Nichelle Nichols, one of the brightest stars of the “Star Trek” series, passed away at the age of 89 two days ago in Silver City, New Mexico. The sad news was first announced by her son Kyle Johnson, who announced on social networks that his mother died of “natural causes”.
“It is with great sadness that I inform you that her bright light, which long illuminated the film firmament, has gone out“, he wrote on Facebook.
Everyone in the universe of the sci-fi series is mourning the actress, who was among the first to break barriers against dark-skinned women in Hollywood, playing the role of Lieutenant Nyota Uhura.
After the sad news, colleagues and admirers shared their grief on social media.
Actor George Takei said he was heartbroken. “I will have more to say about the incomparable Nichelle Nichols, but right now my heart is heavy, my eyes are shining like the stars you are now among, my dearest friend“, he wrote on Twitter.
Celia Rose Gooding, who plays Uhura now, shared: “Nichelle made room for so many of us. It was a reminder that not only can we reach for the stars, but that our influence is essential“.
Kate Mulgrew says: “Nichelle Nichols was the First. She was a trailblazer who traversed a very challenging path with a tenacity, grace and fervor that we are unlikely to see again. May he rest in peace.”
“Many actors become stars, but few stars can inspire a nation. Nichelle Nichols showed us the extraordinary power of black women and paved the way for a better future for all women. Thank you Nichelle. We’ll miss you”added Lynda Carter, star of Wonder Woman.
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Photo: AR/BTA
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Star Trek executive producer Alex Kurtzman also expressed his grief: “Nichelle was a unique inspiration. She’s the one who really opened my eyes to what Star Trek is and can be. I cannot count how many people have told me that she is the reason they became astronauts, scientists, writers, linguists, engineers…. We stand in her light and honor her today and every day to come. Thank you, dear Nichelle, for guiding us along the way.”
A few years ago, in 2015, the actress shared that she would fly on a NASA mission – just three months after suffering a mild stroke.
Nichelle Nichols was among the participants in the SOFIA (Stratospheric Observatory For Infrared Astronomy) mission – a joint project of NASA and the German Aerospace Center. The actress flew aboard a modified Boeing 747 equipped with a telescope and other instruments that allowed scientists to explore the “infrared universe.”
The flight of the first model was carried out in 1977. Nichelle Nichols was among the participants in the mission, reports BTA. After the original Star Trek television series ended in 1969, Nichols actively helped NASA with a program to recruit female and minority astronauts. Among those chosen is the first female astronaut of the United States, Sally Ride.
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Photo: Getty Images
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