols and her son] had a bad relationship," she said. "I've never seen Nichelle scream like that. It's like, what is going on behind closed doors every day?"

Johnson had no comment when reached by PEOPLE.

Nichols has one son from her first marriage to Foster Johnson. She later remarried songwriter Duke Mondy. The pair divorced in 1972.

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Nichelle Nichols, 'Star Trek' icon who played Lieutenant Uhura, dies at 89

Trailblazer Nichelle Nichols , who played "Star Trek" communications officer Lieutenant Nyota Uhura in the 1960s TV show and shared one of television's first interracial kisses with William Shatner, has died at 89.

Her son, Kyle Johnson, announced her death in a statement posted on her Facebook page . Family friend Sky Conway confirmed to USA TODAY that Nichols died Saturday evening in Silver City, New Mexico, calling her "truly transformational" and "an amazing person."

"I regret to inform you that a great light in the firmament no longer shines for us as it has for so many years," Johnson wrote on Facebook. "Last night, my mother, Nichelle Nichols, succumbed to natural causes and passed away. 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. 

"Hers was a life well lived and as such a model for us all."

Nichols played Uhura on the original "Star Trek" TV series from 1966 to 1969 and reprised her role in six "Star Trek" films, starting with 1979's "Star Trek: The Motion Picture." She was widely praised for breaking down barriers in an era when Black women were rarely seen in prominent TV roles. 

Remembering those we lost: Celebrity Deaths 2022

'She made room for so many of us': William Shatner, more 'Star Trek' actors tribute Nichelle Nichols

"I am so sorry to hear about the passing of Nichelle ," wrote Shatner on Twitter, who starred alongside Nichols in the original TV series. "She was a beautiful woman & played an admirable character that did so much for redefining social issues both here in the US & throughout the world."

Shatner said he "will certainly miss her" and sent his "love and condolences to her family."

"I shall have more to say about the trailblazing, incomparable Nichelle Nichols, who shared the bridge with us as Lt. Uhura of the USS Enterprise," her co-star George Takei wrote on Twitter. "For today, my heart is heavy, my eyes shining like the stars you now rest among , my dearest friend."

'We all need a wake-up call': William Shatner is still reeling from his trip to space

Nichols, born Grace Dell Nichols on Dec. 28, 1932, in Robbins, Illinois, started her career as a dancer and singer, and she wanted to be the first Black ballerina when she was younger. She originally danced ballet during performances by Duke Ellington and his band, and got her break when Ellington asked her to sing one night when the lead performer became sick. 

Once in Hollywood, she made her film debut in 1959’s "Porgy and Bess," the first of a string of film and TV roles that led up to "Star Trek."

She planned to leave the show after its first season to explore other acting opportunities, but a fan surprised Nichols at an NAACP event and was disappointed to hear she was thinking of quitting. The fan was Martin Luther King Jr., who told her "Star Trek" was the only TV he allowed his children to watch, and convinced her to remain on the show.

In "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry's vision, "minorities weren't on set because we were minorities, we were on set because,  in the future, our diverse world would all be working together as equals ," Nichols told The Philadelphia Inquirer in 2017 ahead of the fan conference Wizard World Philly. "I understand that everyone needs to see role models that can inspire them and talk to them and represent them, but I believe that we need to move to a future that transcends race, gender, or anything else. We're all people."

During the show’s third season, Nichols' Uhura and Shatner’s Captain Kirk shared what was described as the first interracial kiss to be broadcast on a U.S. TV series. In the episode, "Plato’s Stepchildren," their characters, who maintained a platonic relationship, were forced into the kiss by aliens who were controlling their actions.

In 1977, Nichols was appointed to the board of directors of the National Space Institute and later was invited to NASA headquarters, just as NASA was looking to expand its pool of talent and diversify. NASA asked Nichols, who had also started a consultant firm, Women in Motion, to help recruit more women and people of color to apply for the astronaut program. In just four months, Nichols was credited with bringing in more than 8,000 applications, of which more than 1,600 were women and more than 1,000 were people of color. 

Her many film roles ranged from 1974's Isaac Hayes Blaxploitation movie "Truck Turner" to 2005’s Ice Cube comedy "Are We There Yet?"

On TV, Nichols had voice roles in the animated series "Futurama," "The Simpsons," "Spider-Man" and "Gargoyles." Nichols also appeared in the daytime drama "The Young and the Restless" and NBCs "Heroes."

She received a lifetime achievement award from the Saturn Awards in 2016, which honor sci-fi entertainment.

Johnson said a private service would be held for family members and close friends, and signed his statement "Live Long and Prosper."

Nichols suffered a stroke in 2015 and her son revealed she was suffering from dementia in 2018.

Contributing: Felecia Wellington Radel, USA TODAY, and The Associated Press

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Star Trek Actors From Every Generation Pay Tribute to Uhura Actress Nichelle Nichols, Dead at 89

Nichelle Nichols, who played Lieutenant Uhura on Star Trek: The Original Series and in subsequent movies, has died at age 89, her son announced on Sunday. The actress and singer became famous for her role as the starship Enterprise’s communications officer beginning in 1966. Though Nichols was dissatisfied with the size of her part and planned to depart Star Trek for musical theater, she remained on the show at the request of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. , who urged her to consider the importance of a Black woman in such a visible position. She and co-star William Shatner exchanged one of television’s first interracial kisses.

Nichols and Uhura went on to inspire future generations of actors—and astronauts. Whoopi Goldberg, who starred in Star Trek: The Next Generation in the 1980s and ‘90s, said on The View on Monday that Nichols was “the first Black person I’d ever seen who made it to the future.” Nichols worked with NASA to recruit women and people of color for the agency after becoming a vocal critic of its lack of diversity in the 1970s, which is the subject of the recent documentary Woman in Motion .

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Among those who took to Twitter to pay their respects to Nichols are her Original Series co-stars Shatner and George Takei; astronaut Mae Jemison, the first Black woman in space, who also guest starred on an episode of The Next Generation ; and Celia Rose Gooding, who plays a younger version of Nichols’ character on the prequel series Strange New Worlds . We’ve rounded up their tweets and many more, below.

Star Trek: The Original Series

Star trek: the next generation, star trek: deep space nine, star trek: voyager, star trek: enterprise, star trek: discovery, star trek: picard, star trek: lower decks, star trek: strange new worlds, star trek: prodigy.

George Takei, William Shatner, J.J. Abrams and More ‘Star Trek’ Figures Pay Tribute to Nichelle Nichols

By J. Kim Murphy

J. Kim Murphy

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George Takei and J.J. Abrams were among the major figures of the “ Star Trek ” franchise to pay tribute to Nichelle Nichols . The actress, who portrayed the capable and commanding Enterprise crew member Nyota Uhura, died Saturday night at the age of 89. Nichols portrayed Uhura across the original series and the first six “Trek” films. She also voiced the character in “Star Trek: The Animated Series.”

“Last night, my mother, Nichelle Nichols, succumbed to natural causes and passed away,” Nichols’ son, Kyle Johnson, wrote in a statement on the actress’ official Facebook page. “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. Hers was a life well lived and as such a model for us all.”

Nichols’ “Star Trek” costar George Takei, who portrayed Hikaru Sulu across the original series and films, was one of the first voices to pay tribute to the actress.

“I shall have more to say about the trailblazing, incomparable Nichelle Nichols, who shared the bridge with us as Lt. Uhura of the USS Enterprise,” Takei wrote. “For today, my heart is heavy, my eyes shining like the stars you now rest among, my dearest friend.”

