star trek nyota uhura

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Nyota Uhura

• 1.1 Early life
• 1.2 Starfleet Academy
• 1.3.1 First post
• 1.3.2 Aboard the Ahriman and Potemkin
• 1.3.3 Aboard the Enterprise (NCC-1701)
• 1.3.4 Return to Earth and the second five year mission
• 1.3.5 Assignment to the Excelsior
• 1.3.6.1 Mission to the Quatrin system
• 1.4 After the Enterprise
• 1.5 Starfleet Intelligence
• 1.6.1.1 Kimara Cretak
• 1.6.1.2 Scott Heisenberg
• 1.6.1.3 Curzon Dax
• 2 Starfleet service record
• 3.1 Connections
• 3.2 External link
• 3.3 Appearances

Biography [ ]

Early life [ ].

Nyota Uhura was born in the year 2239 in the United States of Africa on Earth . ( ST reference : Star Trek Chronology )

The daughter of Alhamisi and M'Umbha Uhura , she was born in Kitui Province , Kenya . Her family's name is derived from the Swahili word Uhuru , which translates to "freedom", and her given name means "star". ( TOS episodes : " Is There in Truth No Beauty? ", " The Man Trap "; TOS novels : The Starless World , Uhura's Song ; TAS novelization : The Slaver Weapon )

As a child, Uhura lived with her parents in the coastal city of Mombasa where she was enrolled in several after-school classes, such as music and dance , swimming , gymnastics and languages . Once a year just after her birthday in January , she stayed for a month in the country with her grandparents and cousins. ( TLE novel : Catalyst of Sorrows )

At some time in her childhood, Uhura attended Public School 29 in Nairobi , where her teacher was Ms. Yemada . ( TOS novel : Vulcan's Forge )

In the summer of 2249 , at the age of 10, Uhura learned sign language from her deaf cousin, Epala , while visiting her in Koyo . ( TOS novel : The Disinherited )

Also in 2249, Uhura was a student at the Institute for Advanced Mathematics , where her roommate was a girl named T'iana . There was a fire in their dorm room and T'iana was trapped under a fallen beam, and Uhura was lit ablaze. Uhura was unable to save T'iana before succumbing to the effects of the heat and fire. For years afterwards, Uhura would have dreams about T'iana's death and Uhura's subsequent rescue by adults. The fear recurred most vividly in 2269 when Uhura was part of the Enterprise crew facing a deadly heat effect that began in the Beta Castelli star system . ( TOS novel : The Three-Minute Universe )

In 2255 , just after her 16th birthday, Uhura traditionally killed an automated lion with a spear in East Africa. ( TAS novelization : The Slaver Weapon )

Shortly before Uhura entered the Academy, her father, Alhamisi, disappeared while on a deep space mission. ( TOS novel : The Starless World )

Her parents were teachers at the University of Nairobi . They and Nyota's brother were both killed in a shuttle accident. ( SNW episode : " Children of the Comet ")

Starfleet Academy [ ]

Uhura entered Starfleet Academy in 2257 ( Star Trek Chronology ), and studied at the Starfleet College of Communications . There, she learned spatial navigation, Duotronics , and cryptography skills under Lieutenant Commander Benjamin Finney . [ citation needed ]

Cadet Uhura.

Uhura's time as a cadet crossed over with the Academy career of James T. Kirk . When the Academy campus was locked down with an accusation of misconduct by Captain Matthew Decker , Uhura agreed to break curfew with Kirk and a group of other cadets to investigate the problem. They discovered that Decker's accusation was false, and had been planted in the computer as a test to see how the cadets would perform under pressure. Decker later congratulated the class for working together to prove their innocence, without fighting amongst themselves. ( TOS comic : " Starfleet Academy! ")

Cadet Uhura's roommate at the Academy was an Orion girl. The Orion girl's attitude did not impress Uhura, who later said the Orion was "full of it". Uhura remembered this quality of Orion women when she was involved in a fight with the Orion Emerald Empress in an alternate reality . ( TOS - Legion of Super-Heroes comic : " Issue 3 ")

Uhura's dear friend Trent Ojuremi failed to enter the Academy, and Uhura lost contact with him by her second year. However, she subconsciously retained her strong affections for him, which in 2266 were sensed by the M-113 creature . It thus took on a telepathic form of him and communicated in Swahili, telling her that it could feel her missing his presence. ( TOS novel : Across the Universe ; TOS episode : " The Man Trap ")

In 2259 , Uhura won the Jovian Triathlon . ( TOS novel : Assignment: Eternity )

She graduated from the academy in 2261 . ( ST website : StarTrek.com )

Starfleet career [ ]

First post [ ].

Uhura's first command was at a location called Two Dawns . Here she met a Junior Diplomat from Eeiauo named Sunfall of Ennien . ( TOS novel : Uhura's Song )

Aboard the Ahriman and Potemkin [ ]

Uhura graduated from the Academy in 2261 and was assigned to the Saladin -class destroyer , USS Ahriman , as junior communications officer. While on a mission to Wynet V later that year, the Ahriman s commanding officer was killed. Shortly after, Uhura was promoted to lieutenant junior grade . ( TOS novel : The Tears of the Singers )

Shortly after, Lieutenant Uhura transferred to the Constitution -class USS Potemkin as junior communications officer. ( ST video game : Star Trek: Starship Creator )

Aboard the Enterprise (NCC-1701) [ ]

Uhura transferred aboard the USS Enterprise in 2262 as Chief Communications Officer, under the command of Captain Christopher Pike . Like the rest of the Enterprise crew at that time, she developed fierce loyalty for Captain Pike. So, when James T. Kirk assumed command in 2264 , she was unsure about the young captain. A skilled singer, she sometimes performed music and improv with Lieutenant j.g. Spock (a skilled lyre player) on the crew rec deck. Six years later, in 2270 , Lieutenant Arex , a harpist, joined. One of Uhura's favorite songs was "The Moon's a Window to Heaven". ( TOS novel : Enterprise: The First Adventure , TAS episode : " The Practical Joker ", TOS movie : The Final Frontier , TOS episode : " Charlie X "; WizKids module : Attack Wing )

Nevertheless, Uhura's first conversation with Kirk saw him praise her father and express regret over his loss, thus earning Uhura's respect. ( TOS novel : The Starless World )

According to the elder Spock in TOS novelization : Star Trek , "In both our histories the same crew found its way onto the same ship in a time of ultimate crisis." This may imply that there is an untold story set in the prime timeline in which Kirk's crew faced an extremely serious challenge while still a new and untested unit.

Following the three-month voyage around the Federation Phalanx in 2264, Uhura was temporarily re-assigned, leaving Lt. Commander Daniel Alden to assume her former post. She returned to the Enterprise in 2265 when Alden transferred off the ship. This period just before the exchange of duties saw her relationship with Kabaka Buganda . ( TOS novel : Enterprise , TOS comic : " The D'Artagnan Three ")

In her first assignment back aboard the Enterprise , Uhura commandeered a shuttlecraft so that she could rescue Captain Kirk and a landing party from a group of Klingons that had captured them. It was around this occasion her department colors switched from gold to red. ( TOS comic : " Uhura's Story ") Uhura also helped adjust the Universal translator during the initial First contact with the Archernarians of Archernar IV just before she, Capts. Kirk, Cassady , and an away team appeared before them. ( TOS comic : " Mission's End, Issue 1 ")

Shortly after the Enterprise 's first encounter with Harcourt Fenton Mudd , Uhura went to Captain Kirk and requested to be reassigned from the command division to the engineering and services division. Kirk was not happy with this decision and grilled her about throwing away her command abilities and leadership potential, however, despite his disappointment, he approved her transfer. ( TOS novel : The Fire and the Rose )

Later that year, following the Romulan attack on the Neutral Zone outposts, she was promoted to full Lieutenant , after she deciphered the Romulan micropulse code . ( TOS novelization : Balance of Terror )

The start of 2267 marked Uhura's stint on Enterprise with being complimented as a Nubian (of ancient Egypt ) by the Q called Trelane . ( TOS episode : " The Squire of Gothos ") Weeks afterwards, she was temporarily re-assigned to the USS Lexington , under the command of Commodore Robert Wesley , to aid with communications with an alien race from the Gamma Xaridian system . ( TOS novel : The Disinherited )

Later on in 2267, Uhura was reunited with Trent Ojuremi on the planet Merope IV , when the Enterprise transported survivors from the Stephen Hawking to the planet. ( TOS novel : Across the Universe ) Towards the end of this year, Uhura's memory was erased, by the Nomad / Tan-Ru probe. A natural fast learner, she was re-educated from her mother-tongue of Bantu Swahili back to English . ( TOS episode : " The Changeling ")

In 2268 , Uhura was instrumental in finding a cure for the ADF syndrome that had struck the planet Eeiauo . Remembering songs that she and an Eeiauoan friend sang at the Academy, she directed the Enterprise to the planet Sivao , which was the long-forgotten homeworld of the Eeiauoans. ( TOS novel : Uhura's Song )

The culmination of her trust and respect for Kirk over the past half decade surfaced when she admitted to him how the sound of his voice calmed her in times of shipboard crisis. ( TOS episode : " Plato's Stepchildren ", TOS novel : Ex Machina ) Though it was never made public, the two may have shared a relationship on the border between professional and intimate. An example of this is when Kirk was quick to defend her, while she was assaulted by a thrall on Triskelion . ( TOS episode : " The Gamesters of Triskelion ") One of her lesser-known (and quite embarrassing) moments was her inadvertently seeing Kirk's "birthday suit". This happened, of course, while she made a special errand to Kirk's quarters on March 22nd. ( TOS short story : " Surprise! ")

Uhura finally got a shot at command in 2269 . After all of the male Enterprise crewmembers were lured down to Taurus II by the enchanting women on the planet, Uhura was forced to assume command. ( TAS novelization : The Lorelei Signal ) She assumed command once again during the ship's conflict with the Crusaders on Ephrata IV when Kirk, Spock and Sulu were trapped on the planet and Scotty was seriously injured in an attack, leaving Uhura the highest-ranking bridge officer. Despite her initial fears, Uhura not only won a game of 'chicken' with Crusader Sokis when he threatened to use a gravity beam to make the Enterprise crash into the planet (Correctly deducing that Sokis needed Enterprise too much to actually destroy it), but was able to devise a plan to defeat the Crusaders' brainwashing. ( TOS novel : The Weight of Worlds )

Return to Earth and the second five year mission [ ]

When the Enterprise returned to Earth in 2270 , following the completion of the five-year mission , Uhura took a post at Starfleet Academy teaching special communications. ( TOS novels : The Lost Years , Traitor Winds )

In 2271 , Uhura was promoted to Lieutenant Commander and re-assigned to the newly-refitted Enterprise as chief communications officer. She also used an updated version of linguacode , first ciphered by Hoshi Sato , in the 22nd Century. ( TOS movie , novelization & comic adaptation : The Motion Picture , ST website : StarTrek.com )

Uhura was assigned to cadet training and Starfleet Command Communications in 2277 . ( ST website : StarTrek.com )

In 2285 , Uhura was promoted to full Commander . Later that same year, she received much criticism for choosing a posting at Earth spacedock 's transporter room and communication ops. Her eager assistant, " Mr. Adventure " was one to question her choice, which had appealed to her desire for more "peace and quiet" after the recent events of the Genesis affair. This may have been her first calling to covert operations, as this was all a stage to grant Admiral Kirk's party safe passage back to the de-commissioned Enterprise . She later made rendezvous with them on Vulcan , having used the transporter system to travel to the Vulcan Embassy on Earth. At the behest of Ambassador Sarek , they were all granted clemency and asylum from Starfleet jurisdiction for rescuing his son Spock from a non-sanctioned Klingon incursion to the Genesis planet, a galactic controversy of its time. ( ST website : StarTrek.com , TOS movie , novelization & comic adaptation : The Search for Spock )

