Grace Dell Nichols
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Nichelle Nichols shattered television stereotypes as Lt. Nyota Uhura on Star Trek 1966, the first non-stereotypical role for an African-American actress on TV. At 18, she married and had a son, but her career took off after being discovered by Duke Ellington. She worked for NASA recruiting minority astronauts, inspired by Martin Luther King Jr. to stay on Star Trek. Nichols died of heart failure in 2022 at age 89.
Names, aliases, and relatives of Nichelle Nichols — birth name, kin, and personal ties.
Nichelle Nichols by the numbers — life, work, and family.
Nichelle Nichols — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.
Nichelle Nichols grew up in Robbins, Illinois, one of ten children. Her father, Samuel Earl Nichols, served as mayor and chief magistrate of Robbins. She was born Grace Dell Nichols on December 28, 1932, and from childhood wanted to sing, dance, and act despite no family history in the arts. Her father could tap dance, but no one else performed. Discovered by Duke Ellington in her mid-teens, she toured with Ellington and Lionel Hampton as a lead singer and dancer.
Nichelle Nichols landed the groundbreaking role of Lt. Nyota Uhura on Star Trek 1966, one of the first non-stereotypical roles for an African-American actress on television. Previously, black actresses were limited to maids or housekeepers. Her role broke that barrier. She was twice nominated for the Sarah Siddons Award for Best Actress. On film, she danced with Sammy Davis Jr. in Porgy and Bess 1959 and appeared opposite James Garner in Mister Budwing 1965. After Star Trek ended, she played a madam and co-starred with Lynn Redgrave in Antony and Cleopatra. From the late 1970s to 1987, she worked for NASA, recruiting minority astronauts like Guion Bluford, Sally Ride, Judith Resnik, and Ron McNair. She also produced and directed a film for the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum.
Nichelle Nichols married at age 18 to a dancer 15 years her senior; they separated within four months, and she gave birth to her son Kyle in August 1951. In 1968, she married songwriter Foster Charles Johnson, but divorced four years later. In her autobiography Beyond Uhura, she confessed a close personal relationship with Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry. She was a lifelong Democrat and practicing Presbyterian. Her father was mayor of Robbins, and her brother Thomas died in the Heaven’s Gate cult suicide in 1997.
Nichelle Nichols inspired Dr. Mae Jemison to become the first African-American female astronaut. Her on-screen kiss with William Shatner on Star Trek was the first between a black woman and white man on American television, receiving 99% positive mail. She became the first African-American to place handprints at Hollywood’s Chinese Theatre and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1992. An asteroid, 68410 Nichols, was named in her honor, and her ashes were launched into deep space. She is most remembered as Lt. Uhura, a symbol of diversity and courage.
The complete filmography of Nichelle Nichols — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.
Every award, honor, and recognition received by Nichelle Nichols — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.
Nichelle Nichols's bibliography — every authored, edited, and co-written book, ranked by edition count.
A wall of memorable lines from Nichelle Nichols — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.
Gene’s Whole Vision Was That Minorities Weren’t on Set Because We Were Minorities, We Were on Set Because in the Future, Our Diverse World Would All Be Working Together as Equals. I Understand That Everyone Needs to See Role Models That Can Inspire Them and Talk to Them and Represent Them, but I Believe That We Need to Move to a Future That Transcends Race, Gender, or Anything Else. We’re All People.
I Was Very Blessed in Always Knowing What I Wanted to Do, and by the Grace of God, I’ve Been Able to Succeed in My Chosen Career. It’s Just Coincidental That the Acting Took off First Over Everything Else.
I’ve Agreed to Do Several Star Trek Conventions This Coming Year.
Mahalia Jackson, I Grew up Around the Corner from in Chicago.
Billie Holiday I Never Met, but I Love Her Music.
Little-known facts about Nichelle Nichols — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.