I shall have more to say about the trailblazing, incomparable Nichelle Nichols, who shared the bridge with us as Lt. Uhura of the USS Enterprise, and who passed today at age 89. For today, my heart is heavy, my eyes shining like the stars you now rest among, my dearest friend. — George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) July 31, 2022

“Star Trek” star William Shatner, who Nichols shared one of the first interracial kisses on television with, also voiced his condolences.

“She was a beautiful woman and played an admirable character that did so much for redefining social issues both here in the US and throughout the world,” Shatner wrote.

I am so sorry to hear about the passing of Nichelle. She was a beautiful woman & played an admirable character that did so much for redefining social issues both here in the US & throughout the world. I will certainly miss her. Sending my love and condolences to her family. Bill — William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) July 31, 2022

Celia Rose Gooding, who portrays Uhura in the new Paramount+ series “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds,” paid tribute to the actress who originated the role.

She made room for so many of us. She was the reminder that not only can we reach the stars, but our influence is essential to their survival. Forget shaking the table, she built it! #RIPNichelleNichols 🕊✨🖖🏾 pic.twitter.com/k1aVw15w3d — ALIEN SUPERSTAR CRG (@celiargooding) July 31, 2022

Georgia politician and diehard “Trek” fan Stacey Abrams shared a photograph of her and Nichols, hailing the star as a “champion, warrior and tremendous actor.”

One of my most treasured photos – Godspeed to Nichelle Nichols, champion, warrior and tremendous actor. Her kindness and bravery lit the path for many. May she forever dwell among the stars. #RIPNichelle #Uhura pic.twitter.com/nFXHif8HEC — Stacey Abrams (@staceyabrams) July 31, 2022

“Star Trek: Voyager” star Kate Mulgrew called Nichols a “trailblazer who navigated a very challenging trail with grit, grace and a gorgeous fire we are not likely to see again.”

Nichelle Nichols was The First. She was a trailblazer who navigated a very challenging trail with grit, grace, and a gorgeous fire we are not likely to see again. May she Rest In Peace. #NichelleNichols pic.twitter.com/DONSz6IV2b — Kate Mulgrew (@TheKateMulgrew) July 31, 2022

J.J. Abrams, who helmed the 2009 “Star Trek” reboot and its 2013 follow-up “Star Trek Into Darkness,” called Nichols “a remarkable woman in a remarkable role.”

A remarkable woman in a remarkable role. Nichelle, you will be deeply missed. Sending much love and respect. pic.twitter.com/ZRnMblXx0Z — JJ Abrams (@jjabrams) July 31, 2022

Marina Sirtis, who portrayed Counselor Deanna Troi in “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and its four feature film adaptations, stated that Nichols “opened the door for the rest of us.”

RIP @NichelleIsUhura . You led the way and opened the door for the rest of us who followed in your wake. We will be forever grateful. My heart is broken💔😢 — Marina Sirtis (@Marina_Sirtis) July 31, 2022

Lynda Carter, who portrayed Wonder Woman in the 1970s DC Comics television series, shared that Nichols “showed us the extraordinary power of Black women and paved the way for a better future for all women in media.”

Many actors become stars, but few stars can move a nation. Nichelle Nichols showed us the extraordinary power of Black women and paved the way for a better future for all women in media. Thank you, Nichelle. We will miss you. pic.twitter.com/KhUf4YM6pX — Lynda Carter (@RealLyndaCarter) July 31, 2022

Alex Kurtzman, who serves as lead executive producer on the ongoing “Star Trek” shows for Paramount+, called Nichols a “singular inspiration” and recounted the innumerable people he’s encountered that have cited the actress as an inspiration to pursue careers in science, writing, education and entertainment.

Nichelle was a singular inspiration. She’s the one who really opened my eyes to what Star Trek is and can be. I can’t tell you how many people have told me she’s the reason they became… an astronaut, a scientist, a writer, a linguist, an engineer… it goes on and on. 1/2 — Alex Kurtzman (@Alex_Kurtzman) July 31, 2022

See more tributes to Nichols below:

My favorite photo of Dad and Nichelle Nichols on set. The importance of Nichelle's legacy cannot be over-emphasized. She was much loved and will be missed. pic.twitter.com/1zlTd4F9BD — Adam Nimoy (@adam_nimoy) July 31, 2022

My love for the original Star Trek is profound. Nichelle Nichols was a ground-breaker and a glorious ambassador for her show, her role and science all her life. And a truly lovely person. May she have a wonderful adventure to the final frontier. #ripnichellenichols — jason alexander (@IJasonAlexander) July 31, 2022

Trail blazer Legend 🙏🏽 My heart goes out to her family and friends God speed Nichelle 🌺 pic.twitter.com/L6y0aRaRs1 — Karl Urban (@KarlUrban) July 31, 2022

RIP #nichellenichols You were a beautiful pioneer on Earth as you were in space. xo ✨ pic.twitter.com/qhZ5tujAXs — Kim Cattrall (@KimCattrall) July 31, 2022

Thank you for giving so many of us a place in the universe. #NichelleNichols pic.twitter.com/TycRdKOOfH — Tawny “My Name is Tawny” Newsome (@TrondyNewman) 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

Nichelle Nichols told us that we belonged in outer space. We are limitless. The heavens have gained an Uhura today. — Colman Domingo (@colmandomingo) July 31, 2022

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Nichelle Nichols, Lt. Uhura on 'Star Trek,' has died at 89

By KCAL News Staff , The Associated Press

Updated on: July 31, 2022 / 10:33 PM PDT / CBS/AP

Nichelle Nichols, known for her role as Nyota Uhura in "Star Trek: The Original Series" has died at the age of 89. 

Nichols' son, Kyle Johnson, announced Nichols'  death Sunday in a Facebook post. 

"I regret to inform you that a great light in the firmament no longer shines for us as it has for so many years. Last night, my mother, Nichelle Nichols, succumbed to natural causes and passed away," he wrote. "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. Hers was a life well lived and as such a model for us all."

CBSLA Reporter Laurie Perez talked to several "Star Trek" fans at the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Sunday.

"What she did so well was just like being right there in the mix. We grew up in a world where we just saw that as normal and that's one of her greatest contributions not only to the show but also to us all," David Zhend said.  

After the show's first season, Nichols was set to leave the show until a chance encounter with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who she said talked her out of it.

"He said, 'for the first time on television we will be seen as we should be seen every day - as intelligent, quality, beautiful people who can sing, dance but who can go into space,"' Nichols said during an interview.   

Nichols' role in the 1966-69 series as Lt. Uhura earned Nichols a lifelong position of honor with the series' rabid fans, known as Trekkers and Trekkies. It also earned her accolades for breaking stereotypes that had limited Black women to acting roles as servants and included an interracial onscreen kiss with co-star William Shatner that was unheard of at the time.

Like other original cast members, Nichols also appeared in six big-screen spinoffs starting in 1979 with "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" and frequented "Star Trek" fan conventions. She also served for many years as a NASA recruiter, helping bring minorities and women into the astronaut corps.

More recently, she had a recurring role on television's "Heroes," playing the great-aunt of a young boy with mystical powers.

Nichols' "Star Trek" co-stars William Shatner and George Takei both took to Twitter to pay homage to the trailblazing actress. 

We lived long and prospered together. pic.twitter.com/MgLjOeZ98X — George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) July 31, 2022

The original "Star Trek" premiered on NBC on Sept. 8, 1966. Its multicultural, multiracial cast was creator Gene Roddenberry's message to viewers that in the far-off future — the 23rd century — human diversity would be fully accepted.