Assignment to the Excelsior [ ]

Following the destruction of the Enterprise in 2285 , Captain Kirk and the command staff are reassigned to the USS Excelsior , Uhura joins them and is assigned as Chief Communications Officer. ( TOS comic : " Masquerade! ")

Shortly after, Uhura accompanies Sulu and Lt. William Bearclaw to investigate the smuggling of dilithium crystals . The party discovered that the smugglers were also slavers, and managed to engineer the smugglers capture. ( TOS comic : " The D'Artagnan Three ")

Assignment to the Enterprise (NCC-1701-A) [ ]

Following the Cetacean Probe crisis on 2286 , Commander Uhura was assigned to the newly-launched USS Enterprise -A . ( TOS novelization : Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home )

Later that year, Uhura joined with the renegade Vulcan Sybok , when he took over the Enterprise and used the ship to penetrate the Great Barrier , to find the legendary planet Sha Ka Ree . It was at this time she confessed her affections toward Montgomery Scott , while the two were alone. Even though her emotions were uninhibited on this occasion, he kept composed and decided to maintain a Platonic relationship. Scott, however, had told her she was one of the most understanding women (besides Enterprise ) he had known. ( TOS movie , novelization & comic adaptation : The Final Frontier )

Mission to the Quatrin system [ ]

In 2287 , while on shore leave in the Quatrain system , Uhura and Sulu witnessed a multiple murder. Fortunately, one of the victims survived and was beamed aboard the Enterprise for treatment. The Quatrain security agency began to investigate the murders and insisted that Uhura and Sulu appear before a board of inquiry to give evidence.

Meanwhile, the Quatrain security director learned that the survivor identified one of his men as the murderer to Captain Kirk, and ordered his second-in-command to kill Uhura and Sulu before they could beam back to the Enterprise . Sulu managed to stop the killer, but was wounded in the attempt, and Uhura managed to steal a shuttlecraft and headed to the nearby ice planet, Beta , with Sulu.

After arriving on Beta, Uhura headed off to find medical help for Sulu, and encountered a group of Betan rebels who lent assistance and treated Sulu, in exchange for Uhura's help with their communications equipment. At the Betan encampment, Uhura was captured by the security forces, but managed to get a message to the Enterprise and Commander Chekov and a security team rescued her. ( TOS comics : " Veritas ", " Sacrifices and Survivors ", " Danger...On Ice ", " Cold Comfort ")

After the Enterprise [ ]

Following the Praxis incident in 2293 , Uhura once again began teaching at Starfleet Academy. A few months later Uhura joined Captain Spock and Dr. McCoy on a diplomatic mission to Qo'noS to improve relations, and began working with Klingon musicians and singers to exchange musical ideas and theories. ( TOS novel : The Last Roundup )

Also in 2293 , Uhura left Starfleet and became the Senior Vice President in charge of Procurement and Delivery for Inter-Galactic Systems . She was happily stationed somewhere between Earth and Mars when James T. Kirk enlisted her to help save Hikaru Sulu . She had no future intention of re-joining Starfleet . She even went so far as to state that the only reason she joined the rescue party was out of loyalty to James T. Kirk . ( TOS novel : The Fearful Summons )

In 2294 , Captain Spock assumed command of the Oberth -class USS Intrepid II , and Commander Uhura came aboard as first officer , for the ship's shakedown cruise. Following the diversion to the planet Obsidian , Spock resigned his Starfleet commission, and Uhura was promoted to captain and given command of the Intrepid II . ( TOS novel : Vulcan's Forge )

At some point afterwards that year, Uhura tracked down her former crewmate, Montgomery Scott, and asked him gently to move on with life and quit blaming himself following the loss of Captain Kirk, and expressed her condolences and her regret at being unable to make it to the memorial. ( ST novel : Engines of Destiny )

In the early 24th century , Uhura commanded the USS Leondegrance . ( PIC episodes : " Remembrance ", " The Star Gazer ", DS9 novel : The Autobiography of Benjamin Sisko )

By the 2300s , Captain Uhura was in command of the USS Hermes , and in 2310 , the Hermes took aboard Doctors Gillian Taylor and Carol Marcus , who planned to test an experimental Genesis Device on the planet Pacifica . However, Marcus and Taylor encountered intelligent life in Pacifica's ocean and the plan was abandoned. ( TOS short story : " The Hero of My Own Life ")

Starfleet Intelligence [ ]

Admiral Uhura.

Uhura was first approached by operatives of Starfleet Intelligence on Khitomer following the attempted assassination of Federation President Ra-ghoratreii in 2293 . They offered her a spot in S.I., which Uhura accepted.

For the rest of her Starship career, even when she commanded the Hermes , she was passing on things that she heard on to Starfleet Intelligence. She never spied on Starfleet personnel, only passing on information that she heard on the subspace frequencies. ( TLE novel : Catalyst of Sorrows )

In the years that followed Uhura gradually made her way up the chain of command at Starfleet Intelligence, eventually making her way to the top of the department. She maintained the rank of captain, in part to retain a low profile, but had security clearances higher than some admirals.

In the year 2343 , Captain Uhura traveled to Starbase 47 in the midst of the Betreka Nebula Incident to personally assign operative Elias Vaughn to assess the situation on Raknal IV . ( TLE novel : The Art of the Impossible )

In 2344 , Uhura made an unofficial request to Commander Saavik of the USS Armstrong to travel to Romulus and bring back Spock , who had answered a summons sent by a Romulan officer named Charvanek . ( TOS novel : Vulcan's Heart )

In 2360 , Admiral Uhura sent a team that included Lieutenants Benjamin Sisko , Selar and Tuvok on a covert mission behind the borders of the Romulan Star Empire to gather intelligence on the virulent disease called the gnawing that had been afflicting the Empire. ( TLE novel : Catalyst of Sorrows )

Admiral Uhura remained working in Starfleet Intelligence throughout the Dominion War and the Watraii affair of 2377 . As of 2377, she is 138 years old. ( TOS novels : Exodus , Exiles )

Personal life [ ]

In 2360 , Uhura lived alone in a house built into a hillside overlooking the Muir Woods in California on Earth . ( TLE novel : Catalyst of Sorrows )

Friendships and relationships [ ]

Kimara cretak [ ].

Uhura met Kimara Cretak at the Khitomer Conference in 2293 when the Romulan was serving as an aide to Senator Pardek . Although they never met face-to-face again, they kept in touch via specially coded subspace signals . ( TLE novel : Catalyst of Sorrows )

Scott Heisenberg [ ]

Lieutenant junior grade Scott Heisenberg was unceremoniously locked in a closet at phaser-point in the Old City Station transporter room by Uhura in 2285 . Months later in 2286 , Uhura ran into Heisenberg at Starfleet Headquarters where he admitted to her that it wasn't the phaser she'd pointed at him that scared him, but rather the look she gave him after he called her a "space veteran" and remarked that "her career was winding down". Despite this rather rocky start, the two became friends and Heisenberg ended up working for Uhura in Starfleet Intelligence . ( TLE novel : Catalyst of Sorrows )

Curzon Dax [ ]

By 2360 , Uhura and Curzon Dax were very good friends. In fact, Curzon wanted a little more than just friendship and actively flirted with Uhura, mostly to no avail. ( TLE novel : Catalyst of Sorrows )

When Nero and Ambassador Spock were sent back to the 23rd century , causing what was called the Kelvin timeline after Nero's assault of the USS Kelvin , a photo of Uhura and Spock's crewmates aboard the USS Enterprise -A was among the personal effects bequeathed to the alternate Spock after Ambassador Spock passed away in the year 2263 . ( TOS movie : Beyond )

In stories by Benny Russell , Uhura was a character created by Russell. ( DS9 short story : " The Dreamer and the Dream ")

Starfleet service record [ ]

• Personal log , Nyota Uhura

Appendices [ ]

Connections [ ], external link [ ].

• Nyota Uhura article at Memory Alpha , the wiki for canon Star Trek .

Appearances [ ]

• 1 Ferengi Rules of Acquisition
• 2 Odyssey class
• 3 Typhon class

Who Plays Nyota Uhura On Star Trek: Strange New Worlds?

In the "Star Trek" timeline, few space-faring females stand quite as tall as Nyota Uhura . The Kenyan-born communications officer is one of the series' most iconic characters and one of the best examples of how "Star Trek" shattered the social norms of its time. When the original series aired in the late 1960s, TV audiences were not entirely used to seeing Black women portrayed with as much competence and skill as Uhura (originally played by Nichelle Nichols). The character is a genius, a prodigy of languages, a high-ranking Federation officer and ship commander, and one-half of one of the first interracial kisses to ever air on television (via CNN ).

That legacy remains strong even now, over half a century after Uhura and "Star Trek" initially debuted. Thanks to "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds," which tells the story of the USS Enterprise crew before James T. Kirk (William Shatner) took command, a whole new generation is being introduced to Uhura. More specifically, they're being introduced to Uhura as portrayed by actor Celia Rose Gooding. While this is the first time that many "Star Trek" fans have been introduced to Gooding, "Strange New Worlds" is far from her only influential role.

Celia Rose Gooding is an award-winning thespian

If you haven't heard of Celia Rose Gooding before now, then we won't blame you. She hasn't been acting quite as long as others. However, Gooding has accomplished quite a lot, possibly because the talent is in her blood. Her mother is Tony Award-winning actor LaChanze, who identified Gooding's talent from a very young age (via Playbill ). As a child, Gooding grew up seeing her mother succeed in theater, even helping her as a reader for auditions at times. This, in no small way, prepared Gooding for her own theater career, where she has made swift progress.

Aside from "Strange New Worlds," Gooding is likely best known for her role in the Broadway play "Jagged Little Pill," where she plays Frankie Healy, the adopted Black bisexual daughter of a white family. In 2021, "Jagged Little Pill" won a Grammy for best musical theater album (via IMDb ), making it Gooding's first award as a professional actor. That's a strong start if ever there was one.

Now that this star has made a trek over to the strange new world of television, however, we look forward to seeing what Celia Rose Gooding can accomplish when she's offstage and on-screen. Who knows? She just might win an Emmy as her second award.

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Nichelle Nichols, the USS Enterprise’s Lt. Uhura, dies at 89

MLK convinced her to return to a groundbreaking role for Black actors

by Owen S. Good

Nichelle Nichols, best known as the communications officer Lt. Nyota Uhura of the starship Enterprise , died July 30. She was 89. Her groundbreaking performances in Star Trek , corresponding with the Civil Rights movement in the United States, helped set the first standard for diversity and inclusion in mainstream screen entertainment.

As Uhura, Nichols was a core presence during Star Trek ’s original run on NBC from 1966 to 1969. To that point, Black actresses were largely given servile or ancillary roles in television and theater. But Nichols, radiating professionalism and 1960s mod-style sex appeal from her chair on the Enterprise’s bridge, opened a channel to Hollywood for stars like Diahann Carroll, Cicely Tyson, and Pam Grier.

Born Grace Dell Nichols on Dec. 28, 1932 in the Chicago suburb of Robbins, Illinois, she modeled and starred in several stage plays during her 20s and 30s, including James Baldwin’s Blues for Mister Charlie , before her breakthrough on Star Trek .

