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Sci-Fi Television

Nichelle Nichols, Who Played Uhura In 'Star Trek' Franchise, Dies At 89 (cnn.com) 72

A sad announcement was posted online today, reports CNN: "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 said in a statement shared to Nichols' official site on Sunday. "Hers was a life well lived and as such a model for us all."

Nichols died from natural causes, he said...

George Takei, who portrayed the USS Enterprise's helmsman Hikaru Sulu, posted a touching tribute to his co-star.

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

"We lived long and prospered together," he added with a photo of the pair making the iconic Vulcan salute.

It was Nichols herself who came up with the name "Uhura" for her character, she revealed years in a 2010 interview. After the series Nichols authored the science fiction novels Saturn's Child and Saturna's Quest, as well as a memoir titled Beyond Uhura — Star Trek and Other Memories.

But Nichols also served on the board of directors of the National Space Society (a charity advocating for space advocacy) — and maintained ties to other real-world space agencies. "Nichols was always interested in space travel," according to a NASA web page. "She flew aboard the C-141 Astronomy Observatory, which analyzed the atmospheres of Mars and Saturn on an eight hour, high altitude mission." But in addition, "From the late 1970's until the late 1980's, NASA employed Nichelle Nichols to recruit new astronaut candidates" (including Dr. Sally Ride).
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Nichelle Nichols, Who Played Uhura In 'Star Trek' Franchise, Dies At 89

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  • The word is given (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Akardam ( 186995 ) on Sunday July 31, 2022 @05:11PM (#62750232)

    Warp speed, Mrs. Nichols

    • Well said. I'm very sad with this news.
  • Mr Buddwing (Score:4, Informative)

    by theshowmecanuck ( 703852 ) on Sunday July 31, 2022 @05:27PM (#62750270) Journal

    I saw her in this odd movie awhile back. It's from 1966. She played a dice player at a back room crap game the lead character wandered into, while trying to figure out who he is (amnesia). It was cool to see her in a completely different role. It wasn't a big part, but she was memorable and pretty good. The movie had mixed reviews. It looked kind of like an experimental, for Hollywood, kind of project. I thought it was alright, but nothing to write home about.

    • James Garner, Suzanne Pleshette, Nichelle Nichols?

      Jean Simmons is totally amazing with her platinum blond hair and whorish attitude. It’s a performance unlike any you might have seen her in before and it’s amazing to watch. And if you needed any other inducement to watch this movie, there’s a scene with both Nichelle Nichols and Jean Simmons down on their knees in dresses up to here shootin’ dice and exhorting; “Give it to me the hard way BABY!”

      I couldn't find a clip of that scene but it did see a preview that did not have Nichelle Nichols in it, but maybe I'll rent it this weekend.

  • The meaning of Uhura (Score:5, Informative)

    by SuperKendall ( 25149 ) on Sunday July 31, 2022 @05:49PM (#62750318)

    Not sure why it was not mentioned in the summary since they did mention she picked the name, but the reason she chose the name "Uhura" is that it means "Freedom" in Swahili.

    Great actor, that could have easily played a larger role in the series. But as it was she enhanced the bridge crew with an air of competence.

  • an awesome read (Score:4, Interesting)

    by SirSlud ( 67381 ) on Sunday July 31, 2022 @06:09PM (#62750360) Homepage

    read this. RIP to a woman who inspired the lives of so many

    https://ca.startrek.com/news/n... [startrek.com]

  • by 93 Escort Wagon ( 326346 ) on Sunday July 31, 2022 @06:12PM (#62750368)

    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. ....

    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.

    • by Opyros ( 1153335 )
      There's even a Wikipedia article on "Kirk and Uhura's kiss" [wikipedia.org]! Although it seems it wasn't strictly speaking American TV's first interracial kiss.
      • by dhaen ( 892570 ) on Monday August 01, 2022 @03:43AM (#62751250)
        I hate the word interracial. It should be intrahuman.
        • by shanen ( 462549 )

          You seem to be missing the point, but now you have me wondering when the first "intrahuman" kiss appeared on TV. My recollection is that the original "code" for allowed behaviors on TV was quite restrictive. Something about one shoe-wearing foot always on the floor in any bedroom scene?

