His son Johnson wrote on his Facebook page on Sunday, ‘My mother Nickel Nichols died last night. Now her light will shine like the galaxies of old, she will live on forever for us and future generations to enjoy, learn from and inspire. She lived her life well and emerged as such a model for all of us.
The effect of the series even today
His role as Lieutenant Uhura in the 1966–69 series earned Nichols immense fanfare. She also won accolades for breaking the stereotype that confined black women to servants, and she had an onscreen kiss with co-actor William Shatner, which created a sensation.
George Takei wrote this for a friend
George Takei wrote on Twitter, ‘What more can I say about the trailblazing Nickel Nichols, who shared the bridge with us as Lieutenant Uhura of the USS Enterprise and passed away today at the age of 89. My heart is heavy for today, my eyes are shining like stars, now you are my dear friend.’
Celia’s emotional tweet
Takei played the role of Sulu in the series alongside Nichols. But his influence was such that everyone else had faded in front of him. Celia Rose Gooding, who currently plays Uhura in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, wrote on Twitter: “Nichols made room for so many of us.” She used to remind us that not only can we reach the stars, but our influence is essential for their existence. Many other celebs also expressed their condolences for him.
When was the last time you appeared on screen!
Like other actors, Nichols also appeared in “Star Trek: The Motion Picture” in 1979 and 6 big-screen spinoffs often with Star Trek Fans. He also worked as a NASA trainee for many years. More recently, she last appeared on screen in Heroes of Television, playing the role of the great-grandmother of a young boy with mysterious powers. The series Star Trek premiered on NBC on September 8, 1966.