I am so sorry to hear about the passing of Nichelle. She was a beautiful woman & played an admirable character that did so much for redefining social issues both here in the US & throughout the world. I will certainly miss her. Sending my love and condolences to her family. Bill — William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) July 31, 2022

During the show's third season, Nichols' character and Shatner's Capt. James Kirk shared what was described as the first interracial kiss to be broadcast on a U.S. television series. In the episode, "Plato's Stepchildren," their characters, who always maintained a platonic relationship, were forced into the kiss by aliens who were controlling their actions. 

The kiss "suggested that there was a future where these issues were not such a big deal," Eric Deggans, a television critic for National Public Radio, told The Associated Press in 2018. "The characters themselves were not freaking out because a Black woman was kissing a white man ... In this utopian-like future, we solved this issue. We're beyond it. That was a wonderful message to send."

Worried about reaction from Southern television stations, showrunners wanted to film a second take of the scene where the kiss happened off-screen. But Nichols said in her book, "Beyond Uhura: Star Trek and Other Memories," that she and Shatner deliberately flubbed lines to force the original take to be used.

Despite concerns, the episode aired without blowback. In fact, it got the most "fan mail that Paramount had ever gotten on Star Trek for one episode," Nichols said in a 2010 interview with the Archive of American Television.

Born Grace Dell Nichols in Robbins, Illinois, Nichols hated being called "Gracie," which everyone insisted on, she said in the 2010 interview. When she was a teen her mother told her she had wanted to name her Michelle, but thought she ought to have alliterative initials like Marilyn Monroe, whom Nichols loved. Hence, "Nichelle."

Nichols first worked professionally as a singer and dancer in Chicago at age 14, moving on to New York nightclubs and working for a time with the Duke Ellington and Lionel Hampton bands before coming to Hollywood for her film debut in 1959's "Porgy and Bess," the first of several small film and TV roles that led up to her "Star Trek" stardom.

She was a regular at "Star Trek" conventions and events into her 80s, but her schedule became limited starting in 2018 when her son announced that she was suffering from advanced dementia.

Johnson asked for privacy while his family grieves. 

The KCAL News Staff is a group of experienced journalists who bring you the content on KCALNews.com.

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Nichelle Nichols, Lt. Uhura on ‘Star Trek,’ has died at 89

FILE - Actor Nichelle Nichols speaks during the Creation Entertainment’s Official Star Trek Convention at The Westin O’Hare in Rosemont, Ill., Sunday, June 8, 2014. Nichols, who gained fame as Lt. Ntoya Uhura on the original “Star Trek” television series, died Saturday, July 30, 2022, her family said. She was 89. (Photo by Barry Brecheisen/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - Actor Nichelle Nichols, who played Lt. Ntoya Uhura on ''Star Trek,’' waves as she arrives at the “Star Trek: 30 Years and Beyond” tribute at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles, Sunday, Oct. 6, 1996. Nichols died Saturday, July 30, 2022, her family said. She was 89. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)

FILE - Members of the “Star Trek” crew, from left, James Doohan, DeForest Kelley, Walter Koenig, William Shatner, George Takei, Leonard Nimoy and Nichelle Nichols, toast the newest “Star Trek” film during a news conference at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles, Dec. 28, 1988. Nichols, who gained fame as Lt. Ntoya Uhura on the original “Star Trek” television series, died Saturday, July 30, 2022, at age 89. (AP Photo/Bob Galbraith, File)

FILE - Actor Nichelle Nichols expresses her support to striking members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) outside the gates of Paramount Pictures studios in Los Angeles, Monday, Dec. 10, 2007. Nichols, who gained fame as Lt. Ntoya Uhura on the original “Star Trek” television series, died Saturday, July 30, 2022, at age 89. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)

• Copy Link copied

Nichelle Nichols, who broke barriers for Black women in Hollywood as communications officer Lt. Uhura on the original “Star Trek” television series, has died at the age of 89.

Her son Kyle Johnson said Nichols died Saturday in Silver City, New Mexico.

“Last night, my mother, Nichelle Nichols, succumbed to natural causes and passed away. 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,” Johnson wrote on her official Facebook page Sunday. “Hers was a life well lived and as such a model for us all.”

Her role in the 1966-69 series earned Nichols a lifelong position of honor with the series’ rabid fans, known as Trekkers and Trekkies. It also earned her accolades for breaking stereotypes that had limited Black women to acting roles as servants and included an interracial onscreen kiss with co-star William Shatner that was unheard of at the time.

Shatner tweeted Sunday: “I am so sorry to hear about the passing of Nichelle. She was a beautiful woman & played an admirable character that did so much for redefining social issues both here in the US & throughout the world.”

George Takei, who shared the bridge of the USS Enterprise with her as Sulu in the original “Star Trek” series, called her trailblazing and incomparable. “For today, my heart is heavy, my eyes shining like the stars you now rest among, my dearest friend,” he tweeted.

Nichols’ impact was felt far beyond her immediate co-stars, and many others in the “Star Trek” world also tweeted their condolences.

Celia Rose Gooding, who currently plays Uhura in “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds,” tweeted that Nichols “made room for so many of us. She was the reminder that not only can we reach the stars, but our influence is essential to their survival. Forget shaking the table, she built it.”

“Star Trek: Voyager” alum Kate Mulgrew tweeted, “Nichelle Nichols was The First. She was a trailblazer who navigated a very challenging trail with grit, grace, and a gorgeous fire we are not likely to see again.”

Like other original cast members, Nichols also appeared in six big-screen spinoffs starting in 1979 with “Star Trek: The Motion Picture” and frequented “Star Trek” fan conventions. She also served for many years as a NASA recruiter, helping bring minorities and women into the astronaut corps.

More recently, she had a recurring role on television’s “Heroes,” playing the great-aunt of a young boy with mystical powers.

The original “Star Trek” premiered on NBC on Sept. 8, 1966. Its multicultural, multiracial cast was creator Gene Roddenberry’s message to viewers that in the far-off future — the 23rd century — human diversity would be fully accepted.

“I think many people took it into their hearts ... that what was being said on TV at that time was a reason to celebrate,” Nichols said in 1992 when a “Star Trek” exhibit was on view at the Smithsonian Institution.

She often recalled how Martin Luther King Jr. was a fan of the show and praised her role. She met him at a civil rights gathering in 1967, at a time when she had decided not to return for the show’s second season.

“When I told him I was going to miss my co-stars and I was leaving the show, he became very serious and said, ‘You cannot do that,’” she told The Tulsa (Okla.) World in a 2008 interview.

“‘You’ve changed the face of television forever, and therefore, you’ve changed the minds of people,’” she said the civil rights leader told her.

“That foresight Dr. King had was a lightning bolt in my life,” Nichols said.

During the show’s third season, Nichols’ character and Shatner’s Capt. James Kirk shared what was described as the first interracial kiss to be broadcast on a U.S. television series. In the episode, “Plato’s Stepchildren,” their characters, who always maintained a platonic relationship, were forced into the kiss by aliens who were controlling their actions.

AP entertainment correspondent Oscar Wells Gabriel reports on Obit Nichelle Nichols

The kiss “suggested that there was a future where these issues were not such a big deal,” Eric Deggans, a television critic for National Public Radio, told The Associated Press in 2018. “The characters themselves were not freaking out because a Black woman was kissing a white man ... In this utopian-like future, we solved this issue. We’re beyond it. That was a wonderful message to send.”

Worried about reaction from Southern television stations, showrunners wanted to film a second take of the scene where the kiss happened off-screen. But Nichols said in her book, “Beyond Uhura: Star Trek and Other Memories,” that she and Shatner deliberately flubbed lines to force the original take to be used.

Despite concerns, the episode aired without blowback. In fact, it got the most “fan mail that Paramount had ever gotten on ‘Star Trek’ for one episode,” Nichols said in a 2010 interview with the Archive of American Television.

