Actress NichelleΒ Nichols has died at the age of 89. Nichols made history with her role as LieutenantΒ Uhura in Star Trek which earned her the admiration of Martin Luther KingΒ Jr, via The Hollywood Reporter. According to the outlet, Nichols passed away on Saturday night (July 30) due to natural causes. Her son, Kyle Johnson,Β confirmed the news on her official Facebook page. βHer 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,β he wrote on Sunday (July 31.) βHers was a life well lived and as such a model for us all.β Nichols died in Silver City, New Mexico, according to a family spokesman. She had been hospitalized recently and was living with her son.
Nichols' portrayal of LieutenantΒ Uhura was groundbreaking when the series aired in the '60s β a time when most Black women were portraying servants, per The Hollywood Reporter. The actress revealed in a documentary that a meeting with Dr. King inspired her to continue her role in the series despite wanting to quit and return to musical theater. βHe told me thatΒ Star TrekΒ was one of the only shows that his wife Coretta and he would allow their little children to stay up and watch,βΒ she shared.
βI thanked him and I told him I was leaving the show. All the smile came off his face and he said, βYou canβt do that. Donβt you understand, for the first time, weβre seen as we should be seen? You donβt have a Black role. You have an equal role.'" She continued, βI went back to work on Monday morning and went to Geneβs office and told him what had happened over the weekend. And he said, βWelcome home. We have a lot of work to do.ββ
RIP NichelleΒ Nichols.