Nichelle Nichols, who broke barriers for black women in Hollywood when she played communications officer Lieutenant Nyota Uhura on the original Star Trek television series, has died at the age of 89.
?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 honour with the series? rabid fans, known as Trekkers and Trekkies. It also earned her accolades for breaking stereotypes that had limited black women to acting roles as servants.
In November 1968, during the final season, Nichols made history when Uhura and Captain James T. Kirk, the Enterprise commander played by William Shatner, were forced by captors on an unknown planet to embrace and join lips. It was the first kiss between black and white actors on US network television.
The scene needed approval from NBC executives before it aired.
More: https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/nichelle-nichols-groundbreaking-star-trek-actress-dead-at-89-20220801-p5b642.html
?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 honour with the series? rabid fans, known as Trekkers and Trekkies. It also earned her accolades for breaking stereotypes that had limited black women to acting roles as servants.
In November 1968, during the final season, Nichols made history when Uhura and Captain James T. Kirk, the Enterprise commander played by William Shatner, were forced by captors on an unknown planet to embrace and join lips. It was the first kiss between black and white actors on US network television.
The scene needed approval from NBC executives before it aired.
More: https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/nichelle-nichols-groundbreaking-star-trek-actress-dead-at-89-20220801-p5b642.html