Born Grace Dell Nichols in Robbins, Illinois, Nichols hated being called “Gracie,” which everyone insisted on, she said in the 2010 interview. When she was a teen her mother told her she had wanted to name her Michelle, but thought she ought to have alliterative initials like Marilyn Monroe, whom Nichols loved. Hence, “Nichelle.”

Nichols first worked professionally as a singer and dancer in Chicago at age 14, moving on to New York nightclubs and working for a time with the Duke Ellington and Lionel Hampton bands before coming to Hollywood for her film debut in 1959’s “Porgy and Bess,” the first of several small film and TV roles that led up to her “Star Trek” stardom.

Nichols was known as being unafraid to stand up to Shatner on the set when others complained that he was stealing scenes and camera time. They later learned she had a strong supporter in the show’s creator.

In her 1994 book, “Beyond Uhura,” she said she met Roddenberry when she guest starred on his show “The Lieutenant,” and the two had an affair a couple of years before “Star Trek” began. The two remained lifelong close friends.

Another fan of Nichols and the show was future astronaut Mae Jemison, who became the first black woman in space when she flew aboard the shuttle Endeavour in 1992.

In an AP interview before her flight, Jemison said she watched Nichols on “Star Trek” all the time, adding she loved the show. Jemison eventually got to meet Nichols.

Nichols was a regular at “Star Trek” conventions and events into her 80s, but her schedule became limited starting in 2018 when her son announced that she was suffering from advanced dementia.

Nichols was placed under a court conservatorship in the control of her son Johnson, who said her mental decline made her unable to manage her affairs or make public appearances.

Some, including Nichols’ managers and her friend, film producer and actor Angelique Fawcett, objected to the conservatorship and sought more access to Nichols and to records of Johnson’s financial and other moves on her behalf. Her name was at times invoked at courthouse rallies that sought the freeing of Britney Spears from her own conservatorship.

But the court consistently sided with Johnson, and over the objections of Fawcett allowed him to move Nichols to New Mexico, where she lived with him in her final years.

Associated Press Entertainment Writer Andrew Dalton contributed from Los Angeles. Former AP Writer Polly Anderson contributed biographical material to this report.

Nichelle Nichols, trail-blazing Star Trek actress, dead at 89

Lt. uhura role broke stereotypes about black women, featured iconic interracial kiss.

Social Sharing

Nichelle Nichols, who broke barriers for Black women in Hollywood when she played communications officer Lt. Uhura on the original Star Trek  television series, has died. She was 89.

Her son Kyle Johnson said Nichols died Saturday in Silver City, N.M.

"Last night, my mother, Nichelle Nichols, succumbed to natural causes and passed away. 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," Johnson wrote on his mother's official Facebook page Sunday.

"Hers was a life well lived and as such a model for us all."

Her role in the 1966-69 series as Lt. Uhura earned Nichols a lifelong position of honour with the series' rabid fans, known as Trekkers and Trekkies. It also earned her accolades for breaking stereotypes that had limited Black women to acting roles as servants and included an interracial onscreen kiss with co-star William Shatner that was unheard of at the time.

Many actors become stars, but few stars can move a nation. Nichelle Nichols showed us the extraordinary power of Black women and paved the way for a better future for all women in media. Thank you, Nichelle. We will miss you. <a href="https://t.co/KhUf4YM6pX">pic.twitter.com/KhUf4YM6pX</a> &mdash; @RealLyndaCarter

"I shall have more to say about the trailblazing, incomparable Nichelle Nichols, who shared the bridge with us as Lt. Uhura of the USS Enterprise, and who passed today at age 89," George Takei wrote on Twitter.

"For today, my heart is heavy, my eyes shining like the stars you now rest among, my dearest friend."

• q Hailing Frequencies Open! Nichelle Nichols on Star Trek at 50

Takei played Sulu in the original Star Trek  series alongside Nichols. But her impact was felt beyond her immediate co-stars, and many others in the Star Trek  world also tweeted their condolences.

Celia Rose Gooding, who currently plays Uhura in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds , wrote on Twitter that Nichols "made room for so many of us. She was the reminder that not only can we reach the stars, but our influence is essential to their survival. Forget shaking the table — she built it."

Like other original cast members, Nichols also appeared in six big-screen spinoffs starting in 1979 with Star Trek: The Motion Picture  and frequented Star Trek  fan conventions. She also served for many years as a NASA recruiter, helping bring minorities and women into the astronaut corps.

More recently, she had a recurring role on television's Heroes , playing the great-aunt of a young boy with mystical powers.

The original Star Trek  premiered on NBC on Sept. 8, 1966. Its multicultural, multiracial cast was creator Gene Roddenberry's message to viewers that in the far-off future — the 23rd century — human diversity would be fully accepted.

Nichelle Nichols speaks about 50th anniversary of Star Trek on CBC News Network

"I think many people took it into their hearts … that what was being said on TV at that time was a reason to celebrate," Nichols said in 1992 when a Star Trek  exhibit was on view at the Smithsonian Institution.

She often recalled how Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was a fan of the show and praised her role. She met him at a civil rights gathering in 1967, at a time when she had decided not to return for the show's second season.

"When I told him I was going to miss my co-stars and I was leaving the show, he became very serious and said, 'You cannot do that,"' she told The Tulsa (Okla.) World in a 2008 interview.

"'You've changed the face of television forever, and therefore, you've changed the minds of people,"' she said the civil rights leader told her.

"That foresight Dr. King had was a lightning bolt in my life," Nichols said.

Iconic kiss

During the show's third season, Nichols's character and Shatner's Capt. James Kirk shared what was described as the first interracial kiss to be broadcast on a U.S. television series. In the episode, Plato's Stepchildren , their characters, who always maintained a platonic relationship, were forced into the kiss by aliens who were controlling their actions.

"The characters themselves were not freaking out because a Black woman was kissing a white man," Eric Deggans, a television critic for National Public Radio, told The Associated Press in 2018. "In this utopian-like future, we solved this issue. We're beyond it. That was a wonderful message to send."

Worried about reaction from Southern television stations, showrunners wanted to film a second take of the scene where the kiss happened off-screen. But Nichols said in her book, Beyond Uhura: Star Trek and Other Memories , that she and Shatner deliberately flubbed lines to force the original take to be used.

Despite concerns, the episode aired without blowback. In fact, it got the most "fan mail that Paramount had ever gotten on Star Trek for one episode," Nichols said in a 2010 interview with the Archive of American Television.

Controversial conservatorship

Born Grace Dell Nichols in Robbins, Ill., Nichols hated being called "Gracie," which everyone insisted on, she said in the 2010 interview. When she was a teen her mother told her she had wanted to name her Michelle, but thought she ought to have alliterative initials like Marilyn Monroe, whom Nichols loved. Hence, "Nichelle."

Nichols first worked professionally as a singer and dancer in Chicago at age 14, moving on to New York nightclubs and working for a time with the Duke Ellington and Lionel Hampton bands before coming to Hollywood for her film debut in 1959's Porgy and Bess , the first of several small film and TV roles that led up to her Star Trek  stardom.

Nichols was known as being unafraid to stand up to Shatner on the set when others complained that he was stealing scenes and camera time. They later learned she had a strong supporter in the show's creator.

In her 1994 book, Beyond Uhura , she said she met Roddenberry when she guest starred on his show The Lieutenant , and the two had an affair a couple of years before Star Trek  began. The two remained lifelong close friends.

Nichols was a regular at Star Trek  conventions and events into her 80s, but her schedule became limited starting in 2018 when her son announced that she was suffering from advanced dementia.