Despite her success in Star Trek ’s first season, Nichols felt called to Broadway, and tendered her resignation to show creator Gene Roddenberry after receiving several offers for major stage roles. The following weekend, she was a celebrity guest at an NAACP banquet, where she met the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

“As a matter of fact, [ Star Trek ] is the only show that my wife Coretta and I will allow our little children to stay up and watch, because it’s on past their bedtime,” King said, according to Nichols’ recollection for the Television Academy Foundation.

“And I got the courage to say, ‘I really am going to miss my co-stars,’ and he said, ‘What do you mean?’ I said, ‘I’m leaving Star Trek ,’ and he said, ‘You cannot.’ […] He said, ‘For the first time on television, we will be seen as we should be seen, every day.’”

Nichols withdrew her resignation and continued with the series, culminating in her role in season 3, episode 10, “Plato’s Stepchildren,” where she shared a kiss with William Shatner, the first interracial romance depicted on American television. The scene came one year after a Supreme Court decision nullifying Southern states’ laws against marriage between races.

Though the series’ first run was cancelled in 1969, Nichols remained a singularly identifiable Star Trek figure in the coming decades. She is, along with Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan, George Takei, and Walter Koenig, one of seven officers commanding the Enterprise from its original three-year mission in the 1960s through six feature film appearances from 1979 to 1991.

On Earth, Nichols was an ambassador for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration beginning in 1977, specifically to advocate for the training and assignment of women and minority candidates for spaceflight roles. In 2012, NASA credited Nichols for inspiring the careers of Sally Ride (the first American woman in space) and fellow astronauts Ronald McNair, Frederick Gregory, and Judith Resnik.

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Appreciation: ‘Star Trek’ underutilized Nichelle Nichols. She was its heart and soul anyway

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The original “Star Trek” may have been canceled in 1969, but it is still with us . That three seasons of a television series could in those days produce 79 episodes led to a healthy life in syndication, which brought the voyagers of the starship Enterprise new generations of viewers and led to the creation of a dedicated fandom, multiple ongoing conventions and the eventual creation of a franchise that continues to pay respect to the original .

As communications officer Lt. Uhura (the first name Nyota was a later addition), Nichelle Nichols, who died Saturday at the age of 89 , was with the show from first to last, including the subsequent “Star Trek: The Animated Series” and six feature films built around the original cast. Nichols was an elegant, poised performer — she was a trained dancer who held herself like one, just sitting at her console, one leg forward, one leg back, one hand to her earpiece — and in a series in which overacting can sometimes seem like the baseline, she never did too much. But Uhura was far more than a character in a television show, just as Nichols was something more than an actor: They were inspirational figures of historical import, both the player and the part, models of dignity who pointed to a better future simply by doing their jobs.

While racism was a recurring theme on “Star Trek,” Earth in the 23rd century is portrayed as having moved beyond prejudice, and so within the context of the series there is nothing extraordinary about a Black woman in a position of responsibility — Nichols has described Uhura as “fourth in command” — which is exactly what made it extraordinary in the context of late-1960s television.

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

Nichols died of heart failure Saturday night at a hospital in Silver City, N.M.

July 31, 2022

“Where I come from, size, shape or color make no difference,” William Shatner’s Kirk tells little person Michael Dunn in “Plato’s Stepchildren,” the third-season episode in which Kirk and Uhura have their famous kiss — not television’s first interracial kiss, it has been pointed out, but as far as I can tell, the first between a Black woman and a white man. The fact that they’re forced into it by telekinetic aliens, robbing them of agency, makes the scene no less groundbreaking, and Uhura’s speech to Kirk just beforehand puts a deeper slant on things: “I’m thinking of all the times on the Enterprise when I was scared to death. And I would see you so busy at your command. And I would hear your voice from all parts of the ship. And my fears would fade. And now [the aliens] are making me tremble. But I’m not afraid.“

Kiss aside, there’s no question Nichols was underused in the series; in the hierarchy of the show, in terms of screen time, there are Kirk and Spock, and then McCoy and Scott, and then Uhura (and Sulu and Chekhov). A lot of dudes. (Majel Barrett’s recurring Nurse Chapel was the only other female element, notwithstanding various guest aliens, often scantily clad.) Uhura rarely joins a landing party. But even when she’s not the focus of a scene, she is regularly onscreen, even if just visible at her post on the bridge, completing the picture, contributing to the emotional tenor. (And when she isn’t there, you notice it.) As the communications officer, everything runs through Uhura: She’s the voice of what’s happening elsewhere on the ship, and what’s happening outside the ship, whether announcing the presence of some other spacecraft or relating what’s up with Planet X. Even reciting lines like “I’m receiving Class Two signals from the Romulan vessel” or “Revised estimate on cloud visual contact 3.7 minutes,” she is the picture of the professional. She builds exposition, asks important questions; wordlessly reacting to some bit of business on the viewing screen, she brings an emotion and energy into the scene different from that of her sometimes blustery male colleagues.

Still, in the series’ first episode, Uhura confesses that she’s “beginning to feel too much a part of that communications console.” And whenever she’s liberated from her post for a minute and allowed to do anything else at all, you notice and remember. Whether she’s in a crawl space rigging up a subspace bypass circuit, or speaking teasingly with Spock (“Why don’t you tell me I’m an attractive young lady or ask me if I’ve ever been in love? Tell me how your planet Vulcan looks on a lazy evening when the moon is full”), or pretending to be an evil mirror-universe version of herself, these excursions leave you wanting more. For all it accomplished, the series missed a few tricks when it came to Nichols.

There was more to her than “Star Trek,” before, after and during. A performer since her teens, Nichols had toured as a dancer (and at least one night as a replacement singer) with Duke Ellington and made her screen debut in the 1959 film of “Porgy and Bess.” She had originally set her sights on a career in musical theater. You get a glimpse of that performer in the series’ second episode, when, as Spock plays on his Vulcan lyre, Uhura begins to mischievously sing and move catlike through the ship’s lounge: “Oh, on the Starship Enterprise / There’s someone who’s in Satan’s guise / Whose devil ears and devil eyes / Could rip your heart from you.” (Nichols got a couple more chances to sing in the series and performed a fan dance in “Star Trek V: The Final Frontier.”) It was to take a part in a Broadway-bound play that Nichols decided to leave the series after its first season, only to be persuaded to stay after an oft-recounted chance meeting with self-professed huge fan Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who, she later recalled, told her: “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 and can go to space.”

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Apart from “Star Trek” films, which commenced in 1979, a decade after the series was canceled, Nichols continued sporadically to act, including episodes of “Heroes,” “Downward Dog” and “The Young and the Restless,” and movies of varying budget and quality, including Disney’s “Snow Dogs” and the zombie film “The Supernaturals”; perhaps her least Uhura-esque role is in the 1974 Isaac Hayes blaxploitation film “Truck Turner,” in which she plays an ice-cold, highly profane madam. (In 2008, she’d play another madam, a friendly one, in “Lady Magdalene’s,” a ridiculous low-budget action comedy.) Whatever the vehicle, her work always feels committed and self-assured.

But “Star Trek” remains her legacy, and her gift, and it shaped her life, leading Nichols to work with NASA, recruiting women and people of color to the space program (as recounted in the 2019 documentary “Woman in Motion”). Finally, it was home. In the 2007 feature-length fan film “Star Trek: Of Men and Gods,” directed by “Star Trek: Voyager” actor Tim Russ and also starring Nichols’ old castmate Walter “Chekhov” Koenig, Nichols played Uhura one final time, in a part that — with no Kirk, no Spock in the way — at last brought her to center stage. Currently available on YouTube , the film definitely feels homemade, but it is clearly a labor of love, and Nichols, white-haired and still beautiful, is wonderful in it. And Uhura still lives, in the person of Celia Rose Gooding, who plays the character’s younger self in “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.” These days, “Trek” women get a lot to do. And often they are women of color.

“I believe it was fated,” Nichols said in a Television Academy interview of the encounter with Dr. King that sent her back to “Star Trek.” ”And I’ve never looked back, I never regretted it. Because I understood the universe had somehow, that universal mind had somehow put me there. And we have choices — are we going to walk down this road or are we going to walk down the other? And it was the right road for me.”

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Published Jun 19, 2023

The Zen of Zoe Saldana's Nyota Uhura

Saldana, in her three turns so far in the Star Trek universe, has crafted a unique take on Nyota Uhura, a role pioneered by the illustrious Nichelle Nichols.

StarTrek.com

Zoe Saldana is known as a driving force behind several mega-franchises, including Guardians of the Galaxy and Avatar , as well as Star Trek .

Saldana, in her three turns so far in the Star Trek universe, has crafted a unique take on Nyota Uhura , a role pioneered by the illustrious Nichelle Nichols. Given that fans probably knew less about Uhura than they did Star Trek 's other original characters (not even a first name!) prior to the first Kelvin Timeline movie, Saldana has truly made the role her own by simultaneously infusing Uhura's persona with new traits and honoring Nichols' previous work.

In celebration of Zoe Saldana's birthday, let's take a look at some of her finest Uhura moments!

Star Trek (2009)

"no, i'm assigned to the enterprise .".

Despite her superb record as a cadet, Uhura's assignment to the U.S.S. Farragut prior to the fleet's departure for Vulcan clearly irritated the communications officer. Uhura confronted Spock about the matter, displaying confidence in her qualifications and a willingness to fight for a position she had earned.

The validity of Uhura's argument and her unwavering stance left Spock with no choice but to assign her to the flagship U.S.S. Enterprise .

"Sir, I intercepted and translated the message myself."

Uhura vouched for her expertise as James T. Kirk emphatically explained to Captain Pike that the Klingon transmission intercepted by Uhura, combined with the details of the U.S.S. Kelvin 's destruction by Romulans, and reports of a lightning storm in space near Vulcan, strongly indicated that the Federation fleet was warping into a trap.

Spock quickly acknowledged Kirk's logic and Uhura's aptitude, leading Pike to order an early exit from warp and saving the ship. The teamwork between the three young officers foreshadowed their trusting bond that would form in the coming years.

Star Trek Into Darkness

"good thing you don't care about dying.".

Uhura's frustration with Spock's actions on Nibiru came to a head during their daring excursion to nab John Harrison (aka Khan Noonien Singh) from Qo'noS. Uhura's inclination to stand up to Spock evoked her fearless nature and demonstrated a flair for getting Spock to express his true feelings.

The verbal skirmish led to a rare emotional moment for Spock, as the science officer articulated the esteem in which he held Uhura.

"You brought me here because I speak Klingon. Let me speak Klingon."

Uhura's words professed a confidence in her own work and a readiness to volunteer for a perilous confrontation with a squad of heavily armed Klingons. Valuing their mission and her crew's safety above all, Uhura put herself in harm's way to diffuse the situation. While her plea for peace fell on deaf ears, the communications officer went above and beyond to try and protect her friends.

"Commander, I have that transmission as requested."

Saldana's Uhura exhibited numerous skills during her tenure in Starfleet, but her post as the ship's communications officer also came in handy.

By restoring the Enterprise 's comm systems and reaching Spock Prime on New Vulcan, Uhura permitted her own Spock to gather advice on how to defeat Khan. The interaction between the two Spocks led to the ingenious ruse of beaming armed torpedoes rather than ones containing cryotubes to Khan on the U.S.S. Vengeance .

"Can you beam someone down?"

Unable to beam Khan back to the Enterprise , Uhura once more chose to place an additional burden on her own shoulders. Informing Spock that the crew needed Khan alive served as Uhura's primary goal, and her appearance with a phaser distracted Khan enough to give Spock the upper hand in the brawl.

Uhura's bravery prevented Spock from killing Khan, thus supplying Dr. McCoy with enough “super blood” to resurrect Kirk.

