Nichelle Nichols was an American actress, singer, as well as a dancer. She was best known for her role as Nyota Uhura in Star Trek: The Original Series, and its film sequels. Her portrayal of Uhura was ground-breaking for African American actresses on American television. She made her film debut in “Porgy and Bess” in 1959 and made her TV debut in “The Lieutenant” in 1964. From 1977 until 2015, she volunteered her time to promote NASA’s programs and recruit diverse astronauts, including women and ethnic minorities. She was also an author of two books; Beyond Uhura and Saturn’s Child.
How did Nichelle Nichols die?
Nichelle Nichols’s cause of death was due to heart failure. She died in Silver City, New Mexico, on July 30, 2022. She dies at 89.
Ms Nichols broke barriers in her role as Lieutenant Nyota Uhura in the series, becoming one of the first black actresses in the US to play a figure of authority. In a statement posted on Facebook, Nichelle’s son Kyle Johnson wrote: “I regret to inform you that great light in the firmament no longer shines for us as it has for so many years. “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.” Following the news of her death, Star Trek co-star George Takei wrote in a tweet: “My heart is heavy, my eyes shining like the stars you now rest among, my dearest friend.” “The importance of Nichelle’s legacy cannot be over-emphasized. She was much loved and will be missed,” said TV director Adam Nimoy – the son of Star Trek actor Leonard Nimoy. Shatner also paid tribute. “She was a beautiful woman and played an admirable character that did so much for redefining social issues both here in the US and throughout the world,” he wrote on Twitter. Marina Sirtis, who portrayed Counsellor Deanna Troi in Star Trek: The Next Generation and its four feature film adaptations, wrote that Nichols “opened the door for the rest of us who followed in your wake”. Nasa described Nicholls as a “trailblazer” and “role model”.
Back in June 2015, she suffered a mild stroke at her Los Angeles home and was admitted to a Los Angeles-area hospital. A magnetic resonance imaging scan confirmed a small stroke had occurred, and she began inpatient therapy. In early 2018, Nichols was diagnosed with dementia, and subsequently announced her retirement from convention appearances.
What was Nichelle Nichols Famous For?
- Being an actress, singer, and dancer from the USA.
- For her portrayal of Nyota Uhura in Star Trek: The Original Series, and its film sequels.
What was Nichelle Nichols Ethnicity?
Born on December 28, 1932, Nichelle Nichols was from Robbins, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. Her birth name was Grace Dell Nichols. She was born as the third of six children to her father; Samuel Earl Nichols, a factory worker who was elected both town mayor of Robbins in 1929 and its chief magistrate, and his wife, Lishia (Parks) Nichols, a homemaker. She grew up with her five siblings. She held American nationality and his ethnicity was African-American. The family then moved into an apartment in the Woodlawn neighborhood of Chicago. She attended Englewood High School, from where she graduated in 1951. She then studied in New York City and Los Angeles.
Nichelle Nichols Career Timeline
- Nichols came to huge fame after her appearance in Kicks and Co., Oscar Brown’s highly touted but ill-fated 1961 musical.
- Next, she played Hazel Sharpe in a thinly veiled satire of Playboy magazine. She also appeared in the Orgy Magazine to become “Orgy Maiden of the Month”.
- She appeared in the role of Carmen for a Chicago stock company production of Carmen Jones and performed in a New York production of Porgy and Bess.
- She was featured on the cover of Ebony magazine in January 1967.
- Moreover, she toured the United States, Canada, and Europe as a singer with Duke Ellington and Lionel Hampton bands.
- She appeared in The Roar of the Greasepaint and For My People.
- She came to prominence after her performance in the James Baldwin play Blues for Mister Charlie.
- She was a guest actress on television producer Gene Roddenberry’s first series The Lieutenant (1964) in an episode, “To Set It Right”.
- She was one of the first Black women featured in a major television series “Star Trek” as Lieutenant Uhura.
- She also provided the voice of Uhura in Star Trek: The Animated Series.
- Next, she co-starred in six Star Trek films, the last one being Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.
- She next published her autobiography Beyond Uhura: Star Trek and Other Memories in the year 1994.
- She briefly appeared as a secretary in Doctor, You’ve Got to Be Kidding! (1967) and portrayed Dorinda, a foul-mouthed madam in Truck Turner (1974).
- She provided the voice of her own head in a glass jar in the episode “Where No Fan Has Gone Before” and voiced the recurring role of Elisa Maza’s mother Diane Maza in the animated series Gargoyles.
- She played Thoth-Kopeira in an episode of Batman: The Animated Series.
- She provided the voice for herself in The Simpsons episode “Simple Simpson” in 2004.
- She appeared as the mother of the male lead, played by Cuba Gooding Jr. in the comedy film “Snow Dogs” in 2002.
- She appeared as the title character in the film “Lady Magdalene’s” in 2006.
- She played a recurring role in the second season of the NBC drama Heroes.
- She starred in the film The Torturer, playing the role of a psychiatrist in 2008.
- She joined the cast of The Cabonauts, a sci-fi musical comedy that debuted on DailyMotion in 2009.
- On 30th August 2016, she was introduced as the aging mother of Neil Winters on the long-standing soap opera “The Young and the Restless”.
- As a singer, she released two music albums; Down to Earth (1967) and Out of This World (1991).
- Also, she sang songs on the Star Trek episodes “Charlie X” and “The Conscience of the King” as Uhura.
- Her work with NASA is given significant focus in the documentary Woman in Motion about her life.
Nichelle Nichols Awards and Achievements
- Awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, for her contribution to television in 1992
- Awarded a Goldene Kamera for Kultstar des Jahrhunderts (Cult Star of the Century) in 1999
- Received an honorary degree from Los Angeles Mission College in 2010
- Received The Life Career Award, from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Films in 2016
- Awarded the Inkpot Award in 2018
- Asteroid 68410 Nichols is named in her honor
Who was Nichelle Nichols’s Husband?
Nichelle Nichols was a married woman. She married her first husband, Foster Johnson (1917–1981) in 1951. She divorced the same year. Kyle Johnson, born on August 14, 1951, was the couple’s only child. She then married her ex-husband, Duke Mondy. The couple got hitched in 1968 and remained together for four years before officially divorcing in 1972. Since the divorce, Mondy has kept his personal life hidden and far from the online media. The two were referred to as Duke & Nichelle and also appeared together in the tv series, It Takes Two in 1969. In her autobiography, Nichols wrote that she was romantically involved with Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry for a few years in the 1960s. She said the affair ended well before Star Trek began when she realized Roddenberry was also involved with her acquaintance Majel Hudec (known as Majel Barrett). Hudec went on to marry Gene Roddenberry and have a regular supporting role as nurse Christine Chapel on Star Trek.
How much was Nichelle Nichols’s Net Worth?
Nichelle Nichols was an actress, singer, and dancer whose net worth was estimated to have $8 Million as of 2022. Her main source of wealth was from the entertainment industry. She was living a lavish lifestyle prior to her death. Her salary per movie and other career earnings are over $1.2 million annually. She was one of the richest and most influential actresses in the United States.
How tall was Nichelle Nichols?
Nichelle Nichols stood at the height of 5 feet 5 inches and her body weight measured 60 Kg or 132 lb. Her body measurement was 33-22-37 in (breast-waist-hips). Her body type was slim. She wore a dress size of 6 and her shoe size was 8.5 US. She had gray hair color with a pair of brown eyes.