Nichols was placed under a court conservatorship in the control of her son Johnson, who said her mental decline made her unable to manage her affairs or make public appearances.

Some, including Nichols's managers and her friend, film producer and actor Angelique Fawcett, objected to the conservatorship and sought more access to Nichols and to records of Johnson's financial and other moves on her behalf. Her name was at times invoked at courthouse rallies that sought the freeing of Britney Spears from her own conservatorship.

But the court consistently sided with Johnson, and over the objections of Fawcett allowed him to move Nichols to New Mexico, where she lived with him in her final years.

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William Shatner, George Takei Pay Tribute to Star Trek ‘s Nichelle Nichols

Dave nemetz, west coast bureau chief.

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Nichelle Nichols ‘ Star Trek costars are honoring their crewmate after the actress, who played Uhura on the original Trek series, passed away Sunday at the age of 89.

William Shatner , who played Captain Kirk alongside Nichols on Star Trek , tweeted : “I am so sorry to hear about the passing of Nichelle. She was a beautiful woman & played an admirable character that did so much for redefining social issues both here in the US & throughout the world. I will certainly miss her. Sending my love and condolences to her family.”

George Takei , who played navigator Sulu on Star Trek , added : “I shall have more to say about the trailblazing, incomparable Nichelle Nichols , who shared the bridge with us as Lt. Uhura of the USS Enterprise , and who passed today at age 89. For today, my heart is heavy, my eyes shining like the stars you now rest among, my dearest friend.”

Kate Mulgrew, who starred as Captain Janeway in the spinoff Star Trek: Voyager , paid tribute as well: “Nichelle Nichols was The First. She was a trailblazer who navigated a very challenging trail with grit, grace, and a gorgeous fire we are not likely to see again. May she Rest In Peace.”

Nichols played communications officer Nyota Uhura, who helped Kirk and the Enterprise crew make contact with alien lifeforms. She was a trailblazer for Black actors in science fiction: She and Shatner shared the first kiss between a white person and a Black person on television, and when Nichols considered leaving the role after Trek ‘s first season, Martin Luther King Jr. encouraged her to stay, telling her what a role model she was to Black children.

Shatner and Takei, along with Walter Koenig (Chekhov), are now the only surviving members of the core Star Trek cast who starred together for three seasons on NBC and then reunited for six big-screen Trek movies. DeForest Kelley (Dr. Bones McCoy) died in 1999, James Doohan (Scotty) passed away in 2005 and Leonard Nimoy (Spock) died in 2015.

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Amazing actress who trail blazed and broke down racial boundaries. She was vital and important to the cast of Star Trek. A fine and beautiful woman. Star Trek wouldn’t have been what it was without her. Rest In Peace

Rest In Peace Ms Nichols. You’ll continue to be an inspiration for many. Thanks for your help with the Space Program too. It made a real difference.

She will be missed, for now she journoto the stars above and heaven

I love her in the original star trek rest in peace 🕊️ lieutenant Aurora / star trek will never be the same

Uhura was a good singer on one episode she sang while Sock play a harpiscord. There was a teenager / alien who had great mental powers and temporarily took over the ship.

Seriously guys… you used a picture with Nichelle in the background…. Please show more respect.

Looks like they fixed that, because she’s in the front now.

My heart is saddened by the lost of Nichelle. Not only that, the Ster Treck Universe is also saddened. RIP Nichelle..

So true. 30 seconds more of work and there’s hundreds of better pics of her to pull from

A true television AND civil rights icon!! Def will be missed and celebrated by countless people she inspired. Rest in Power Miss Nichols

Nichelle was a great actress. A woman of high talents. And one of my favorites. See you in heaven sister.

With the heart felt sadness that I feel totally after finding out about Nicky passing I can only say Thank you sweetheart for your true performance of the First Lady of the Enterprise NCC1701. You were the inspiration of all the African American people who became actors and for others as well. I loved you then and always will Rest in peace sweetheart This Star Trex fan will always remember you with a smile You are now back on the bridge of the Enterprise

First star to the right and straight on till morning Good night sweetheart xxx

An amazing woman! Let’s also remember her for her work in recruiting women and people of color into NASA’s astronaut program.

Come on guys, how about a picture where you actually See Uhura and not one in which she’s behind another character???

Adding to the voices of “what is up with that picture” No respect!

She was a class act….and had a beautiful voice! A Star Trek pioneer!!

So sad to hear this. Groundbreaking as a character in a groundbreaking scifi, and in real life working with NASA as a recruiter. RIP, Ms. Nichols. You will not be forgotten.

Such a wonderful, amazing actress who blessed our childhoods with her acting ability and beauty. I often forget how diverse the cast of Star Trek was. In a time when “racial equity” is a constant drum the members of the Whitehouse beat on, it’s refreshing to be reminded of times when non Caucasian actors played such amazing roles, without the directors touting their casting choices to appear politically correct. May Uhura rest in peace, alongside Lenard Nemoy.

Literally the least seen person in this photo. Please switch to one that features her. An amazing woman deserves the tribute and photo to go with it. Thank you!

She broke the glass ceiling for women of color in Hollywood. I was so saddened to hear of her passing.

The fact that MLK encouraged her to continue in the role really puts into perspective how recent the civil rights movement was. It’s always portrayed through black & white photos and talked about as if it was centuries ago and it makes us forget that many of the people who led the fight are still with us.

She and Shatner shared the first kiss between a white person and a Black person on SCRIPTED television. Nancy Sinatra had previously shared a kiss with Sammy Davis Jr. on a network variety show.

Star Trek is my absolute favorite television show. Ms. Nichelle Nichols was a class act. What I like best about the show was the unity shown between ALL people. She performed her role with class and style. She was stellar in her performance and always a lady. RIP

A wonderful person. So much kindness and joy behind those eyes. The stuff that really matters in life. It’s hard to find stars that shine so brightly. She’ll be missed. She was a positive influence in this world in all the right ways.

I met her once at a convention, she sang to me… I commented on how beautiful her singing voice still was and later had the honor of dancing with her… One of my charished memories.

R.I.P, Nichelle/ Ohura! You will be remembered for a very long time, along with the other crew members that have passed. I was watching a few minutes of “The Masked Singer” the night William Shatner was revealed on the show. It is AMAZING to me how good of a shape he is still in at his age. I can only hope for all of us to have the same longevity in our lives. Many time periods have come and gone, but I believe we are very lucky to have lived in this time and watched these people for so long. All will be missed, and all remaining will be cherished.

I like the Star Trek reboot with Chris Pine and Zach Quintos too! I hope they make more movies. I know the newest one is now on hold for who knows how long, but the way they changed the past all together leaves storyline from the past ALMOST moot. They have free reign to write however they like now that the past has changed. I really hope this epic story continues, for future generations sake, and to keep these cherished original members alive in our memories.

Love to all, and live long and prosper!

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Nichelle Nichols death: Pioneering Star Trek actor dies, aged 89

Nichols’s career was groundbreaking for black women on tv, article bookmarked.

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Nichelle Nichols , the Star Trek actor whose role as an on-screen lieutenant on the bridge of a starship was a groundbreaking example of representation for Black Americans in Hollywood, died on Saturday (30 July). She was 89.

Her death was confirmed on Instagram on Sunday (31 July) by the actor’s son Kyle Johnson.

“Last night, my mother, Nichelle Nichols, succumbed to natural causes and passed away,” he wrote. “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.”

“Hers was a life well lived and as such a model for us all,” added Johnson.

Fellow Star Trek alum George Takei led the tributes to Nichols , with actors such as Lynda Carter and Colman Domingo also commemorating her contribution to the industry.

