Nichelle Nichols, Lieutenant Uhura from TV show “Star Trek”, dies at 89

The tremendous actress also singer and dancer Nichelle Nichols, who played amongst the most significant role in TV series “Star Trek”, died at the of 89 on Saturday per The Washington Post and later confirmed by her publicist. Nichols was born on 28 December 1932 in a large family, in Robins, Illinois. She was the third of six children. Growing up in Chicago was hard, but Nichols was determined and stayed to do some schooling. Shortly after she traveled back and forth between Los Angeles and New York trying to soak up as much knowledge as possible.

Nichelle Nichols in her small screen debut in 1963 episode of “The Lieutenant” (Courtesy of tvguide.com)

At the beginning of her career, she was best known for performances from musicals with her first appearance, in the early 1960s, “Kicks and Co” play by Oscar Brown, famous songwriter and playwright. However, the play did not run long which lead Nichols to modeling to help pay the bills. She was a beautiful model and made a name for herself on photoshoots.

Shortly after, Nichols began singing in Lionel Hampton and Duke Ellington bands touring with them all over the USA and Europe. Nicholas even began a long career as a teen supper club singer and dancer in Chicago. This made Nichols a true quadruple threat — she was a singer, actor, dancer, and model. It was only a matter of time before she would be noticed. After years on the circuit as a supper club singer and dancer, she began going on acting auditions.

She starred in small roles in both tv and films, before her big break came when she was given a starring role on Star Trek, she can be seen debuting her character n the 1963 episode of “The Lieutenant”.

When “Star Trek” started in 1996, she was the first black women appeared in a major TV series. While it might have been a time for change in the industry it was still a small one. Having Nichols on this show was monumental in showing those in the black community that there was a place for them on television and someone representing them as a powerful and strong woman.

Nichelle Nichols and William Shatner on “Star Trek”, sharing first interracial kiss (Courtesy of CBS/Getty Images)

Never one to shy away, she became famous for a scene that went down in history as not only one of the best kisses on television, but the first interracial kiss, when her character kissed James T. Kirk (William Shatner).

This was a defining moment that changed television forever. This kiss was more than just showing that people no matter what they look like could fall in love and be together — this was a moment where she moved the compass a little further to the left showing people that all women (and yes black women) have a voice, no what they want, and go after it. She was something to truly be admired.

Although she remains famous to this day for her role on Star Trek, she did appear in numerous roles over the course of her career. She was on Peyton’s Place, Head of The Class, and Heroes. But her real legacy had to be the role of Uhura and almost the entire film career she somehow was connected with it. She voiced her character in the animated episodes in the early 1970s, then played Uhura in six feature length films.

Star Trek icon Nichelle Nichols to attend Phoenix Comicon (Courtesy of CBS/Getty Images)

Additionally, she voiced the character in the animated but super popular series “Futurama”. Let us note forget, she was also nominated for an Emmy for her guest role in TV series “The Young and the Daring”.

Nichols turned heads again in 1977, when she announced she would be working with the Space Administration and National Aeronautics as a co-founder. Space became more than just a character for her and she really wanted to spend time exploring it, learning about it, and educating others. The program allowed for her to become an ambassador speaking all around the country. Her goal was to give more women and more diverse women a change to enter the space arena — and she did just that. She helped the organization hire more females and minority candidates for their training program that ever before.

What more can you say about Nichols? She was an inspiration for fans through her acting, but a champion for the underrepresented. She stood strong with her morals, was never scared of a little controversy, and was always willing to stand up for things she believed in. She spent years working with NASA to make sure she was able to follow through and support those who wanted to fulfill their dreams.

She will be missed for her work, her realignment of preconceived notions, and her tenacity. She is someone that helped more people than she will ever know. While there are no words to thank for these tremendous contribution she made to the world, and she’ll be in our hearts and mind forever and ever.

So thank you to Nichols for all of the work you put into the world, all of the good you did, and the legacy you leave behind for the rest of us to watch over and over. As fellow Trekkie’s would say — “Live Long and Prosper,” and you certainly have.