Nichelle Nichols, trailblazing 'Star Trek' actress, dead at age 89
According to a statement from her son Kyle Johnson, actress and singer Nichelle Nichols has passed away
at the age
of 89. She was best recognised for her ground-breaking portrayal of Lt. Nyota Uhura in "Star Trek: The Original Series."
"My mother, Nichelle Nichols, died away last night due to natural causes. Her brightness, however, will
remain for us and future generations to appreciate, learn from, and be inspired by, much like the ancient
galaxies now being seen for the first time "In a statement posted to Nichols' official website on Sunday,
Johnson stated. She led a good life that should serve as an example for everyone. Nichols passed away naturally, according to him.
As Lt. Nyota Uhura on the original TV series, Nichols made history as one of the first Black women to
appear in a major television series. Her name is derived from the Swahili word for "freedom," Uhuru.
In the "Star Trek" TV series and many of its spinoff films, Nichols played communications officer Lt. Nyota Uhura.