Star Trek Beyond

"he would've done the same.".

As the Enterprise slowly perished, Uhura took it upon herself to assist Captain Kirk in his endeavor to separate the ship's saucer and restore impulse power. After single-handedly dispatching two Swarm Soldiers, the communications officer risked her life and successfully completed her mission.

In the process, Uhura sacrificed her own freedom and saved Kirk from Krall's grasp, as the separation sequence left her trapped with their alien foe in the disconnected engineering section. The sequence of events once again demonstrated Uhura's courageous and resourceful nature.

"Spock, what are you doing here?"

Although Spock set out with Kirk, McCoy, and Jaylah on a mission to free Uhura and the Enterprise survivors from Krall's compound, Saldana's Uhura ended up rescuing the wounded science officer from a Swarm Soldier's deadly wrath. Spock sardonically observed that he had intended to come to Uhura's aid, yet his tone offered a hint of resignation at his former paramour's knack for resolving situations on her own terms.

"It's him."

During the search for Krall aboard the scuttled U.S.S. Franklin , Uhura keenly noticed a recording of the vessel's original crew on a viewing screen. As a master of languages and someone who dealt with Krall face-to-face on Altamid, Uhura observed the similarities between words spoken by Krall and the Franklin 's Captain Balthazar Edison, ultimately realizing that the two people were one and the same.

This crucial revelation provided insight into Krall's intentions and a general description of his current appearance, allowing Kirk to prevent Edison from decimating Starbase Yorktown's population.

"You old romantic."

Offered in response to Spock's awkward attempt at displaying his fondness for Uhura's company, this comment conveyed the amusement Uhura felt and her appreciation for Spock's sentiment. The exchange indicated their relationship's revival and a renewed effort by Spock to make their pairing a focal point in his life.

This article was originally published on January 4, 2019.

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Jay Stobie (he/him) is a freelance writer, author, and consultant who has contributed articles to StarTrek.com, Star Trek Explorer, and Star Trek Magazine, as well as to Star Wars Insider and StarWars.com. Learn more about Jay by visiting JayStobie.com or finding him on Twitter, Instagram, and other social media platforms at @StobiesGalaxy.

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Star Trek: Nichelle Nichols’ Best Uhura Moments

The legendary Nichelle Nichols boldly went where no woman had gone before on Star Trek. Here are the moments where Lt. Uhura got to shine.

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A true icon and legend to generations of fans, actor, singer, dancer and activist Nichelle Nichols left this plane of existence on July 30, 2022. Nichols, of course, was best known for her portrayal of Lt. Nyota Uhura in all three seasons of Star Trek: The Original Series , the short-lived 1973 animated series, plus six feature films featuring the original show’s crew members.

Uhura’s station on the bridge of the Enterprise as communications officer was a breakthrough in American television for both women and African-Americans. A woman, let alone a woman of color, had never been situated in such a high-ranking position before, one of several ways in which Star Trek and Nichols broke new ground.

When Nichols decided to leave after the first season after getting an offer to do a Broadway play, she was convinced to stay on the show by no less than Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In an interview with the Archive of American Television , she recalled King saying, “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, and can go to space, who are professors, lawyers … If you leave, that door can be closed.”

Nichols did stay, and while Star Trek perhaps remained the crowning professional achievement of her life, she continued to act, sing, write and appear at conventions well into her later years. She also worked with NASA on a successful program to recruit minorities and women into the space program.

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Uhura was undeniably an inspiration to millions and a beloved fixture in Star Trek lore. But the character was underused on The Original Series , often relegated to simply opening the hailing frequencies, occasionally screaming, and often reporting on communications failures. On the rare occasions she did get to do something more, her presence and grace was like a beam of pure light on a show that already lit up the imagination every week. Here are 10 examples of Uhura getting that chance to shine, and we’ll treasure them forever as her wonderful spirit heads into the undiscovered country.

“Charlie X” (Season 1, Episode 2)

While Uhura did get some brief business of her own in the first broadcast episode (“The Man Trap”), with a monstrous shapeshifter appearing to her as a member of her own nation, she got a chance to really stand out in this classic episode about a teenage boy who is unable to handle both his developing emotions and his massive reality-warping powers.

In one memorable sequence, Spock and Uhura entertain crew members in the recreation room, with Uhura singing along as Spock plays his Vulcan lute. Not only did the scene let Nichols show off her singing voice, but it established the respectful, playful – and slightly flirty – relationship between Uhura and Spock that was later developed as a full-blown romance in the Star Trek reboot movies.

“The Squire of Gothos” (Season 1, Episode 17)

Uhura doesn’t get a whole lot to do in this episode – in which a petulant superbeing toys with the crew of the Enterprise until his parents show up and scold him – but it at least gets her off the bridge for a few minutes. At one point, Trelane (William Campbell) transports the entire bridge crew down to his castle on the planet Gothos, where he gives Uhura the ability to play the harpsichord so that Trelane can dance with a female yeoman.

Uhura seems to actually having this newfound ability – cementing the character’s longstanding relationship with music – but she’s all business once Kirk (briefly) gets the upper hand on Trelane and manages to get the crew back to the ship.

“The Changeling” (Season 2, Episode 3)

When the psychopathic space probe Nomad comes aboard the Enterprise (a plot later reused in Star Trek: The Motion Picture ), it hears Uhura singing and does not understand it, so it zaps her brain looking for information – wiping her memory and reverting her mind back to that of a child.

Since her mind has been erased, Uhura’s only memory is of speaking Swahili – and a linguist was reportedly brought to the set to write a few lines in the language for Nichols to say. She is shown recovering slowly in Sickbay, and we’re happy to report that she’s back to college level by the end of the episode – and apparently back to normal in time for the next episode and her big role there.

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“Mirror, Mirror” (Season 2, Episode 4)

Regarded as one of the very best episodes of The Original Series , “Mirror, Mirror” finds Kirk, Scott, Uhura, and McCoy trapped in an alternate universe where the Federation is a savage tyranny and Starfleet officers move up in ran through brutality, genocide, assassination, and torture.

Uhura gets lots to do in this episode: she’s involved throughout with the plans to get back to “our” universe, she seduces and then spurns Sulu – on the bridge, no less – in an attempt to distract him at a crucial moment, and even gets a brief fight scene of her own against the “Captain’s Woman” (yeah, we know). As with other episodes that get her out of that damn chair, it’s great to see this trained officer in action.

“The Trouble with Tribbles” (Season 2, Episode 15)

Uhura had perhaps her biggest role ever in this classic episode about a species of furry little animals that breed like crazy and overrun the Enterprise . It is actually the communications officer who brings the first tribble on board the ship: she and Chekov are enjoying a little shore leave in a space station bar when she is presented with one by a traveling salesman who wants to promote his wares.

Uhura’s little pet subsequently begins to breed, and what happens from there is the basis of one of Trek ’s most popular and iconic segments. Uhura is involved throughout, and in her foray to the space station, we actually get to see her act like a woman and a human being – not just a futuristic switchboard operator.

“The Gamesters of Triskelion” (Season 2, Episode 16)

Another (somewhat inexplicably) popular episode, this one finds Kirk, Uhura, and Chekov captured by a group of disembodied aliens called the Providers, who stage gladiatorial contests among various humanoid “Thralls” on their planet as a way to amuse themselves. Our three Starfleet officers of course resist their confinement and training, although they must eventually fight for their lives.

This one found Uhura again in the heart of the action, although both she and Chekov get to do considerably less fighting than good old Kirk (we wonder if Shatner counted the fight scenes). Uhura also must fend off an attempted rape by another Thrall, which fortunately occurs offscreen and which she is able to successfully beat back.

“The Tholian Web” (Season 3, Episode 9)

One of the better third season episodes finds Kirk trapped aboard a starship that has slipped into an interdimensional void, while the Enterprise must fend off an attack from an aggressive race called the Tholians as they wait for Kirk to re-emerge.

Not a lot of Uhura in this one besides her usual duties, but there is one striking scene late in the episode in which we see her in her quarters for the first time in civilian clothing – in this case, a long, flowing gown and ceremonial necklace. Nichols told author David Gerrold in his book The World of Star Trek that this was one of her favorite episodes: “I enjoyed anything that I was able to get out of uniform.”

“Plato’s Stepchildren” (Season 3, Episode 10)

It’s widely regarded as one of the worst Star Trek episodes , yet it contains a moment that stands tall in the history of television. A small band of depraved aliens with vast mental powers, who embrace classical Greek culture, submit Kirk and Spock to various forms of humiliation in order to keep Dr. McCoy from leaving after he saves their leader’s life.

At one point, Uhura and Nurse Chapel are transported down for further entertainment, resulting in a scene in which Kirk and Uhura kiss. The kiss is mentally imposed upon them by the aliens, but that doesn’t change the fact that it was one of the first kisses between a Black person and a white person on television (it was thought to be the first for some time, but that is not in fact the case ; it was also not the first interracial kiss, as long stated, since other shows, even Star Trek itself, had featured kisses between whites and people of Asian or Latino ancestry).

In any case, it was almost certainly the first kiss of its kind (between Black and white) on American network television, a brave move indeed during the turbulent late ‘60s and a moment in which Nichelle Nichols played an essential part.

“The Lorelei Signal” (The Animated Series, Season 1, Episode 4)

Although Uhura was supposed to be fourth in command of the Enterprise , after Kirk, Spock, and Scotty, she was never shown doing so in the live-action show (indeed, Sulu and recurring redshirt Lt. Leslie even got to sit in the chair, but not Uhura!). That changed, however, in this animated series episode, in which a race of beautiful alien women lures the male members of the Enterprise crew to their planet, in order to drain their life force.

With the entire male crew incapacitated by the alien women, Uhura assumes command of the ship for the first time in its televised history as she and Nurse Chapel search for a way to free the men. According to Andy Mangels’ Star Trek: The Animated Series , Nichols reportedly exclaimed during the script’s table read, “What, you’re kidding? I actually get to run the Enterprise ? Really?” Long overdue, madam.

“Once Upon a Planet” (The Animated Series, Season 1, Episode 9)

The animated series returns to the “amusement park” planet from the classic TOS entry “Shore Leave,” in which anything you desire can be made real for your entertainment. This time, however, the planet’s alien caretaker has died, and the planet’s massive computer is running things – and not doing a good job of it.

Uhura gets kidnapped by the computer at one point, and it’s up to her to try and talk some sense into it, albeit unsuccessfully. Not a great episode overall, but hey! It gets Nyota off the bridge again.

Star Trek: The Motion Pictures

In keeping with the TV series, Nichelle Nichols didn’t get a whole lot to do in the first three Star Trek feature films (she was even insultingly left behind as the others took off to save Spock in Star Trek III : The Search for Spock ). But things got a little better in the back three of the original cast’s six films.

In Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home , she and Chekov must go on a mission to covertly board an aircraft carrier parked in San Francisco (and also called Enterprise ) and borrow some energy from its nuclear reactor to recharge their stolen Klingon ship. Star Trek V: The Final Frontier finds Uhura – Nichelle Nichols not giving a shit and still bringing it in her mid-50s – doing a fan dance to distract some local morons on a backwater planet. That makes Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country – Nichols’ final appearance as Uhura – a bit of a letdown, since she’s back at mostly communications, although she has a generally more primary presence on the bridge (and is at the awkward dinner with the Klingons).

