Nichelle Nichols
Nichelle Nichols (Grace Nichols) was born on December 28th, 1932. Nichelle passed away July 30th, 2022 at 89 years old. Nichelle Nichols was born in Robbins, IL, USA.
Nichelle Nichols was a renowned dancer, singer, and actress from the United States, best known for her portrayal of Uhura in the
Star Trek franchise.
She began performing as a dancer and singer at a very young age. During that time, she toured widely and performed at hotel revues across Europe, the US, and Canada with bands led by the likes of Lionel Hampton and Duke Ellington.
Later, she went solo, performing in nightclub revues across the United States and Canada, where she would become widely popular on stage before she got into television and film.
In 1959, Nichelle Nichols was cast in
Porgy and Bess, and this opened doors for her in TV and theater. While
Kicks & Co, which she acted in, was not a major hit, her performance was praised, and she got regular gigs at high-profile venues in addition to getting roles in several TV dramas.
In 1966, she got her biggest role when she was cast as Lieutenant Uhura in
Star Trek. This would become her most defining role as she acted in several films, even as she appeared in TV series such as
Heroes and films such as
Truck Turner.
Outside of her work as an actor, Nichelle Nichols released three albums. She was also the founder of the project Women in Motion, which brought together education and music. The project would become a national effort connected to recruitment and space exploration.
In 1994, Nichelle Nichols published a memoir of her life before, during, and after her time as Lieutenant Uhura on Star Trek titled
Beyond Uhura: Star Trek and Other Memories.
She reflected on her early career as a dancer and singer, fighting sexism and racism in Hollywood, and her experience playing Lieutenant Uhura on the films and TV shows.
Nichols shared about the many experiences she had behind the scenes with Gene Roddenberry, the creator of Star Trek, the treatment she had from the studio bosses, and her relationships with the cast of
Star Trek.
Lastly, she told of her life after working on
Star Trek, including becoming an inspiration to others and taking on space-related work.
In 1995, Nichelle got into fiction when she published
Saturn’s Child, a work set in the 21st century.
It told of the first contact between humans and the Fazisians, an alien race from the moon of Saturn known as Titan. The aliens had been discovered by Dragon’s Egg, the human ship under the command of Dr. Nyota Domonique.
Soon enough, Nyota begins a telepathic communication with the son of Fazisian ruler Tetrok, and their deep connection results in the creation of lab child Saturna.
With strong mental powers, the child soon becomes a threat to peace as it challenges laws on both sides.
Related Authors
Fans of Nichelle Nichols also enjoy these authors:
- Stephen King, author of The Dark Tower Series.
- J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter Series.
- Charles Dickens, author of: A Christmas Carol.
- Robin Hobb, author of the Farseer Series.
- Megan Lindholm, author of the Reindeer People Series.
Nichelle Nichols: F.A.Q
When was Nichelle Nichols Born?
Nichelle Nichols was born on December 28th, 1932.
When did Nichelle Nichols die?
Nichelle Nichols died on July 30th, 2022 at 89 years old.
Where was Nichelle Nichols Born?
Nichelle Nichols was born in Robbins, IL, USA.
What was the first book Nichelle Nichols wrote?
The first book written by Nichelle Nichols was Beyond Uhura: Star Trek and Other Memories, published in 1994.
What was the most recent book Nichelle Nichols wrote?
Her most recently released work was Saturna's Quest on January 1st, 2002.
How many books has Nichelle Nichols written?
Nichelle Nichols has written 3 books. 2 books in the Saturn's Child Series, 1 Non-Fiction Books.