On July 31 we have taken the blow of the death of the actress Nichelle Nicholswho played the unforgettable Nyota Uhura in the ‘Star Trek’ franchise.
Farewell to an iconic star
The news has come from his official Facebook page with a post written on July 31 by his son, Kyle Johnson. The actress has died at the age of 89 due to natural causes.
“I am sorry to inform you that a light in the sky no longer shines for us as it has for so many years. Last night, my mother Nichelle Nichols succumbed to natural causes and passed away. However, her light, like ancient galaxies, is now seen for the first time. once and will belong with us and future generations to enjoy, learn from, and be inspired by,” reads the post, where the family also asks fans for patience until they are ready to share more.
Nichols rose to fame as one of the original crew members of ‘Star Trek’ by becoming Lieutenant Nyota Uhura. The character quickly became an icon during the Civil Rights movement in the United States as one of the first leading African-American women in a production of that caliber.
“This is the first non-stereotypical role played by a black woman in television history”said Martin Luther King about Lieutenant Uhura. The character changed many conceptions, and also helped break down barriers that were unthinkable until then. In one episode, Uhura kissed Captain Kirk, played by white actor William Shatner, and for Nichols that kiss “changed television forever, and the way people looked at each other”.
After the ‘Stak Trek‘ original, Nichols continued to participate occasionally in the franchise, although we could also see her in ‘Heroes’ and lent her voice in ‘Futurama’.
Through the Women in Motion project, Nichols also helped improve diversity at NASA by helping to recruit more women and minorities.. His work within the program and many more details about his life can be seen in the documentary ‘Woman in Motion’.