It’s a somber day for Star Trek fans as the iconic Nichelle Nichols — best known for her role as Lt. Nyota Uhura in Gene Roddenberry’s Star Trek: The Original Series — passed away at age 89 on Sunday. Nichols’ son Kyle Johnson revealed the sad news on her Facebook page.
“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. “Hers was a life well lived and as such a model for us all.”
During part of the Civil Rights era in 1966, Nichols’ role as a Black woman featured prominently in a popular television series like Star Trek was groundbreaking. Though, famously, she told Roddenberry that she wanted to quit her role at Lt. Uhura after the first season and go back to pursuing a career on Broadway. If she followed through, Nichols even had a job offer on the table.
