Nichelle Nichols, the Role Model, 'Star Trek' Actress, and Philanthropist, Has Died at Age 89

Aug. 1 2022, Published 8:38 a.m. ET

The trailblazing actress Nichelle Nichols, who ushered in a new era of Black representation in Hollywood, has died at age 89. She was the first Black actress to land a leading function in the Star Trek franchise.

Born in Robbins, Ill., in 1932, Nichelle constructed an exemplary career as a singer, dancer, and actress. From 1977 to 2015, Nichelle additionally labored with NASA to increase its outreach. A detailed good friend of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, Nichelle became a role model for thousands and thousands. What was her cause of death?

What was Nichelle Nichols's cause of death?

The first Black lady to land a leading position on Star Trek, Nichelle broke barriers in the film industry and outdoor it. She first collaborated with the scriptwriter, producer, and TV display author Gene Roddenberry on a drama, The Lieutenant. They then joined forces for Star Trek, the collection that counted Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. among its enthusiasts. Nichelle passed on to the great beyond on Saturday, July 30, 2022, a statement by her son, Kyle Johnson, confirms. She died of herbal reasons.

A skilled singer and dancer, Nichelle Nichols toured with Duke Ellington and Lionel Hampton.

Nichelle began making a song and dancing as a teenager. By the time she grew to become 16, she was traveling with Duke Ellington.

"When I was 16, I did indeed wind up traveling with Duke Ellington, as a dancer, for one of his suites," Nichelle told MAKERS. "One day, we were almost at the end of the tour, and Mr. Ellington called me into his dressing room, and he [said], 'Sing something for me,' and I looked around and said, 'There's no piano!' and he said, 'You don't need a piano. We all got rhythm, don't we?'"

Nichelle booked the gig on the spot. "And so I went on. The Great Duke Ellington is playing for me. It's like being on a cloud floating. You can do no wrong."

Nichelle also toured with Lionel Hampton prior to making the switch to appearing. She joined the forged of Star Trek in a while after shifting to Los Angeles.

Her character, Lieutenant Nyota Uhura, wasn't integrated within the script when Nichelle went to satisfy show author Gene Roddenberry. What's more, it was her who came up with Lieutenant Nyota Uhura's name, urging Gene to make use of the Swahili word uhuru, which means freedom.

"Here I was projecting in the 23rd century what should have been quite simple," Nichelle instructed NPR in 2011. "We're on a starship. I was the head communications officer. Fourth in command on a starship. They didn't see this as being, oh, it doesn't happen until the 23rd century. Young people and adults saw it as now."

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. convinced Nichelle Nichols to stay on 'Star Trek' after the first season.

Eager to return to Broadway, Nichelle handed in her resignation after Season 1 of Star Trek wrapped capturing. But she changed her mind after assembly Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at a cocktail party.

As she advised The Guardian in 2016, she was advised that any individual wanted to fulfill her. "I turned, and about 10 or 12 feet away from me, there was Dr. Martin Luther King, and my mouth just dropped open," she stated. "He told me not only that I shouldn’t but I couldn’t leave."

"He knew more than I knew. He knew more about me, where I was going to in my life than I did," she added. "He was an amazing man. Dr. King was my leader."

Nichelle Nichols worked as a NASA recruiter between 1977 and 2015.

Nichelle joined NASA as a recruiter within the 1970s, helping the government agency diversify its ability pool.

In 1992, she was awarded a celeb at the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2007, Asteroid 68410 Nichols was named in her honor. In 2016, she become the primary Black woman to receive the Life Career Award from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Films.

Our ideas move out to Nichelle's friends and family at this hard time.

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