A 'Star Trek' icon and Y&R guest star, Nichols died at the age of 89

It has been reported that actress Nichols Nichols has passed away. She played Uhura in the original series and subsequent motion pictures of Star Trek. Gilbert Bell, Nichols' long-time business partner, and talent manager confirmed the death.  In New Mexico, Nichelle passed away. Among the first interracial kisses in television history, Nichelle became a fan favorite.  She and her co-star William Shatner experienced that moment back in 1968 when aliens controlled the movements of humans and made Uhura and Captain Kirk kiss involuntarily.  Despite the circumstances, it was considered groundbreaking at the time it aired.

As Uhura, Nichols appeared in the first six  Star Trek films. Star Trek: The Motion Picture promoted him to lieutenant commander, and Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan promoted him to full commander. During the 2016 season of The Young and the Restless, Nichelle guest starred as Lucinda Winters, the mother of Kristoff Winters' long-lost son, Neil Winters. Nichelle starred as Lucinda Winters on The Young and the Restless in 2016, as the long-lost mother of Kristoff Winters' son Neil Winters. 

A Daytime Emmy nomination was given to Nichols that year for Outstanding Guest Performance in a Daytime Drama Series.  In addition to Nichols' and St. John's riveting performances, the story was heartbreaking. It shared its condolences on Sunday with the message: "RIP Nichelle Nichols, legendary and extraordinary. In 2016, she blessed #YR with her talents." In a tweet, Kate Mulgrew wrote, "Nichelle Nichols was the first.". Nichols navigated a challenging path with grace, grit, and beautiful fire that is unlikely to be seen again."

Kyle Johnson, Nichelle's son, survives her.  Johnson wrote on her website, "Last night, my mother, Nichelle Nichols, passed away from natural causes. Her light, however, will remain for us and future generations to enjoy, learn from, and draw inspiration from, just as ancient galaxies have been revealed for the first time. As such, her life was a model for us all. Please be patient with me and the rest of our family while we grieve her loss until we can speak more clearly. Our family and closest friends will attend her services, and we ask that her privacy and ours be respected. Live Long and Prosper.”

Related: Recap of The Young and Restless for July 26 Episode: Searching for Ashland

Source:michaelfairmantv