Nichols rose to fame when she was cast for the 1966 space adventure series Star Trek as Lieutenant Nyota Uhura, the ship’s communications officer. The role was significant for many reasons: It was one of the first major roles for a Black woman in a US television series, it was among the first portrayals of a Black woman in a military-style command role in any format, and it would later culminate in one of the first on-screen kisses between a white actor, William Shatner, and a Black co-star.

Her time in that role only lasted a few years, with the show being canceled in 1969, but its significance would last for decades. She was even reportedly persuaded by legendary civil rights activist Dr Martin Luther King Jr to remain in the role during the series’ short-lived run. Nichols would later go on to reprise the role of Lt Uhura in a number of Star Trek movies including The Search for Spock.

In conjunction with her Star Trek career, Nichols would partner with NASA, the US space agency, in a bid to recruit more women and people of colour to its astronaut and sciences programs. The effort led to the recruitment of Sally Ride, the first American female astronaut.

She spoke about how her work on Star Trek had led to the expansion of NASA’s efforts to recruit women during an interview with StarTrek.com in 2012.

"[My] legacy continues into the modern astronaut corps, where sex and color no longer matter... as it should be," she said. "I continue to be proud to have been chosen to make those first women and minorities [in the space program] a reality."

In her later years, she would make a semi-retirement from appearances at fan conventions where she and other members of the original cast were treated like royalty.

She made an appearance at the Los Angeles Comic Con as recently as 2021.

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Screen Rant

Star trek discovery's alex kurtzman & michelle paradise tease season 5's coda & talk tie-ins.

Star Trek: Discovery executive producers Alex Kurtzman and Michelle Paradise discuss ending the series, the coda, and THAT TNG reference.

Warning: MAJOR SPOILER for Star Trek: Discovery Season 5

• Star Trek: Discovery season 5 is the final season, with an epic intergalactic treasure hunt story leading to a proper ending.
• The season includes tie-ins to Star Trek: The Next Generation , exploring unanswered questions from the past.
• The focus on character relationships sets the show apart, with reshoots adding a cherry on top for a fitting series finale.

Star Trek: Discovery executive producers Alex Kurtzman and Michelle Paradise are sending the USS Discovery on its last ride. The final season of Star Trek: Discovery has premiered on Paramount+, marking the beginning of the end of the first Star Trek streaming show.

Kurtzman and Paradise didn't know season 5 would be the final season of Star Trek: Discovery during production. After Paramount+ canceled the show, the streamer granted Kurtzman and Paradise 3 additional days of filming in spring 2023 to create a coda that would properly end Star Trek: Discovery . Fortunately, Discovery season 5 's intergalactic treasure hunt story naturally lends itself to endings.

Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 - Everything We Know

Screen Rant spoke to Alex Kurtzman and Michelle Paradise prior to Star Trek: Discovery 's season 5's world premiere at SXSW about that tie-in to Star Trek: The Next Generation , balancing big ideas with emotional character stories, and what Star Trek: Discovery' s legacy is.

Alex Kurtzman & Michelle Paradise Tie Star Trek: Discovery Back To "The Chase"

Screen Rant: Alex and Michelle, thank you so much for talking to me. Thank you for Discovery. Alex, thank you for Star Trek .

Alex Kurtzman: Well, I wish I could say it was mine, but it ain't. (laughs)

Let's talk about Discovery season 5. Epic treasure hunt. But it also ties back to the 24th century. Can you talk a little bit about that? And the decision-making process, and how cool that was?

Michelle Paradise: Sure, yeah, it's really cool to get to go back there. I assume that this will come out after the premiere so we're not spoiling anything. But yeah, [Star Trek: The Next Generation's] "The Chase" has been an episode that had stuck with a lot of us because of the thematics of that episode. And the ideas that it explores. And for me, anyway, it left me with so many questions. When we were thinking about an epic adventure for this season, that was, of course, the thing that came to mind. And using this season to kind of go back there and say, 'Well, what if? What happened after that?' became a really great jumping-off point.

As a quick detour, Alex, can I ask about how Section 31 and Starfleet Academy are coming along?

Alex Kurtzman: They're coming along great. We're in the middle of shooting Section 31. And we're about halfway through the writers' room on Starfleet Academy. And we start shooting at the end of the summer.

Star Trek: Section 31 wrapped filming in late March after this interview was conducted.

Star Trek: Discovery Will Have A "Beautiful Conclusion"

Discovery is such a cosmic show. Big ideas, big concepts, big problems. But when I think about the show, I think about relationships. Burnham and Book. Saru and T'Rina. Moll and L'ak. Tell me about balancing Star Trek with these big ideas and all of these love stories going on in the ship?

Michelle Paradise: Well, I'm glad to hear that because we start every season with the characters. You know, we're always going to have the big ideas, the big themes, but it always comes down to the characters and their relationships, and how are they growing individually? How are they growing in their relationships? How are they growing as a family unit, as a team? That's always at the heart of everything we do. And using that as the starting place, that's where we can get into the bigger thematic ideas, the big bad guys of the season, whatever that may be. But it really is the characters we know that we latch on to and that we know our audience latches on to. And so, that's always where we start.

There were reshoots to create an epilogue for the season 5 finale. Can you talk a little bit about that, like the challenge of creating a capstone for the whole series?

Alex Kurtzman: What was so interesting was that this season had really kind of come to a beautiful conclusion. And Michelle and I looked at each other when we knew that it was going to be the last season and went, 'Wow, I don't know that we could have necessarily planned it better for a final season. Now, what we really need to do is just put the cherry on top of the cake. And we were able to do three days that were very targeted and surgical. It wasn't actually reshoots, it was sort of an additional [filming]. And we were really grateful to be able to do that because it felt like it allowed us to take a natural ending, and give it a series ending on top of it.

What would you say the legacy of Star Trek Discovery is?

Alex Kurtzman: I think modern Star Trek. And without Discovery, there would be no modern Star Trek. It opened the door for every show that came after. It opened the door for Picard, Lower Decks, Strange New Worlds, Prodigy, Starfleet Academy, Section 31, and everything that's going to come after that. So I think it really kicked the door down for a new era.

About Star Trek: Discovery Season 5

The fifth and final season of Star Trek: Discovery finds Captain Burnham and the crew of the USS Discovery uncovering a mystery that will send them on an epic adventure across the galaxy to find an ancient power whose very existence has been deliberately hidden for centuries. But there are others on the hunt as well … dangerous foes who are desperate to claim the prize for themselves and will stop at nothing to get it.

Check out our other Star Trek: Discovery season 5 interviews here:

• Sonequa Martin-Green
• David Ajala and Doug Jones
• Wilson Cruz, Mary Wiseman & Blu del Barrio

Star Trek: Discovery season 5 premieres April 4 on Paramount+

Source: Screen Rant Plus

Michelle Yeoh's Star Trek: Section 31 Will Bring Back An Important TNG Character

With the latest installment in the Star Trek franchise wrapping up filming, the first "Star Trek: Discovery"-era film is on its way. Fans can't wait to see what their favorite devious black leather-clad ex-Terran Emperor Philippa Georgiou (Michelle Yeoh) has been up to in the Prime universe when "Star Trek: Section 31" finally airs. According to Variety , Georgiou has been palling around with a young version of Rachel Garrett, a captain from the alternate timeline USS Enterprise-C in the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" episode "Yesterday's Enterprise."

Originally played by Tricia O'Neal, Captain Garrett is piloting the Enterprise in 2344 when her ship is pulled through a temporal rift, disrupting the timeline and sending the future Enterprise into an alternate reality where Tasha Yar (Denise Crosby) never died. There, they learn that because Garrett's ship was pulled from a crucial battle between the Klingons and Romulans, the Federation has been at war with the Klingons ever since. To make things right, the brave Garrett commits her crew to travel back through time to sacrifice herself and her ship for the greater good.