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Don Kaye is an entertainment journalist by trade and geek by natural design. Born in New York City, currently ensconced in Los Angeles, his earliest childhood memory is…

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

by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

(AP) — Relatives say Sunday that Nichelle Nichols, who broke ground for Black women acting on television as the beautiful, no-nonsense communications officer Lt. Nyota Uhura on the original "Star Trek" TV series, has died at the age of 89. Her 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 racial stereotypes and included an interracial onscreen kiss with co-star William Shatner that was unheard of at the time.

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 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 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.

"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."

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."

"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.

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.

Former Associated Press Writer Polly Anderson contributed biographical material to this report.

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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

• USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) personnel (alternate reality)
• USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-A) personnel (alternate reality)

Nyota Uhura (alternate reality)

Lieutenant Nyota Uhura was a Starfleet communications officer serving in the 23rd century . As requested by Captain Christopher Pike , Uhura relieved Hawkins , the chief communications officer of the USS Enterprise , shortly before the destruction of Vulcan . She served under Captain Pike, acting captain Spock , and then her classmate at Starfleet Academy , Captain James T. Kirk . ( Star Trek ; Star Trek Into Darkness ; Star Trek Beyond )

• 1 Early life
• 2.1 Starfleet Academy
• 2.2.1 Stopping Nero
• 2.2.2 Nibiru
• 2.2.3 Hunting down John Harrison
• 2.3.1 Final voyage of the Enterprise
• 2.3.2 Altamid
• 3.1.1 Spock
• 3.2.1 James T. Kirk
• 4 Key dates
• 5 Memorable quotes
• 6.1 Appearances
• 6.2 Background information
• 6.3 Apocrypha
• 6.4 External links

Early life [ ]

Nyota Uhura was born in Kenya , Africa , where she grew up near Lake Simbi Nyaima . Her grandmother was a retired Starfleet officer. ( TOS : " The Savage Curtain "; SNW : " Children of the Comet ")

The IDW Star Trek: Ongoing comic The Voice of a Falling Star details an incident in Uhura's childhood in which she, with the encouragement of her uncle Raheem ( β ), saves her parents' lives after a shuttle explosion injures them and blows a spacewalking Raheem away from the shuttle to his death in the nearby planet's atmosphere. She shares this story with Spock during a mind meld .

Starfleet career [ ]

Uhura meets Kirk

In 2255 , while at the bar near the Riverside Shipyard in Iowa , Uhura met an inebriated Jim Kirk , who began flirting with her. Although annoyed by Kirk's advances, Uhura was surprised that Kirk knew what was involved in the study of xenolinguistics. This exchange led to a bar fight as four male cadets were displeased at the attention Kirk was giving Uhura.

Starfleet Academy [ ]

Cadet Uhura in 2255

During her time at Starfleet Academy , Uhura specialized in xenolinguistics with tracking toward a communications officer. Commander Spock served as one of Cadet Uhura's instructors and judged her performance to be consistently exemplary.

In the script of Star Trek , Uhura was established as having received, in her own words, "a Gold rating for Exolinguistic skills, giving Starfleet first place over Kyoto and MIT at the Oxford Invitational." [1]

According to her dossier at the official Star Trek movie website, Uhura originates from Africa and was the Academy aide for the advanced phonology and advanced acoustical engineering courses. She is proficient in eighty-three percent of official Federation languages and regional dialects. She was also Vice President of Starfleet Academy's Chorale Ensemble.

In 2258, Uhura was able to detect and translate a message from within Klingon territory indicating that a fleet of 47 Klingon vessels around the Klingon prison planet had been engaged and destroyed by an unknown Romulan ship. She returned home early that night , interrupting her roommate, at the time an Orion cadet named Gaila , and Kirk, who had been under the bed when she shared the information with Gaila.

Uhura at the communications station during the Kobayashi Maru simulation

At Kirk's request, Uhura was present as communications officer during Kirk's third re-take of the Kobayashi Maru test scenario the following day. After Kirk corrected her, she called him "captain" sarcastically. At a subsequent hearing  on Kirk's actions, seated in a row that Commander Spock, the programmer of the Kobayashi Maru test, had vacated and two seats over from an upset Gaila, Uhura was in attendance in the Academy Council chambers when Kirk was accused of cheating.

Spock was in charge of the starship deployment assignments for the cadets of Uhura's graduating class, and had initially assigned Lieutenant Uhura to the USS Farragut , in spite of Uhura's stated desire to serve aboard the USS Enterprise , the new flagship , in order to avoid any appearance of favoritism . Uhura confronted him about this choice, noting that she was more than qualified to serve aboard the Enterprise and that it was unfair to deny her an opportunity she would have gained had they not been romantically involved. Spock relented and assigned her to the Enterprise .

Communications officer of the USS Enterprise [ ]

Stopping nero [ ].

Uhura at her station prior to being promoted

Aboard the Enterprise , Uhura was approached by Kirk, who had deduced the attack on Vulcan was Romulan in nature, following Pavel Chekov 's description of an anomaly described as a "lightning storm in space" that had preceded the attack on the day of Kirk's birth. She accompanied him to the bridge, where she verified his claims by mentioning that she was the person who had translated and intercepted the report of a similar Romulan vessel in Klingon space.

Captain Christopher Pike promoted Uhura to communications officer because Lieutenant Hawkins , the ship's prior communications officer, was not certain that he could distinguish transmissions in Romulan from transmissions in Vulcan . Uhura, by contrast, was fluent in all three Romulan dialects.

After describing how Uhura was to be promoted to become the Enterprise 's communications officer, the script of Star Trek commented, " We've just watched the birth of an icon. " [2]

Nyota comforts Spock after the loss of Vulcan and his mother

After Vulcan was destroyed, Uhura privately comforted Spock in a turbolift .

In an attempt to gain control of the Enterprise so he could attempt to defeat Nero, Kirk emotionally compromised Spock, causing him to relinquish command. After he left, Nyota approached Kirk and told him that she hoped he knew what he was doing. Again, she called him "captain"; this time, she was hurt, but hopeful.

Before Kirk and Spock beamed to Nero's ship, Uhura shared a tender goodbye kiss with Spock, who referred to her using her first name, and thus revealed their relationship to Kirk and Montgomery Scott . Kirk, who had repeatedly attempted to learn Uhura's first name to no avail throughout the years, asked Spock if "Nyota" was her first name. Spock responded, " I have no comment on the matter. "

In the script of Star Trek , Uhura gave Spock, on the transporter, "a small translator device" for use aboard the Narada . [3] The novelization of Star Trek established she had modified the device so he could be understood by Romulans "conversationally." [4]

Although keeping her distance, she came to respect Kirk as captain of the Enterprise . After he gave her a command on the bridge, she turned to him, smiling, and answered, “ Aye, Captain. " This time, she called him "captain" sincerely. ( Star Trek )

Nyota helps Spock suit up

A year later , Uhura accompanied Spock to Nibiru before he was rappelled from a shuttle into a volcano , to prevent it from wiping out the Nibirans . Ash from the volcano damaged the shuttle and snapped the wire, forcing Uhura and Sulu to leave him. Uhura swam back to the Enterprise , which was hidden underwater. She was distraught to learn ash from the volcano would prevent the Enterprise from transporting Spock back aboard, and to hear Spock explain he would prefer to die activating the cold fusion device than violate the Prime Directive . Kirk rose the Enterprise from the sea to beam him up, violating the Prime Directive but saving his life.

Hunting down John Harrison [ ]

Later, when the Enterprise was tasked with hunting down terrorist John Harrison , Uhura expressed to Kirk in the turbolift that she and Spock were having relationship troubles. While on a K'normian trading ship to Qo'noS , where Harrison was hiding, Uhura and Spock got into an argument, in which she accused of him of being too ready to sacrifice himself for a mission and not caring how she would feel if he died. Spock acknowledged that, since his mother's death, he had been closing himself to such thoughts about how she would feel since he had experienced those feelings, specifically because he did care.

Uhura stabs the officer in the leg

Suddenly, the ship was attacked by Klingons . Kirk tried to lose them but the away team's K'normian vessel was surrounded and forced to land. Uhura counseled Captain Kirk that she be allowed to perform her role as communications officer, rather than try to fight their way out of a situation they could not win. She went out of the ship to negotiate in Klingonese , requesting the Klingons' aid in finding Harrison. The leader of the Klingons she spoke to grabbed her by the throat, and pulled out a knife, prompting Spock and Kirk to go on the offensive. After Harrison showed up and violently began causing a distraction, Uhura grabbed the Klingon's knife and stabbed him with it, causing him to drop her. Once Harrison dispatched the Klingons and surrendered himself into Kirk's custody, Uhura and Spock shared a reconciliatory kiss.

After Harrison revealed he was Khan Noonien Singh, Spock asked Uhura to contact his older parallel universe counterpart on New Vulcan for information. Uhura managed to make contact although the ship was outside of normal range of communication with his location.

As the old Spock warned he would do, Khan betrayed them. When the damaged Enterprise fell to Earth, Kirk reactivated the warp core to prevent it crashing, at the cost of radiation poisoning himself. Uhura came and she, Spock and Scott wept.

Uhura firing repeatedly at Khan

Uhura encouraged Spock to beam down to execute Khan, who had crashed the USS Vengeance into San Francisco . However, Doctor Leonard McCoy discovered a blood transfusion from Khan could heal Kirk, so Uhura beamed down and fired several shots to stun Khan, saving Spock from having his head crushed by Khan. Spock used the opportunity to gain the advantage in the fight and was set to kill him. Uhura was able to stop Spock by informing him they needed Khan alive to save Kirk. Spock then knocked him out instead and took him to sickbay .

When Kirk awoke to his friends Spock and McCoy in a hospital, he acknowledged Spock saving him, whereupon McCoy reminded Kirk that he and Uhura had also helped.

The five-year mission [ ]

Almost a year later, in 2260 , Uhura attended a memorial service for the victims of the conspiracy, which was presided over by Kirk, who was now healthy again. She continued serving on the repaired Enterprise as it embarked on a five-year mission . ( Star Trek Into Darkness )

Final voyage of the Enterprise [ ]

In 2263 , Spock and Uhura had ended their relationship after Spock began considering leaving Starfleet to help his endangered species. Though he intended to discuss it further with Uhura on Yorktown , the news of the death of Spock Prime stopped him. During their relationship, Spock gave Uhura a necklace that once belonged to his mother as a gift and Uhura attempted to return it. Spock refused however.

When Kalara arrives on Starbase Yorktown for help, Uhura accompanies the Enterprise into the Necro Cloud to Altamid . To the crew's shock, they are attacked by Swarm ships , crippling the Enterprise . Uhura remains on the bridge for most of the battle but realizes that Kirk must be in trouble due to the amount of time he is taking to perform a saucer separation . Uhura travels to Engineering where Kirk is fighting Krall and finishes the saucer separation herself. However, Uhura is trapped in the secondary hull with Krall and is captured by him.

Altamid [ ]

"Our captain will come for us."

Uhura was taken to Krall's base where she refused to back down in the face of Krall, telling him that his actions were an act of war against the Federation and Kirk would show no mercy when he came for Krall. Krall was unafraid, stating that he looked forward to Kirk coming after him. Uhura then witnessed him drain two Enterprise crewmembers . Uhura and Sulu briefly escaped, discovering that Krall used a captured Magellan probe to hack Starbase Yorktown and gain access to its archives. Uhura attempted to send a distress call, but Krall recaptured the two and alters the coordinates of the distress call.

Uhura witnesses the death of Ensign Syl

Krall was later able to force Ensign Syl to turn over the Abronath by threatening Sulu and Uhura. She then witnessed Krall test the weapon on Syl. As Krall dragged Uhura to his ship, Kirk attacked on a motorcycle as part of a rescue plan, creating enough of a diversion for Uhura to escape his grasp. Uhura saved Spock who was able to use the necklace he gave her to track the crew down from a Swarm drone and they were beamed safely to the USS Franklin .

