CHICAGO — A little piece of a legend still lives on in her hometown, a small village southwest of Chicago, while most of Nichelle Nichols’ fans worldwide know her for roles in “Star Trek” and at NASA.
Nichols still kept in touch with her local roots, though, said Tyrone Haymore, executive director and co-founder of the Robbins History Museum. For some 20 years, the museum has been home to one of Nichols’ outfits from her time playing Lt. Nyota Uhura in the original “Star Trek” series. She visited Illinois “many times since becoming a star,” Haymore said, and he got to meet her on several occasions.
Nichols died Saturday night, her son Kyle Johnson announced online. She was 89.
