Date of Birth: December 28, 1932
Zodiac Sign: Capricorn
Date of Death: July 30, 2022
Biography
Nichelle Nichols, born Grace Dell Nichols, was an acclaimed American actress, singer, and voice artist, best known for her groundbreaking role as Lieutenant Uhura in the original “Star Trek” television series. Born in Robbins, Illinois, Nichols began her career as a singer and dancer, performing in nightclubs and with Duke Ellington’s orchestra. Her work on “Star Trek” broke significant racial barriers on television, making her an icon of the civil rights movement. A talented musician, Nichols released several music albums over the course of her career and performed in various musical theater productions. She also devoted significant time to promoting space exploration and diversity in NASA.
5 Interesting Facts about Nichelle Nichols
1. **Civil Rights Impact**: Nichelle Nichols was persuaded by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to remain on “Star Trek” due to her role’s importance in representing African Americans on television.
2. **NASA Advocate**: Nichols worked with NASA to recruit minority and female personnel, inspiring a new generation of astronauts.
3. **Music Career**: Before acting, Nichols sang with Duke Ellington and Lionel Hampton.
4. **First Interracial Kiss on TV**: She and William Shatner shared one of the first interracial kisses on U.S. television on “Star Trek.”
5. **Honorary NASA Title**: She received the NASA Public Service Award for her efforts in space exploration advocacy.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Nichelle Nichols
1. “Science is not a boy’s game, it’s not a girl’s game. It’s everyone’s game.”
2. “We are all born into the world with nothing. Everything we acquire after that is profit.”
3. “I think anybody with any intelligence sits down and sees Star Trek not as science fiction but as a metaphor for the human condition.”
4. “I’ve been blessed to live long enough to see the fruits of my labor.”
5. “I was not a science fiction fan, but I was a fan of vision.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
Highest net worth achieved: Approximately $8 million
Children
Nichelle Nichols had one child, a son named Kyle Johnson, born in 1951.
Relevant Links
1. [Nichelle Nichols on IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0629667/
2. [Nichelle Nichols’ Biography on Biography.com](https://www.biography.com/actor/nichelle-nichols
3. [NASA’s Tribute to Nichelle Nichols](https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-remembers-nichelle-nichols
4. [Nichelle Nichols on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nichelle_Nichols
5. [Star Trek’s Official Website Tribute](https://www.startrek.com/news/remembering-nichelle-nichols