On the Franklin , the crew repaired the ship to go after Krall, dropping the Franklin off a cliff to achieve terminal velocity and liftoff. Arriving at Yorktown, the crew found it under attack , and Uhura warned Kirk that she's detecting distress calls from Yorktown on all frequencies. When Spock suggested that the Swarm had a cyberpathic connection that helped them coordinate their movements, Uhura helped him explain this to the rest of the crew and come up with a plan. She then aided Scotty and Jaylah in hooking up the Franklin's music player to the communications console and warned Kirk that they have to get very close to the Swarm for the disruption signal to work. Once they were close enough, Uhura broadcast the signal which destroys most of the Swarm. On Kirk's orders, Uhura sent the signal to Yorktown which also broadcasted the signal, destroying the Swarm.

Uhura at the communications station aboard the Franklin

After the destruction of the Swarm, the crew chased Krall through Yorktown, using the Franklin to intercept Krall's three remaining ships. Uhura checked out one of the hull breaches with Kirk and spotted a victim of Krall's energy transference. As the two crossed through the ruined mess hall, Uhura saw a recording of the original Franklin crew and recognized Captain Balthazar Edison as Krall. Uhura watched the footage with Kirk and Scotty as they determine the history of Edison/Krall and rushed to the bridge to warn Yorktown to turn off their atmospheric processor until the situation was over.

After Krall's defeat, Uhura attended Kirk's thirtieth birthday party where she rekindled her relationship with Spock. Like the rest of the Enterprise crew, she was reassigned to the brand-new USS Enterprise -A to continue their five year mission in a new ship. ( Star Trek Beyond )

Relationships [ ]

Romantic relationships [ ].

Uhura and Spock embrace after the death of Amanda

Nyota Uhura and Spock had a relationship that was established prior to the start of their careers on board the Enterprise . When she was assigned to the USS Farragut , Uhura openly confronted Spock about her having received that posting even though she was qualified to serve aboard the USS Enterprise . She presented him with a logical argument for her placement, to which he admitted he had been trying to avoid the appearance of favoritism. She eventually persuaded him to reconsider her assignment, though.

In the script of Star Trek , Uhura's relationship with Spock was characterized as a secret romance, since before their assignment aboard the Enterprise . [5] According to the official Star Trek movie website , Uhura met Spock while he was an instructor at Starfleet Academy; she was one of his students and the Academy aide for his Advanced Phonology class . In issue 18 of Star Trek: Ongoing , it's revealed that Uhura and Spock started dating in 2257 , after Uhura completed Spock's course. A few months into their relationship, Uhura mind melded with Spock, at his suggestion, and shared with him, during that experience, a dramatic memory from her childhood. [6]

While Spock was preparing to depart from the Enterprise and transport to the surface of Vulcan in an attempt to rescue his parents and the Vulcan High Council , Uhura took an interest in where he was going, calling him by name and not by rank. She was also visibly upset that he was leaving.

When Spock returned after Vulcan was destroyed and his mother was killed, Uhura at one point followed him off the bridge and into a turbolift. Alone in the lift, she comforted him with a shared embrace and kisses.

During the writing of the film Star Trek , the movie's writers debated, amongst themselves, about the possibility of having Uhura and Spock finger-touching in the intimate turbolift scene. Despite there being a long tradition of Vulcans expressing affection between each other by touching fingers, J.J. Abrams ultimately pointed out that such behavior would be unfamiliar and consequently puzzling to a new audience, so kissing was used instead. In a Q&A, Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman agreed with this conclusion. [7]

After Spock announces that he is about to undertake an away mission to the Narada and he then looks at the Enterprise 's senior officers, the film's script stated Uhura's "eyes smile back at him." [8]

Uhura and Spock share a tender moment

When Spock and Kirk about to beam onto Nero's ship, Uhura and Spock kissed on the Enterprise 's transporter platform and shared a heartfelt goodbye with promises offered to each other. Though Spock usually called her by her surname during their professional interactions, Uhura's first name, "Nyota", was used by him on that occasion.

Once Kirk and Spock returned to the Enterprise after the ship had been repaired, Uhura visibly lit up when Spock strode onto the bridge; they shared a look, as he passed behind her station to reach his own, and she smiled. ( Star Trek )

Spock and Uhura aboard the Enterprise

On a mission to Nibiru, Uhura helped Spock get into his suit. She kissed his helmet and gave him encouragement. Later, when it was time to release him into the volcano, she was visibly upset. However, she did not try to dissuade him from his duty. When his line was broken and he fell into the volcano, Sulu apologized to her, and told her they would have to try something else. Once she and Sulu made it back to the bridge of the Enterprise , Uhura was visibly upset when Spock announced he would have to remain behind to die, although her sadness didn't stop her from responding to Kirk's command.

After the mission to Nibiru, Uhura was clearly upset with Spock, although she seemed to be giving him the silent treatment. Uhura's assignment to participate in the away mission to Qo'noS prompted Spock to give Kirk a look as if he wasn't pleased with that decision. In reply to Kirk asking if they could work the mission together, Uhura said they could, then Spock watched her return to her station and responded that he was unsure.

Uhura and Spock quarrel aboard the K'normian ship

En route to Qo'noS, Uhura revealed to Spock that she believed his behavior on missions was too risky. She admitted distress at him willing to sacrifice himself without caring about how it would effect her if she lost him. Spock confided that, because he had experienced such profound grief and despair following the loss of Vulcan and the death of his mother, he closed himself off to the thought of those he cared for experiencing such emotions; this revealed that his problem was not a lack of caring, rather quite the opposite.

Later during the mission, Uhura volunteering to face the Klingons alone evidently upset Spock, although he didn't try to stop her confronting them. Uhura's interaction with the Klingons was carefully observed by Spock, and he later protected both her and Captain Kirk. After taking Harrison into custody, Uhura and Spock reconciled with a kiss.

Uhura and Spock reconcile after apprehending Harrison

When Admiral Marcus first warned the Enterprise crew he was going to kill them, Uhura was joined by Spock, at her station. When the admiral caught up to the Enterprise aboard the Vengeance and the Enterprise crew fully expected to die, Uhura walked to Spock and held his hand.

Uhura later spoke priivately with Spock at her station, when Spock wanted her to contact his older counterpart. Without him clarifying who he wanted to speak to, she intuited precisely who it was he planned to consult.

Later, while Spock chased after Khan, Uhura remained on the Enterprise . After Dr. McCoy informed the bridge crew that Khan was needed alive to possibly save Kirk, both Spock and Khan were moving too quickly for the transporter to be locked onto either of them. Learning someone could beam down, however, Uhura offered to do so and beamed onto a moving garbage barge where Spock and Khan were battling each other. Phaser in hand, she intended to help Spock bring Khan to the Enterprise without killing him. Even though Spock was furious with Khan for having killed Kirk, Uhura was able to calm Spock enough that he ceased his attack on Khan, who was then taken into custody.

At the memorial service in 2260, Uhura was seated directly beside Spock. ( Star Trek Into Darkness )

By 2263 , Uhura and Spock experienced a time-out in their relationship as a consequence of Spock's increasing beliefs that he ought to be helping his people rebuild on New Vulcan , and thus leave Starflee. When Uhura got to Starbase Yorktown with the rest of the crew, she tried to give Spock back his mother's vokaya necklace that he had gifted her; however, Spock declined the offer, insisting she kept it.

Uhura tries to give back Spock's amulet

At the time, as Spock later confessed to Leonard McCoy , he had wanted to further discuss his doubts about leaving with her, but his plans were halted by the news about Ambassador Spock dying. When the Enterprise was destroyed by Krall 's attack, Uhura was captured and imprisoned at his base, along with Sulu and the rest of the Enterprise crew that couldn't escape from his soldiers.

During this time, while aboard the USS Franklin , Spock realized that if Uhura was still wearing his vokaya amulet, Chekov could track its unique Vulcan mineral through its (harmless) radiation emissions and find her and the rest of the crew at Krall's base.

When the group made a plan to free the crew, an injured Spock insisted on participating to the mission because Uhura was at the base too. In spite of his condition, both Kirk and McCoy allowed him to go with them acknowledging their friend's need to be there due to his relationship with the Lieutenant.

Once Spock got to the base as planned, he went looking for her alone after Hikaru Sulu informed him that Uhura had been taken by Krall shortly before him and McCoy got there. However, weakened by his injury he was attacked by two Swarm soldiers only to get saved by Uhura who helped him stand up and asked what he was doing there. When Spock answered that he clearly was there to rescue her (noticing the irony of the situation), Uhura smiled pleased by his care for her and his efforts.

Uhura looking pleased when Spock tells her he was 'clearly' there to rescue her.

Later on, while the USS Franklin finally left Altamid, Uhura shared a look of relief with Spock. Afterwards, as the group tried to make a plan to stop Krall from destroying Yorktown, Uhura helped Captain Kirk understand Spock's technical explaining of his plan to defeat the swarms ships . When Spock volunteered to pilot one of the Swarm ships himself, Uhura expressed worry over him being still hurt for his injury to which Spock replied he respected and appreciated her concerns.

After defeating Krall, Spock changed his mind about leaving Starfleet thus giving him and Uhura the chance to rekindle and continue their relationship. Uhura, who openly wore Spock's vokaya's necklace again, participated to a party for Jim's birthday with the rest of the crew. While there with Spock, she teased him saying that she thought he had a mission report to make to which he replied that he indeed did, but he thought that being with her would be more pleasing (implying he put work aside and went to the party to spend time with her).

Spock and Uhura looking at each other while their friends look at the new Enterprise in construction.

Later, Spock, Uhura and their friends look at the new Enterprise in construction. ( Star Trek Beyond )

Star Trek Beyond 's director, Justin Lin said that the Spock and Uhura's relationship in the movie would be acknowledged and be " consistent to what was built before " [9]

Spock's actor Zachary Quinto said that part of Spock's existential crisis in the movie is about how conflicted he feels between his duty towards the other Vulcans to help them repopulate, and his love for Uhura. He said that in spite of them not being "at the height of relationship bliss" in this film, theirs is an ongoing relationship where the two of them " love each other deeply and they want each other to be happy, to be fulfilled, to serve their purpose, and to realize their potential. " [10]

Uhura actress Zoë Saldana extremely appreciated how "Human" and realistic Uhura's romance with Spock was portrayed as being. " I like that the characters gave [Spock actor] Zac and me an incredible subject and story to build upon, " she enthused. ( Star Trek Magazine Movie Special 2016 , p. 44)

Friendships [ ]

James t. kirk [ ].

Kirk and Uhura commiserate in a turbolift

Uhura's relationship with Kirk began when he hit on her in a bar in Iowa. She rejected his advances, giving him only the name "Uhura", although she did flirt with him a bit. Later, at the Academy, Kirk continued to try to discover her first name. While hiding under her roommate's bed after Uhura had interrupted them, he overheard her talking to Gaila. Kirk told Uhura he was interested in the distress call she had intercepted. She put him out of their room, his clothes in hand.

It was at Kirk's request that Uhura acted as the communications officer for his third attempt at the Kobayashi Maru test, though she only sarcastically called him "captain" as he wasn't taking the test seriously. While attending Kirk's hearing for his solution to the Kobayashi Maru , Uhura appeared to be disappointed in him. Later, while on the mission to Vulcan, Uhura confirmed that Romulans had attacked a Klingon fleet and she backed Kirk up when he tried to convince Captain Pike of the possibility of a trap.

