Nichelle Nichols’ ‘Star Trek’ family praises ‘unique artist who was ahead of her time’
George Takei and William Shatner led an outpouring of tributes Sunday to their “Star Trek” co-star Nichelle Nichols, who died Saturday at age 89.
On Twitter, Takei shared a sweet photo of himself and Nichols performing the Vulcan salute and wrote, “We lived long and prospered together.” In the original “Star Trek” TV series, Takei played Sulu and Nichols was Lt. Uhura.
“I shall have more to say about the trailblazing, incomparable Nichelle Nichols, who shared the bridge with us as Lt. Uhura of the USS Enterprise,” Takei tweeted.
“For today, my heart is heavy, my eyes shining like the stars you now rest among, my dearest friend.”
Hours later came a tribute from Shatner, who portrayed Capt. Kirk in the original “Star Trek” and filmed with Nichols what was widely thought to be the first interracial kiss on television.
According to Nichols’ 1994 autobiography, “Star Trek” producers attempted to shoot two versions of the seminal scene between Kirk and Uhura — one with a kiss and one with just an embrace — because they were anxious about how it would be received.
However, Nichols and Shatner thwarted that plan by deliberately flubbing all of the hugging takes so that only a kissing one would make the final cut.
“I am so sorry to hear about the passing of Nichelle,” Shatner tweeted Sunday. “She ... played an admirable character that did so much for redefining social issues both here in the US & throughout the world. ... Sending my love and condolences to her family.”
In a separate statement to The Times, Shatner added, “She was a beautiful woman when she was young and just as beautiful when she got older. Everybody loved her and we will all miss her presence.”
Takei and Shatner were among several members of the “Star Trek” family who mourned Nichols’ death on social media. As communications officer of the Starship Enterprise, the legendary Nichols made major strides for Black and female representation onscreen.
On Monday, Zoe Saldana paid homage to her “Star Trek” predecessor via Instagram. The Marvel actor — who played Lt. Uhura in the recent “Star Trek” revival movies — shared photos of her and Nichols posing together shortly after Saldana made her franchise debut.
“We have lost a true star- a unique artist who was ahead of her time always,” Saldana wrote. “She’s an icon, an activist and most importantly an amazing woman- who blazed a trail that has shown so many how to see women of color in a different light. Her strive for equality was unwavering.
“Meeting Nichelle was truly a very special moment in my life. Her energy was infectious every time I was in her presence. She convinced me in believing that anything was achievable, if you put your heart into it. I mean, she inspired Mae Jemison to follow her dreams of becoming an astronaut and that’s exactly what Mae did.”
When she booked the role of Uhura in “Star Trek,” Saldana continued, she knew she had “big shoes to fill,” but Nichols made her feel “safe” and told her to embody the character “with all the confidence in the world.”
“My hope is that we continue to keep her memory alive by celebrating her amazing body of work, and by spreading the message of peace and equality amongst all people,” Saldana added.
“She lived a long, impactful life and not only prospered, but helped so many others prosper too. Maya Angelou once said ‘People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.’ I agree with this statement with the exception of Nichelle Nichols. It’ll be hard to forget what she said and hard to forget what she did, and it will certainly be impossible to forget how she made us feel.”
After Nichols and Saldana came Celia Rose Gooding, who now plays Lt. Uhura in the Paramount+ series “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” and credited Nichols with making room “for so many of us.”
“She was the reminder that not only can we reach the stars, but our influence is essential to their survival,” Gooding tweeted. “Forget shaking the table, she built it!”
Marina Sirtis, who portrayed Counselor Deanna Troi in “Star Trek” movies and the TV series “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” added on Twitter: “You led the way and opened the door for the rest of us who followed in your wake. We will be forever grateful. My heart is broken.”
During its three-season run in the 1960s, Nichols appeared in 66 episodes of the original “Star Trek” and turned up regularly at “Star Trek” conventions. She later reprised her groundbreaking role for several “Star Trek” movies.
“Nichelle Nichols was The First,” tweeted Kate Mulgrew, who played Capt. Kathryn Janeway on the TV series “Star Trek: Voyager.” “She was a trailblazer who navigated a very challenging trail with grit, grace, and a gorgeous fire we are not likely to see again.”
LeVar Burton, who played Geordi La Forge in “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” tweeted: “Heartbroken at the news of [Nichols’] passing, however, I am comforted in the knowledge that she illuminated the way for so of us many with her grace, beauty, talent, intelligence and her commitment to humanity going boldly to the stars!”
Nichols died of heart failure Saturday night at a hospital in Silver City, N.M.
Nichols was remembered fondly by Alex Kurtzman and Olatunde Osunsanmi, executive producers of the Paramount+ show “Star Trek: Discovery.”
“Nichelle was a singular inspiration,” Kurtzman tweeted. “She’s the one who really opened my eyes to what Star Trek is and can be. I can’t tell you how many people have told me she’s the reason they became … an astronaut, a scientist, a writer, a linguist, an engineer … it goes on and on. ... We stand in her light and honor her today and every day. Thank you, dear Nichelle, for leading the way.”
“#NichelleNichols thank you, for igniting the flame of a beautiful journey,” Osunsanmi tweeted. “For myself, and millions of others on our world. We’ll miss you.”
A few “Star Trek: Discovery” cast members — including Wilson Cruz, Jayne Brook and Anthony Rapp — also posted on Twitter to honor Nichols.
“Before we understood how much #RepresentationMatters #NichelleNichols modeled it for us,” tweeted Cruz, who portrays Dr. Hugh Culber. “With her very presence & her grace she shone a light on who we as people of color are & inspired us to reach for our potential. Rest well glittering diamond in the sky.”
“You soared so we could follow,” tweeted Brook, who plays Vice Admiral Katrina Cornwell. “Thank you, Nichelle. You will be missed, and cherished in hearts and minds today and forever.”
“Rest in power, icon,” tweeted Rapp, who plays Paul Stamets.
In February 2015, Leonard Nimoy — who portrayed Spock in the original “Star Trek” series — died at 83. On Sunday, Nimoy’s son, Adam Nimoy, shared his “favorite photo” of his father and Nichols smiling on the set of “Star Trek” together.
“The importance of Nichelle’s legacy cannot be over-emphasized,” Adam Nimoy tweeted. “She was much loved and will be missed.”
Other “Star Trek” figures who saluted Nichols online include “Star Trek: Lower Decks” cast members Tawny Newsome and Jack Quaid, “Star Trek: Picard” director Lea Thompson, “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” actor Melissa Navia and “Star Trek: Prodigy” writer and producer Aaron J. Waltke.
Nichols’ legacy was also celebrated by plenty of entertainment luminaries outside the vast realm of “Star Trek.” Among them was “Wonder Woman” star Lynda Carter, who tweeted: “Many actors become stars, but few stars can move a nation. Nichelle Nichols showed us the extraordinary power of Black women and paved the way for a better future for all women in media. Thank you, Nichelle. We will miss you.”
In another tweet, NASA hailed Nichols as an “actor, trailblazer, and role model, who symbolized to so many what was possible.”
“She partnered with us to recruit some of the first women and minority astronauts, and inspired generations to reach for the stars,” NASA’s statement read.
Also inspired by Nichols was Bernice King, attorney and daughter of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. — who famously objected to Nichols quitting “Star Trek” and persuaded her to stay on the show after the first season concluded. Because of her performance as Uhura, the civil rights leader told Nichols, “the world sees us for the first time as we should be seen.”
“Representation matters. Excellence in representation matters even more,” Bernice King tweeted. “Thank you, #NichelleNichols. Rest well, ancestor.”
See more tributes to Nichols below.
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