The Garrett appearing in "Section 31" is reportedly a "young" Garrett and will be played by Kacey Rohl, who portrayed Alena Whitlock aka Kojo Sledgehammer on "Arrow." Although it's unclear how she will connect to Section 31, her appearance in the series promises to give viewers a closer look at the life of one of Star Trek's most venerated captains.

What to know about Star Trek's Rachel Garrett

Listed in the script of "Yesterday's Enterprise" as a "tall, handsome woman that commands respect instantly," Garrett is one of the franchise's most fearless and dutiful commanders. A clue about Garrett's timeline can be found hidden in the PC game "Star Trek: Starship Creator Warp II." Inside the game, a digital readout created by Michael Okuda, an art and special effects supervisor responsible for creating many a Star Trek computer screen, lists Garrett's birth year as 2300, making her 44 years old at the time of her sacrifice. This places her timeline firmly in the so-called "Lost Era" between the death of Captain Kirk and the events of "Star Trek: The Next Generation."

Although Garrett agrees to lead her crew back to her original timeline, she never makes it there, as she's killed by shrapnel when a Klingon bird-of-prey attacks her ship. To ensure the ship gets back through the temporal rift safely, Tasha Yar joins them, traveling back through the time rift where she is captured by Romulans, ultimately leading to the birth of her half-Romulan daughter, Sela (also played by Denise Crosby).

As Garrett's role in the affair and her captaincy of the Enterprise earns her the Red Lady statue on M'Talas Prime (an Easter egg on "Star Trek Picard" Season 3 ), it's hard to imagine her having any connection to the ethically murky Section 31. But the noble captain may have a role in helping Georgiou achieve her redemption arc after the events of "Star Trek: Discovery."

What Is Star Trek's "Lost Era" & What We Know

• The "lost era" between Star Trek VI and TNG holds major historical events that shape the franchise's future.
• Michelle Yeoh's Section 31 movie explores this politically fractious time with Emperor Georgiou's mission in the 24th century.
• Key events like the Tomed Incident, the Cardassian Occupation of Bajor, and the Khitomer Massacre impact future Trek characters.

Michelle Yeoh's Section 31 movie will take place in Star Trek 's "lost era", expanding on the limited knowledge that fans have of this tantalizing time period. The confirmation that Kacey Rohl will play a young Rachel Garrett in Star Trek: Section 31 confirms that the latest mission for Emperor Philippa Georgiou (Michelle Yeoh) will take place in the early 24th century. This extensive period in the Star Trek timeline takes place between the end of Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country and the start of Star Trek: The Next Generation , during which some major historical events took place.

Star Trek 's "lost era" lasts for almost 70 years, taking in two starship Enterprises and some key events that would influence the Star Trek: The Next Generation era . While Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) may have helped to establish peace with the Klingons in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country , there were multiple threats elsewhere in the universe. During this 70-year period, the Romulan Star Empire and Cardassian Union became big threats to the peace and stability established by the Khitomer Accords. Star Trek 's "lost era", therefore, is the perfect time period for Michelle Yeoh's Star Trek spy movie to explore.

Where You've Seen Star Trek: Section 31's New Actors Before

Unknown: emperor georgiou is sent to star trek's "lost era", why has the guardian of forever sent georgiou to the early 24th century.

The Guardian of Forever (Paul Guilfoyle) sent Georgiou back through time in Star Trek: Discovery season 3, when it became clear that the former Terran Emperor could no longer live in the 32nd century. It was never confirmed exactly when the Guardian was sending Georgiou, with many presuming that she would just re-emerge in the 23rd century. Now it's been confirmed that the Guardian has sent her to Star Trek 's "lost era", a politically fractious time where, perhaps, Georgiou can do a lot of good to atone for the sins of her past .

2293: Kirk "Dies" While Saving The USS Enterprise-B

Could captain john harriman appear in section 31.

In the same year that Captain James T Kirk helped to usher in a new era of peace between the Federation and the Klingon Empire, he gave his life to save the USS Enterprise-B. Kirk's death effectively marks the start of Star Trek 's lost era , as barely anything is known about what happened next to the USS Enterprise-B. Commanded by Captain John Harriman (Alan Ruck), the Excelsior-class starship embarked on its fateful first flight in 2293, over 70 years before the launch of the Star Trek: The Next Generation 's version of the starship Enterprise .

Given that it's a younger Rachel Garrett in Star Trek: Section 31 , there is the possibility that Harriman's Enterprise is still in service...

Captain John Harriman has been dubbed the worst Enterprise captain due to his handling of the situation involving the Nexus and the El Aurian refugees in Star Trek Generations . However, that's just one moment in the Starfleet officer's career, and official Star Trek has never confirmed if he ever redeemed himself for his mistakes. Given that it's a younger Rachel Garrett in Star Trek: Section 31 , there is the possibility that Harriman's Enterprise is still in service, meaning that the movie could update fans on this unfairly maligned Starfleet captain.

Star Trek: How The Enterprise Got Its Worst Captain (Backstory Explained)

2311: the tomed incident occurs, the federation-romulan conflict is one of the biggest events of star trek's "lost era"..

One of the most important, and mysterious, events in Starfleet history's "lost era" is the Tomed Incident . The exact specifics of this historical confrontation between the Federation and the Romulan Star Empire are unknown. However, Star Trek: The Next Generation revealed that the incident led to the loss of thousands of lives, presumably on both sides of the conflict. This led to the signing of the Treaty of Algeron, which redefined the boundaries of the Romulan Neutral Zone, and barred any Federation experiments with cloaking technology. The Romulan Star Empire also withdrew from interstellar politics, becoming a more isolationist regime.

The Treaty of Algeron remained in place for decades, barring a special dispensation that let the USS Defiant break the cloaking device ban in 2371. Years before, Captain Erik Pressman (Terry O'Quinn) worked with individuals within Starfleet Intelligence to develop a top secret interphasic cloaking device . While Pressman's experiment took place years after Star Trek: Section 31 , the involvement of Starfleet Intelligence does create the possibility that Georgiou could be thrown directly into the aftermath of the Tomed Incident.

2319: Cardassian Occupation Of Bajor Begins

The Cardassian Occupation of Bajor was another major event that took place during Star Trek 's "lost era". In 2309, the technologically advanced Cardassians offered to help the Bajorans, and spent a decade preparing to finally assert military rule over the planet in 2319 . The occupation was a brutal time, in which the Cardassians began stripping Bajor of its natural resources and enslaved its people. For 50 years, the Federation stood by and did nothing, as to intervene would be a breach of the Prime Directive.

The Cardassian Occupation of Bajor was a hugely formative event for Star Trek characters Ro Laren (Michelle Forbes) and Kira Nerys (Nana Visitor).

Key figures like Ambassador Spock (Leonard Nimoy) and his father, Ambassador Sarek (Mark Lennard) bitterly disagreed over the Federation's handling of the Cardassians. It's possible, therefore, that figures within the Federation may have sent Section 31 operatives to supply the Bajoran Resistance with weaponry and supplies to fight their oppressors. The Cardassian Union were probably the biggest threat to peace and stability during Star Trek 's "lost era" , so weakening them by covertly supporting their enemies would be a smart tactical move by the Federation.

2327: Jean-Luc Picard Is Stabbed Through The Heart By A Nausicaan

The near-fatal incident was the making of the future enterprise captain..