        • I hate the word interracial. It should be intrahuman.

          But that would describe an interaction between any two humans, wouldn't it? Race is a social construct, but the significance of Shatner's and Nichols' kiss was also entirely social. Your word substitution removes all of the social significance, and hence value.

          • by trparky ( 846769 )

            As you, yourself, said... Race is a social construct. A very negative social construct. We are all humans. That's all that should matter.

            After all, MLK wanted a world where people are not judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. We were doing quite well for a long time after MLK was assassinated. Were we perfect in trying to bring about his idea? No, but since his untimely death we had made great strides in making the kind of future that he would've liked to see.

            Unfortunately

            • Unfortunately, the way I see it, things are regressing.

              I disagree strongly. You only have to look at polls of the racial attitudes of the younger generations to see enormous progress. I do have some concern that wokeness and cancel culture are provoking an understandable backlash, but I think that will settle down.

              • by trparky ( 846769 )

                Three words... Critical Race Theory.

                The foundation of Critical Race Theory is that there will always be some kind of lower class or in the case of CRT, a lower race. So, when people advocate for CRT, what they're really advocating for the idea of upending every damn thing that MLK fought and died for; the idea that all of, no matter what color we are, we are all human beings created by God in His image and that we are all equal in His eye. CRT will be the end of everything that the civil rights movement fou

                • There are lots of ridiculous ivory-tower ideas that, taken to their logical conclusion, would destroy society. Always have been, always will be. Check out Plato's Republic, for one example, and postmodernism for another. Bits and pieces of these ideas often percolate into the mainstream, but they get watered down and lose their existential risk. Not that they don't do any damage -- for example, the GOP has embraced postmodern relativism, resulting in Trump's Big Lie, among others -- but they're ultimately a

  • by TronNerd82 ( 9588972 ) on Sunday July 31, 2022 @06:17PM (#62750382)
    Think about it, she was a strong female character on Star Trek, and she took part in the groundbreaking first interracial kiss in television history. On top of that, she was likable both on and off television, and boldly went where no woman had gone before, becoming a beacon of hope for aspiring women actors, tired of playing housewives and mothers. You will be fondly remembered by all, Ms. Nichols.
    • And all that without making the character boring, bland and uninspired.

      Why could they do something 50 years ago that they can't get together today?

  • It would have been easy to stay around Hollywood and just be typecast. It's awesome she used her fame to inspire the next generation.
  • by bill_mcgonigle ( 4333 ) * on Sunday July 31, 2022 @07:09PM (#62750478) Homepage Journal

    I've seen many interviews over the years and she and Majel stand out as the cast members who were consistently positive. Grace too, but it was more rare to see her. Anchors who probably made the later productions possible. I doubt the franchise would have been nearly as successful without her.

    Second star to the right and straight on 'till morning.

  • by mrsam ( 12205 ) on Sunday July 31, 2022 @07:17PM (#62750492) Homepage

    EOM

  • by Anonymous Coward

    https://www.washingtonpost.com... [washingtonpost.com]
    "Ms. Nichols worked with series creator Gene Roddenberry, her onetime lover,"

  • An Epic Journey (Score:5, Informative)

    by mrex ( 25183 ) on Monday August 01, 2022 @02:20AM (#62751124)

    Apparently, Nichols was dissatisfied with the role after season 1. She had already told Roddenberry she was going to quit the show, and after begging her to stay, he arranged a meeting between Nichols and no less than Martin Luther King, Jr. himself, who gushed about how important he felt Nichols' role was to showing a better way forward out of the turmoil of 60s race relations.

  • and a great actor with an interesting first name - RIP Nichelle.

  • During a visit at Ames Research Center some years ago, Nichelle signed autograph to every person that wanted one. And also posed for pictures for every person that attended. I thought this was very cool she did this for all her fans and others attending her presentation.

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