Nichelle Nichols | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Nichols in 1979 | |
| Born | Grace Dell Nichols December 28, 1932 Robbins, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | July 30, 2022 (aged 89) Silver City, New Mexico, U.S. |
| Education | Englewood High School |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1959–2019 |
| Notable credit | Nyota Uhura in Star Trek |
| Spouses |
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| Children | Kyle Johnson |
Nichelle Nichols (/nɪˈʃɛl/ nish-EL; born Grace Dell Nichols; December 28, 1932 – July 30, 2022)[1] was an American actress, singer and dancer whose portrayal of Uhura in Star Trek and its film sequels was groundbreaking for African American actresses on American television.[2] From 1977 to 2015, she volunteered her time to promote NASA's programs and recruit diverse astronauts, including some of the first female and ethnic minority astronauts.[3][4]
Born in the Chicago suburb of Robbins, she trained in dance, and began her career as a dancer, singer and model in Chicago. As an actor, she appeared on stage, in television and in film.
- ^ Sottile, Zoe. "Nichelle Nichols, trailblazing 'Star Trek' actress, dies at 89". CNN. Archived from the original on July 31, 2022. Retrieved July 31, 2022.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
WSJ-MLKwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Hahn, Michael (August 20, 2009). "GPN-2004-00017 – Nichelle Nichols, NASA Recruiter". NASA. Archived from the original on December 22, 2009. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
- ^ Currie, Netisha (March 1, 2016). "To Boldly Go Where No (Wo)Man Has Gone Before…". Rediscovering Black History, National Archives. Archived from the original on May 3, 2021. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
Many astronauts have credited Nichols and the character of Lt. Uhura as an inspiration to them for seeking out opportunities with NASA, including: Ronald McNair, Sally Ride, Judith Resnik, current NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, and the first African American woman in space – Mae Jemison.