Nichelle Nichols of Star Trek fame passed away on July 30, 2022, in Silver City, New Mexico, her son Kyle Johnson announced on her Facebook page. She was 89 years old.
Nichols was most popularly known as Nyota Uhura in Star Trek: The Original Series, and its film sequels. She was a trailblazer and an inspiration among millions of African-Americans.
The actress went on to have a successful acting career, with many film and television roles in her name., She was also associated with NASA. There is an asteroid called 68410 Nichols in her honor.
Who Was Nichelle Nichols Husband Duke Mondy?
Duke Mondy was the second husband of Star Trek actress Nichelle Nichols. The couple was together for four years.
Nichelle and Duke dated for some time before getting married in 1968. The two were referred to as Duke & Nichelle and also appeared together in the tv series, It Takes Two in 1969.
The couple was also featured on the cover of Jet magazine during their time together. They seemed very happy with each other, however, after just four years, the two parted ways and divorced in 1972.
Duke was a talented songwriter and musician. Apart from that, nothing about him is mentioned anywhere on the internet. After the divorce from Nichelle, he remained out of the spotlight and lived a normal life.
Nichelle Nichols First Husband And Son
Nichelle Nichols married Foster Johnson in 1951. He was a professional dancer. The marriage was very short-lived as they divorced the same year.
Together, Nichele and Foster were parents to Kyle Johnson, born on August 14, 1951. He followed in his mother’s footsteps and pursued a career in acting.
Kyle is most famously known for his portrayal of Newt Winger in the 1969 coming-of-age drama movie The Learning Tree. His role was very well received and the movie was critically successful. He acted in some tv shows and feature films and was also active in the music scene in Los Angeles.
Nichelle Nichols And Gene Roddenberry Relationship
Nichelle Nichols had an affair with Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry in the 1960s. They dated for some years before the creation of Star Trek.
Nichols wrote about the relationship on her autobiography Beyond Uhura. She revealed that she was afraid of their interracial relationship being found out by the public, and feared the potential impact it would have on Gene’s career.
However, the affair ended when Nichols found out that Roddenberry was dating Majel Barrett. She wrote that she did not want to be “the other woman to the other woman.”
Despite the failed romance, Nichelle and Gene remained close friends till his death in 1991. She wrote a song titled Gene as a tribute for him, which she sang at his funeral.
How Did Nichelle Nichols Die?
It was announced on Sunday that Nichelle Nichols died on July 30, 2022, in Silver City, New Mexico. She died of natural causes at the age of 89.
Nichelle’s son, Kyle posted on her Facebook that his mother had passed away. He wrote that Nichols died on Saturday Night. There was not any mention of illness or any health problem.
As she was already 89 years old, Nichelle passed away of natural causes. Though her physical body has gone, her performances will always remain on our screens. Nichelle Nichols lives on. Rest in Peace, Nichelle.