The Starfleet career of Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) was almost cut tragically short in 2327, when he was stabbed through the heart by a Nausicaan. Picard underwent emergency surgery, in which he had an artificial heart fitted . In Star Trek: The Next Generation season 6, episode 15, "Tapestry", Q (John de Lancie) helped Picard to realize that this incident made him the legendary Starfleet captain that he would become. By facing death at the start of his career, Picard knew that life was short, and was emboldened to make his mark as an officer, eventually becoming captain of the Enterprise.

2333: Jean-Luc Picard Takes Command Of The USS Stargazer

Could jean-luc picard meet philippa georgiou.

In 2333, Jean-Luc Picard assumed command of the USS Stargazer when the commanding officer was killed in action . Starfleet were so impressed by Picard's courage under fire that they made him the permanent commanding officer of the Stargazer. Jean-Luc commanded the USS Stargazer for 22 years, joined by his best friend, Lt. Commander Jack R. Crusher (Doug Wert), the husband of Star Trek: The Next Generation 's Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden). The timing of Picard's service aboard the Stargazer does make him one of the few Star Trek: The Next Generation characters who could cross paths with Philippa Georgiou in Star Trek: Section 31 .

Picard's History With Beverly Crusher's Family Explained

2335 - 2336: lore and data are built on omicron theta, the soong-type androids were a huge leap forward for artificial intelligence..

Dr. Noonien Soong (Brent Spiner) and his wife Juliana (Fionnula Flanagan) made a huge leap forward in creating synthetic life. In 2335, Lore was built and activated, but displayed signs of emotional instability, and even a sinister degree of malevolence. Lore was deactivated, and Soong began working on a new and improved model, Data, who was less emotional and therefore more stable. With the help of Juliana, Data began to learn about art and music, in a desire to become more human . However, the Soong family were soon to face a devastating tragedy that would place Data in the hands of Starfleet.

2338: Omicron Theta Is Attacked By The Crystalline Entity

Lore's revenge was devastating, but set data on a path to starfleet..

Lore took revenge on Noonien and Juliana by communicating with the Crystalline Entity, an immensely powerful being responsible for thousands of deaths in the 24th century . Lore effectively fed the Soongs' home of Omicron Theta to the Entity, which quickly consumed all organic life on the planet. Juliana was seriously injured as she and Noonien Soong fled the Entity, later dying and being replaced by an android duplicate. Data was left behind on Omicron Theta, where he was discovered by the crew of the USS Tripoli, who reactivated him, and inspired the Soong-type android to pursue a career in Starfleet.

The Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Silicon Avatar" reveals that Raymond Marr was killed on Omicron Theta, inspiring his mother Kila to dedicate her career to learning more about the Crystalline Entity.

2344: The USS Enterprise-C Is Destroyed

Captain garrett's sacrifice preserved peace with the klingon empire..

Years after she meets Philippa Georgiou in Star Trek: Section 31 , Rachel Garrett is captain of the USS Enterprise-C . Beyond its tragic ending, the service history of Garrett's Enterprise is unknown, but it was a starship of huge historical significance. As revealed in Star Trek: The Next Generation season 3, episode 15, "Yesterday's Enterprise", the Enterprise-C bravely fought off a Romulan attack on a Klingon colony. Outgunned and outmanned, the Enterprise-C was destroyed above Narendra III by four Romulan warbirds .

First appearing in 1990's Star Trek: The Next Generation episode, "Yesterday's Enterprise", Rachel Garrett would remain the only female captain of the starship Enterprise until Seven of Nine took command of the USS Enterprise-G in 2023's Star Trek: Picard finale, "The Last Generation".

The biggest tragedy of the USS Enterprise-C was that the crew were presented with a way out when, over 20 years later, they fell through a temporal rift. However, their disappearance from Narendra III ultimately led to tensions between the Federation and the Klingon Empire reaching boiling point once again. And so Garrett and her crew made the decision to return to 2344 and face their tragic fate. The Klingon Empire was so impressed by the Enterprise-C's glorious battle against the Romulans that relations between them and the Federation began to improve .

2346: The Romulans Attack Khitomer

The khitomer massacre tore the house of mogh apart..

The complicated relationship between the Klingon Empire and Worf (Michael Dorn) begins in Star Trek 's "lost era" with the devastating Khitomer Massacre in 2346. It was a massive escalation of the attempted destruction of Narendra III two years earlier. Worf's father, Mogh, desperately tried to warn the colony about the impending attack, after unearthing the fact that the planet's defense codes had been leaked by the traitor Ja'rod. Romulan forces launched a devastating attack on the Klingon colony, resulting in an estimated 78% of the population being listed as casualties . The attack orphaned Worf, who was raised by his adoptive human parents, Sergey and Helena Rozhenko.

Why Worfs Son Alexander Rozhenko Has Human Names, Not Klingon

2362: the setlik iii massacre happens, the tragedy made chief o'brien a hero..

The Federation-Cardassian Wars began in 2347 and the conflicts between both powers lasted into the early 2360s . One of the most devastating tragedies of these conflicts was the Setlik III massacre, the date of which is up for debate in Star Trek canon. In Star Trek: The Next Generation season 4, episode 12, "The Wounded", Chief O'Brien (Colm Meaney) states that the massacre occurred in 2347, but this is later contradicted when Star Trek: Deep Space Nine dates it closer to 2362.

Chief O'Brien became the " Hero of Setlik III " by saving the lives of 13 people with a field transporter.

Whatever the date, the Cardassian attack on Setlik III was devastating, and killed the majority of the colony's inhabitants, including the family of Captain Benjamin Maxwell (Bob Gunton). Chief O'Brien became the " Hero of Setlik III " by saving the lives of 13 people with a field transporter. It was revealed in Star Trek: The Next Generation that the Setlik III massacre was a terrible mistake, launched out of the false belief that the civilian colony was a staging ground for a Federation invasion of Cardassian space .

Captain Janeway, Chief O'Brien, and Captain Picard all saw action during the Federation-Cardassian Wars.

2363: Construction On The USS Enterprise-D Is Completed

19 years after the destruction of the USS Enterprise-C, construction was completed on her successor in 2363. This is the moment that brings Star Trek 's "lost era" to a close, as Captain Jean-Luc Picard would command the USS Enterprise-D for eight years beginning in 2364. The adventures of Picard's crew are legendary, and well documented, as are those of Captains Janeway and Sisko who followed in his wake. However, whether it was the falllout from the Cardassian border agreement, or the revelations about the Khitomer Massacre, all three of those legendary Star Trek captains had to deal with the fallout from this "lost era" of Starfleet history.

Star Trek: Section 31 will release exclusively on Paramount+ at a later date.

Star Trek: Generations is available to stream on Max.

All episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine are available to stream on Paramount Plus.

Star Trek: Section 31

In this Paramount+ exclusive movie event, Michelle Yeoh returns as Emperor Philippa Georgiou, who was first introduced in Star Trek: Discovery Season 1. Star Trek: Section 31 centers on Yeoh's character as she faces her past sins and is recruited by Starfleet's secret division that protects the United Federation of Planets.

Star Trek: The Next Generation

Star Trek: The Next Generation is the third installment in the sci-fi franchise and follows the adventures of Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew members of the USS Enterprise. Set around one hundred years after the original series, Picard and his crew travel through the galaxy in largely self-contained episodes exploring the crew dynamics and their own political discourse. The series also had several overarching plots that would develop over the course of the isolated episodes, with four films released in tandem with the series to further some of these story elements.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, also known as DS9, is the fourth series in the long-running Sci-Fi franchise, Star Trek. DS9 was created by Rick Berman and Michael Piller, and stars Avery Brooks, René Auberjonois, Terry Farrell, and Cirroc Lofton. This particular series follows a group of individuals in a space station near a planet called Bajor.