Frustrated with racist harassment, Nichols submitted her resignation from Star Trek after consulting Gene Roddenberry. At an NAACP fundraiser, she met Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who convinced her to stay, saying her role was too important.
With William Shatner, she shared the first on-screen kiss between a black female and white male on American television. The kiss generated a deluge of mail, 99% positive.
She became the first African-American to place her handprints in front of Hollywood’s Chinese Theatre, along with the rest of the Star Trek cast.
Her role as Uhura on Star Trek was one of the first times an African-American actress was portrayed in a non-stereotypical role, breaking the stereotype of maids or housekeepers.
Former NASA astronaut Dr. Mae C. Jemison was inspired by Nichols when she decided to become the first African-American female astronaut.
From the late 1970s until 1987, she was employed by NASA and in charge of astronaut recruits, launching minority candidates like Guion Bluford, Sally Ride, Judith Resnik, and Ron McNair.
In her autobiography Beyond Uhura: Star Trek and Other Memories, she confessed a close, personal relationship with Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry.
Although often overlooked, Nichols was one of the first black actresses to portray a character on television treated equally regardless of race, setting a standard for multiculturalism.
Discovered by Duke Ellington in her mid-teens, she toured with both Ellington and Lionel Hampton as a lead singer and dancer. In 1992, she returned to singing in a one-woman musical show called Reflections.
She was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Television at 6633 Hollywood Boulevard on January 9, 1992.
An asteroid discovered on August 16, 2001 was renamed 68410 Nichols in her honor.
She received the Lifetime Career Award at the 2016 Saturn Awards for science fiction, music, and space exploration support.
On May 3, 2018, she suffered from severe short-term memory loss due to advanced dementia.
In early 1951, at age 18, she married a dancer 15 years her senior. They separated within four months, and in August 1951, she gave birth to her son. In 1968, she remarried songwriter Foster Charles Johnson, but divorced four years later.
On July 14, 2010, she toured the space shuttle simulator and Mission Control at the Johnson Space Center.
On June 3, 2015, she suffered a mild stroke at her Los Angeles home and was hospitalized.
On March 26, 1997, her younger brother Thomas Alva Nichols died in the Heaven’s Gate cult suicide in Rancho Santa Fe, near San Diego.
Dr. Martin Luther King introduced himself to Nichols when she planned to leave Star Trek after the first season. He persuaded her to stay, saying: This is not a Black role, and it is not a female role. You have the first nonstereotypical role on television.
She served on the board of governors for the National Space Institute and worked with NASA, producing and starring in a film for the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum.
She was an honorary member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.
She appeared in episodes of three series with William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, and George Takei: Star Trek, Star Trek: The Animated Series, and Futurama.
Childhood friends with Marla Gibbs. Friends with William Shatner.
She made both her first and last Star Trek appearances with DeForest Kelley: The Corbomite Maneuver 1966 and Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country 1991.
Nichols grew up in Robbins, one of four all-Black governed towns in America. Her father, mayor and chief magistrate, once stood up to the Capone gang.
Ranked #17 on Wizard magazine’s Sexiest Women of Television for her role as Uhura.
Received an honorary degree from Los Angeles Mission College on June 8, 2010.
Her grandfather, Samuel Gillespie Nichols, was born to an Irish-born father and an African-American mother.
Best known by the public for her role as Lieutenant Nyota Uhura on Star Trek.
A picture of her as Uhura appears in the Elvis 2022 biopic, recreating the making of Elvis: The Comeback Special. She passed away when the film was still in theaters.
She appeared in two films selected for the National Film Registry: Porgy and Bess 1959 and Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan 1982.
Her ashes were launched into deep space along with those of Majel Barrett and Douglas Trumbull.
She passed away on the same day as actress Pat Carroll.
She was a lifelong Democrat and practicing Presbyterian.
Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Nichelle Nichols.
Celebrities similar to Nichelle Nichols — same craft, ranked by reach.
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