Nichelle, the legendary actress and singer has now passed away at the ripe old age of 89. Gilbert Bell, Gilbert Nichols’ talent manager, confirmed her death on Saturday.
BREAKING: We’re sad to report that Nichelle Nichols — STAR TREK’s original Lt. Uhura — has passed away at age 89
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— TrekCore.com 🖖 (@TrekCore) July 31, 2022
Nichols was a legend for his role as Lieutenant NyotaUhura in The Classic. Star Trek tv series. William Shatner, her co-star in the series, shared an interracial hug. Her character is one of very few portrayals of black women in influential positions. This scene is one of television’s most memorable for its controversy at a time in which interracial relationships were taboo.
Nichols also was a skilled jazz singer. Her two solo albums were released. She also toured with Lionel Hampton or Duke Ellington. NASA even helped her recruit women and minorities to the program.
The later years of the artist’s life took a disappointing turn as Nichols’ health began to decline. Her only child Kyle Johnson and Gilbert Bell, Gilbert Bell’s manager, fought over the conservatorship. Angelique Fawcette was also involved in this ugly dispute.
After successfully petitioning for his mother’s conservatorship in 2018, Johnson has had a tumultuous time running it, and he and Bell have filed lawsuits accusing the other of various aggressions and controlling actions. Fawcette, whom Nichols named as her successor, meanwhile, believes that — despite her dementia — Nichols is capable of living independently, without a conservator. She also alleges that Bell, who in 2018 tried to marry Nichols, allowed her home to fall into “a state of disrepair” while he was caring for her.
Nichols kept working and made appearances, even though she was suffering from dementia. Many believe she was pressured to give up her inheritance by the people in charge.
Despite tumultuous later years, Nichols’ legacy is one that spans an incredible range of influence. It is clear that she changed the face of television and film in ways still felt today. The perfect illustration of her gravity is a story about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It was posted in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, by Ariella Kass
Star Trek’s first season premiered in 1967. The reviews were poor. Nichelle Nichols (Lt. NyotaUhura) had more problems with the series. Her lines were cut repeatedly, which she found demoralizing. On set she had to contend with racist comments as well as executives conspiring to stop her seeing fan mail.
At the end of the first season, Nichols recounted in her autobiography, she told the show’s creator she was done.
The next day at an NAACP event, Martin Luther King Jr. greeted her. He told her how important her role was and how he and his family watched Star Trek faithfully and adored her in particular – the only Black character.
Nichols expressed her gratitude, but she indicated that she intended to go.
It is possible to It is impossible And you You must not,” she recalls him saying. “Don’t you realize how important your presence, your character is? … Don’t you see? It isn’t a Black role and it is not an female role. This is the first television role that’s not stereotypical, whether it be male or female. You are breaking ground. For the first time,”he continued, “the world sees us as we Should be seen, as equals, as intelligent people — as we should be.”
Nichols stayed.
The rest of the story is one to tell in the stars.
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