Accompanying Kirk resulted in Uhura being promoted to the Enterprise 's communications officer and Kirk was proved to be right, causing Uhura to have helped save the ship. When Kirk provoked Spock, Uhura was upset, but didn't intervene, even though she was furious with the way Kirk became acting captain. She was the first to refer to Kirk as "captain" on the Enterprise , though with obvious reservations. Kirk finally learned her first name when Spock called her by it, but continued to call her "Uhura" afterwards. After Kirk's actions saved Earth from the Narada , Uhura officially became his communications officer on the Enterprise and happily called him "captain", having grown to respect him. ( Star Trek )

Uhura urges Spock to go after Khan

One year after the Narada attack, Uhura and Kirk seemed to have grown closer and developed a close friendship. When Kirk was upset with Spock, he confided in Uhura. She also confided to him that he wasn't alone in his anger towards Spock and talked to him about her relationship problems with Spock. When Uhura and Spock later argued, they did so in front of Kirk, with Uhura telling Spock that Kirk was on her side of the disagreement, a fact which Kirk later confirmed. Uhura was able to convince Kirk to allow her to try negotiating with the Klingons when fighting would not work, despite it putting her in mortal danger. While respecting her wishes, Kirk, when she was in danger, didn't hesitate to rush to her rescue. When they discovered they were going to die and Kirk apologized, Uhura comforted him with a squeeze to the shoulder. Uhura witnessed Kirk die after sacrificing himself to save the ship, and broke down crying over the death of her friend. Later, Uhura, still tearful, advised Spock to go get Khan, furious about Kirk's death. She also helped save Kirk's life when she prevented Spock from killing Khan. ( Star Trek Into Darkness )

Over the next few years, the two maintained a close friendship and Uhura was shown to have a great loyalty to Kirk. During the Battle of Altamid , Uhura rushed to Kirk's aid when she realized he was in danger, risking her life to aid him in performing a saucer separation . In the face of Krall , Uhura showed absolute confidence Kirk would come for them and wouldn't leave his crew behind. ( Star Trek Beyond )

Key dates [ ]

• 2255 - 2258 : Cadet / lieutenant at Starfleet Academy
• Originally assigned to the USS Farragut
• Re-assigned (per her request) as communications officer to the USS Enterprise
• Attends the re- christening ceremony of the Enterprise
• Heads out on the Enterprise 's five-year mission
• 2263 : Assigned to the USS Enterprise -A

Memorable quotes [ ]

" For a moment, I thought you were just a dumb hick who only had sex with farm animals. " " Well, not only."

" An alternate reality? " " Precisely. Whatever our lives might have been, if the time continuum was disrupted, our destinies have changed. "

" I sure hope you know what you're doing... captain. " " So do I. "

" We're outnumbered, outgunned. There's no way we survive if we attack first. You brought me here because I speak Klingon. Then let me speak Klingon. "

" I am here to help you. With respect, there is a criminal hiding in these ruins. He has killed many of our people. " " Why should I care about a Human killing Humans? " " Because you care about honor. And this man has none. "

" Go get him. "

" What he's saying is that if we disorient the swarm, we can kick its ass! " " Precisely. "

Appendices [ ]

Appearances [ ].

• Star Trek (First appearance)
• Star Trek Into Darkness
• Star Trek Beyond

Background information [ ]

Nyota Uhura was played by Zoë Saldana .

When first introduced in the script of Star Trek , Uhura was described as having a "gorgeous, dignified face." [11]

Between the release of Star Trek Into Darkness and taking part in the filming of Star Trek Beyond , Zoë Saldana missed her character of Uhura. The actress later recalled, " I missed how different she is, and how important it is for her to do her job well. I missed how diligent she is [....] That's one thing I love about Uhura, that she doesn't argue with anyone. It's, 'What do you need next? What needs to be done? Let's get the hell out of here.' She's done just that. " ( Star Trek Magazine Movie Special 2016 , pp. 44 & 46)

Apocrypha [ ]

Her male counterpart

According to her biography on the Star Trek movie app, Uhura was born in 2233 to Alhamisi and M'Umbha Uhura. She has two siblings: a sister, Makena, and a brother, Kamau. She graduated with honors from the Institute for Advanced Mathematics in 2255 where she then enrolled in Starfleet Academy . She also spent two academic quarters serving aboard the USS Ahriman as a junior communications cadet.

The official site of the 2009 movie stated, in her character dossier page ( β ), that Uhura is proficient in 83% of official Federation languages and regional dialects. She also was the Academy aide for Advanced Phonology (one of the courses that, according to his dossier, Spock was teaching at the Academy) and Advanced Acoustical Engineering courses, as well as being the vice president of Starfleet Academy Chorale Ensemble.

In the 2013 Star Trek video game, she and Spock discuss his failed attempts at cooking dinner for her. She assures him that she loves him for trying anyway.

The IDW comic " The Voice of a Falling Star " tells the story of how, as a young girl, she saved herself and her parents from a damaged shuttle. She was encouraged by her uncle Raheem, who fell to the planet below after attempting a spacewalk to fix it. Uhura told this story to Spock in a mind meld months after their relationship began.

In " Parallel Lives, Part 1 " and 2 , she has a male counterpart who is also in love with Spock's female counterpart.

Uhura is pictured on cards #54 "Cadet N. Uhura" and #99 "Communications Officer N. Uhura" of the virtual collectible card battle game Star Trek: Rivals .

In the First issue of IDW's Star Trek: Boldly Go comic series that is set after the events of Star Trek Beyond , Uhura and Spock take a sabbatical from Starfleet and they visit Spock's father, Sarek on New Vulcan.

External links [ ]

• Nyota Uhura (Kelvin timeline) at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• Uhura at Wikipedia
• 1 Bell Riots
• 3 Daniels (Crewman)

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Nyota Uhura: The Kenyan-Born Iconic Character In Star Trek Series

In the “Star Trek” timeline, few space-faring females stand quite as tall as Nyota Uhura. The Kenyan-born communications officer is one of the series’ most iconic characters and one of the best examples of how “Star Trek” shattered the social norms of its time. When the original series aired in the late 1960s, TV audiences were not entirely used to seeing Black women portrayed with as much competence and skill as Uhura (originally played by Nichelle Nichols). The character is a genius, a prodigy of languages, a high-ranking Federation officer and ship commander, and one-half of one of the first interracial kisses to ever air on television

That legacy remains strong even now, over half a century after Uhura and “Star Trek” initially debuted. Thanks to “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds,” which tells the story of the USS Enterprise crew before James T. Kirk (William Shatner) took command, a whole new generation is being introduced to Uhura. More specifically, they’re being introduced to Uhura as portrayed by actor Celia Rose Gooding. While this is the first time that many “Star Trek” fans have been introduced to Gooding, “Strange New Worlds” is far from her only influential role.

If you haven’t heard of Celia Rose Gooding before now, then we won’t blame you. She hasn’t been acting quite as long as others. However, Gooding has accomplished quite a lot, possibly because the talent is in her blood. Her mother is Tony Award-winning actor LaChanze, who identified Gooding’s talent from a very young age (via Playbill). As a child, Gooding grew up seeing her mother succeed in theater, even helping her as a reader for auditions at times. This, in no small way, prepared Gooding for her own theater career, where she has made swift progress.

BY JONAH SCHUHART

Source: https://www.looper.com

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Star trek beyond did the coolest thing with captain kirk’s classic speech.

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Star Trek Beyond Ending & Why No Sequel 8 Years Later Explained

Star trek: discovery showed the opposite of j.j. abrams’ movies destroying vulcan & romulus, i wish star trek: voyager gave the doctor more credit for 1 huge accomplishment.

Star Trek Beyond did the coolest thing with Captain James T. Kirk's (William Shatner) iconic speech. Since Star Trek: The Original Series , every live-action Star Trek show about the USS Enterprise began with the famous monologue, "Space... the final frontier..." Kirk's original mantra was the mission statement of the Starship Enterprise , explaining Star Trek 's core premise of the five-year mission , and boldly exploring strange new worlds and seeking out new civilizations.

One of the most pleasing aspects of Star Trek Beyond is that it's the closest of the trilogy of films produced by J.J. Abrams to recapture the spirit of Star Trek: The Original Series. Star Trek (2009) was a reboot in every way, transforming Star Trek into a thrilling, action-packed roller coaster with blockbuster special effects. Star Trek Into Darkness perhaps pushed the cinematic chaos a bit too far. However, Star Trek Beyond, written by Simon Pegg and Doug Jung, and directed by Justin Lin, touched upon the themes of friendship, trust, and teamwork that were hallmarks of 1960s Star Trek . And Star Trek Beyond gave Captain Kirk's classic mission statement a long-needed upgrade.

Star Trek Beyond set up a sequel for Chris Pine's Captain Kirk and the Kelvin Timeline crew, but it's 8 years later and we've yet to see Star Trek 4.

Star Trek Beyond’s Cast Delivered Captain Kirk’s Classic Speech

The uss enterprise's crew finally gave the mission statement.

At the end of Star Trek Beyond , the entire crew of the USS Enterprise delivered Captain Kirk's iconic "Space.... the final frontier... " speech together, transforming it from a monologue to a team effort. Captain James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) and Spock (Zachary Quinto) opened the familiar mantra, with Lt. Nyota Uhura (Zoe Saldana) delivering the all-important closing piece, "To boldly go where no one has gone before." Not only is it an electric moment to witness, but, finally, Star Trek recognized that it's the whole crew of the Starship Enterprise , not just the Captain, that makes Star Trek 's mission work.

Star Trek Beyond ends with Captain Kirk gathering with his crew to celebrate their victory over the villain Krall (Idris Elba) after saving Starbase Yorktown. While Kirk and his people are licking their wounds, they are hopeful and toast to the future as they watch the construction of their new starship, the USS Enterprise-A. When the next generation of the Enterprise launches, it's beyond fitting that her entire crew announces her mission statement. Star Trek Beyond' s climax is a rebirth of the USS Enterprise that warps the franchise towards the final frontier. Although, sadly, fans have waited nearly a decade for Star Trek 4 and the Starship Enterprise's continuing voyages.

How Star Trek Has Changed Captain Kirk’s Classic Speech

"space... the final frontier..." has evolved with the times.

Captain Kirk's monologue that kicked off the opening credits of every Star Trek: The Original Series episode is a succinct and propulsive mission statement that has been an iconic part of pop culture for almost 60 years. However, it has also aged and is a reflection of its era . At the end of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan , Spock (Leonard Nimoy), who died at the end of the film, delivers the Star Trek movies' inaugural version of Star Trek' s mantra, with some changes. Spock refers to the "continuing voyages of the Starship Enterprise" and corrects the original reference of a "five-year mission" to "her ongoing mission". Spock also specifies seeking out "new life forms" instead of Kirk's "new life and new civilizations."

Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) is the latest to deliver the iconic monologue before the opening credits of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds .

Perhaps the most important change to Star Trek 's mission statement was made by Star Trek: The Next Generatio n. Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) also calls the voyages of the Starship Enterprise "its continuing mission," before updating the closing line: "To boldly go where no one has gone before," instead of the original "where no man has gone before." This gender-neutral switch includes everyone, not just men. Star Trek Beyond honored that change even further by having the multi-racial and multi-species crew of the Starship Enterprise deliver their iconic mission statement together.

Star Trek Beyond

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BREAKING: At least 6 U.S. soldiers injured in raid that killed at least 15 Islamic State fighters in Iraq

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.

• USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) personnel
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Nyota Uhura

• Edit source

Nyota Upenda Uhura was a Federation Starfleet officer in both the 23rd century and the 24th century . Nearly thirty years of that service was under Captain James T. Kirk , aboard the USS Enterprise and the USS Enterprise -A .

• 1 Early Life
• 2 USS Enterprise (NCC-1701)
• 3 USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-A)
• 4 USS Intrepid II
• 5 Star Trek: Of Gods and Men
• 6 United Trek fan fiction universe
• 7.1 The Lost Era novel: Catalyst of Sorrows
• 7.2 TOS novel: Enterprise: The First Adventure
• 7.3 TOS novel: My Brother's Keeper trilogy
• 7.4 Orion Press
• 8 External links

Early Life [ ]

Uhura was born in 2237 on Earth , in Kitui Province , in the United States of Africa . ( TAS : " The Counter-Clock Incident "; Star Trek: Strange New Worlds : "Those Old Scientists").

Her mother was named M'Umbha , her father Damu Pua. ( TOS : " The Man Trap ", Star Trek II Biographies )

She would eventually be fluent in eleven Earth languages, including Swahili . ( TOS : " The Man Trap ", " The Changeling ", " Spectre of the Gun ", Absolute Horizon ) In addition to her linguistic abilities, Uhura was also an athlete, running the 100-meter dash in record time. ( TAS : " The Slaver Weapon ")

Shortly before she was to begin studies at the University of Nairobi , her parents -- both teachers at that institution -- died in a shuttle accident along with a brother. ( Star Trek: Strange New Worlds : "Children of the Comet")

Before she entered Starfleet Academy , Uhura spent a lot of time with family members who lived in Mombasa , Kenya . ( The Lost Era novel: Catalyst of Sorrows )

In 2259 , as a cadet first class , Uhura was assigned to the Enterprise , then commanded by Captain Christopher Pike , for several months. She rotated through the communications, security, and engineering departments. ( Star Trek: Strange New Worlds : "Strange New Worlds", "Memento Mori", "Lift Us Where Suffering Cannot Reach", "All Those Who Wander", "A Quality of Mercy")

About 2260 , Uhura began studying music with Theodore "Theo" Papadopoulos, with whom she eventually fell in love. However, her long absences while in Starfleet resulted in his falling in love with someone else. ( Absolute Horizon )

Prior to her assignment to Enterprise , Uhura was an ensign on the USS Potemkin . ( Cloak and Dagger )

USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) [ ]

In 2266 , Nyota Uhura was posted to this Constitution -class vessel as communications officer and operations manager she held the rank of lieutenant . As well, she proved to be a capable technician and even took the helm on occasion. ( TOS : " The Corbomite Maneuver ", " The Balance of Terror ")

She was a gregarious officer and shipmate, often singing for the crew in the rec room and while on bridge duty. ( TOS : " The Conscience of the King ", " The Changeling ")

On stardate 3541.9, Uhura had her mind wiped by the Nomad probe. Christine Chapel was later able to restore her memories through a combination of educational and medical techniques. ("The Changeling"; Orion Press : " Friendship's Song ", " Something to Remind You ")

Uhura in 2269 . ( Star Trek: Phase II )

Sometime before the Enterprise’s refit , in the early 2270s, Nyota was promoted to lieutenant commander . She continued to function as the communications officer, under the command of Willard Decker . Admiral Kirk, once again, assumed command of the ship during the V'Ger incident. ( Star Trek: The Motion Picture )

Once the Enterprise was assigned as a training vessel, Nyota was promoted to commander and was transferred to Starfleet Communications . Her duties also involved lecturing at Starfleet Academy . She was on the Enterprise when the scientists in charge of Project Genesis contacted Admiral Kirk. ( Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan )

Later that year, Uhura aided Admiral Kirk and other crew members in stealing the Enterprise . The ship was later destroyed. She then joined the survivors on Vulcan . ( Star Trek III: The Search for Spock )

She was forced to travel back in time, along with the rest of her crewmates, in an attempt to save Earth from the Whalesong probe . The mission was a success.

Upon returning to 23rd century Earth, the charges against her were dropped. ( Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home )

USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-A) [ ]

Uhura was assigned to the Enterprise -A. In 2287 , the ship was hijacked by a group of zealots led by Sybok . Uhura refused to resist him after she had "shown him her pain." ( Star Trek V: The Final Frontier )

Six years later, Uhura and the crew were involved in exposing the Khitomer conspiracy . After the Enterprise’s decommissioning , she returned to teaching at the Academy . ( Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country )

USS Intrepid II [ ]

In 2294 , after the apparent death of James T. Kirk, and the disappearance of Montgomery Scott, Uhura became executive officer to Captain Spock on the Oberth -class USS Intrepid II . She succeeded him as captain two years later. ( TOS novel: Vulcan's Forge )

Star Trek: Of Gods and Men [ ]

In 2306 , the USS Gunterman ferried Captain Uhura -- now head of Starfleet Linguistics -- to join USS Enterprise -B Captain John Harriman and Captain Pavel Chekov aboard the newly-commissioned museum USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-M) . She admitted in her personal log she still hadn't recovered from the death of James Kirk in 2293.

With the Enterprise -M forced to race to the planet Gateway housing the Guardian of Forever , Uhura accompanied Harriman and Chekov to the planet 's surface to investigate an unwelcomed visitor on the surface. Charlie Evans activated the Guardian, jumping back in time and preventing James Kirk from being born, creating an alternate reality .

United Trek fan fiction universe [ ]

Uhura became Head of Starfleet Intelligence in 2334 , at the age of 95. She served in that role for nearly thirty years. An entire generation of SI operatives became very loyal to the elderly woman.

She became aware of Section 31 and began organizing a counter group with officers she could trust. Upon "retirement" in 2362 , she continued her efforts against Section 31. Thirty-one now considers her one of their greatest internal problems. She began to live in hiding while still keeping contact with officers in the fleet.

In 2376 , she was still alive at the age of 137.

Alternate continuities [ ]

The lost era novel: catalyst of sorrows [ ].

In 2360 , Admiral Uhura of Starfleet Intelligence worked with many -- including Leonard McCoy , Beverly Crusher , and Benjamin Sisko -- to solve the mystery of the resurgence of a Romulan disease, "The Gnawing".

TOS novel: Enterprise: The First Adventure [ ]

Nyota Uhura was already assigned to Enterprise before Kirk took command.

TOS novel: My Brother's Keeper trilogy [ ]

Nyota Uhura was assigned to Enterprise about a year after Kirk took command, shortly after the events at the galactic barrier . ( TOS novel: My Brother's Keeper trilogy: Enterprise )

Orion Press [ ]

The Uhura family owned a large horse farm. (" Rescue Operation ")

Nyota's father's mother, Ugogo, thought that her grandchildren should have first-hand knowledge of the old Bantu ways, so Nyota learned how to live off the land for a week at a time when she was younger. ("Rescue Operation")

Nyota's brother, Shani Uhura, was a doctor assigned to the hospital ship Haven when it crashed into a drydock in 2273 . (" The Guilt Complex ")

In 2294 , Pavel Chekov asked Uhura to be his executive officer on the Enterprise -B . ( Chekov's Enterprise )

Saavik succeeded her as exec after Uhura was posted to command of the USS Hyperion (" The Kids Are All Right ")

External links [ ]

• Nyota Uhura article at Memory Alpha , the canon Star Trek wiki.
• Nyota Uhura article at Memory Beta , the non-canon Star Trek wiki.
• 2 Levex Ixen
• 3 Daniels (Agent)

Star Trek (1966–1969)

Nichelle nichols: uhura, lieutenant nyota uhura.

• Photos (111)

Photos 

Quotes 

[repeated line] 

Uhura : Bridge to Captain Kirk!

Capt. Kirk : Kirk, here.

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The Entire Star Trek Reboot Trilogy Now Streaming for Free

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In a significant development for science fiction enthusiasts, Pluto TV offers the entire Star Trek reboot trilogy for free. As the platform has the most Star Trek films, making it accessible to a broader audience. The trilogy, which consists of Star Trek (2009), Star Trek Into Darkness (2013), and Star Trek Beyond (2016), has garnered a massive following over the years, and now fans can revisit these iconic films anytime they wish, thanks to Pluto TV.

The 2009 reboot of Star Trek , directed by J.J. Abrams, reintroduced the iconic franchise to a new generation, blending fresh energy with a deep respect for its roots. The film serves as an origin story, exploring the early days of the USS Enterprise crew, including the young and brash James T. Kirk, played by Chris Pine , and the logical Spock, portrayed by Zachary Quinto. With stunning visual effects, a dynamic narrative, and a compelling mix of action and character development, Star Trek (2009) successfully reinvigorated the series, appealing to both longtime fans and newcomers alike . The film was praised for its bold reimagining of the Star Trek universe, while also honoring the essence of what made the original series a cultural phenomenon.

Chris Pine Offers a Solution for Finally Getting Star Trek 4 Made

Chris Pine recently revealed how he believes Star Trek 4 can finally get off the ground.

The second film in the rebooted Star Trek series, Star Trek Into Darkness , directed by J.J. Abrams, brought the USS Enterprise crew back to the big screen. Pine reprised his role as Captain James T. Kirk, with Zachary Quinto as Spock and Zoe Saldana as Nyota Uhura. The plot centers on Kirk's mission to capture a rogue Starfleet operative, portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch, who is later revealed to be the infamous Khan Noonien Singh. The film was widely praised for its spectacular visual effects, thrilling action sequences, and strong performances, particularly Cumberbatch's intense portrayal of Khan. However, it did not escape criticism, with some fans voicing concerns over the reimagining of classic Star Trek elements. Despite this, the film succeeded in reinvigorating interest in the Star Trek franchise, solidifying its place in the modern cinematic landscape.

Star Trek Beyond , the third installment in the rebooted series , was directed by Justin Lin and released in 2016. The film once again features Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, and Zoe Saldana, with the crew of the Enterprise facing a new and formidable enemy named Krall, played by Idris Elba. After a devastating attack, the crew finds themselves stranded on a hostile planet, leading to a thrilling adventure that harkens back to the exploration themes of the original series. Critics and audiences alike praised Star Trek Beyond for its engaging story and character development, viewing it as a fitting tribute to the Star Trek legacy. The film also resonated with fans as it came in the wake of the untimely death of Anton Yelchin , who portrayed Pavel Chekov.

Star Trek: Section 31 Teaser Trailer

Paramount+ debuts the first teaser trailer for the Star Trek: Discovery spinoff movie, Section 31, starring Michelle Yeoh.

Star Trek Returns With A New Movie Starring Michelle Yeoh

As Star Trek Beyond marks nearly a decade since the last Star Trek movie, the franchise is set to return with Star Trek: Section 31 . This highly anticipated film, set to premiere in 2025 on Paramount+, will be the first Star Trek movie made exclusively for streaming. Initially conceived as an ongoing series, Section 31 has evolved into a feature-length project starring Academy Award-winner Michelle Yeoh . Alongside Yeoh, the cast includes talents like Sam Richardson, Kacey Rohl, Omari Hardwick, and Humberly Gonzalez. As the Star Trek universe continues to expand, Section 31 promises to add a new chapter to the storied franchise, offering fans yet another exciting journey into the final frontier.

The Star Trek trilogy is streaming on Pluto TV .

Source: Pluto TV

The Star Trek universe encompasses multiple series, each offering a unique lens through which to experience the wonders and perils of space travel. Join Captain Kirk and his crew on the Original Series' voyages of discovery, encounter the utopian vision of the Federation in The Next Generation, or delve into the darker corners of galactic politics in Deep Space Nine. No matter your preference, there's a Star Trek adventure waiting to ignite your imagination.