Star Trek Icon Nichelle Nichols Has Died Aged 89

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The African American Actress's Role As Lieutenant Nyota Uhura Was The First Black Character On US Television To Be A Figure Of Authority

The Starship USS Enterprise has lost another member of it's crew after it was announced Nichelle Nichols, who played Lieutenant Nyota Uhura in the original Star Trek TV show and it's six movies during the 1980s and early 1990s, has died at the age of 89.

Nichols now joins the long list of cast members of the iconic 60s Tv show and 80s movies who've passed away since the last TOS-Era film Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country was released in 1991,  including Leonard Nimoy who played Mr Spock, DeForest " Dee" Kelley who played Dr McCoy, James Doohan as Montgomery "Scotty" Scott, Brock Peters who played Admiral Cartwright, Ricardo Montalban who played Khan Noonien Singh, and many more who're no longer with us.

Surviving Star Trek cast members William Shatner who played Captain (Later Admiral) James "Jim" Tiberius Kirk, Walter Koenig who played Pavel Chekov, and George Takai who played Mr Sulu (Whilst still in the closet) paid tribute to Nichols in separate Twitter messages.

George Takai tweeted that: "I shall have more say about the trailblazing incomparable Nichelle Nichols, who shared the bridge with us as Lt. Uhura of the USS Enterprise, has passed away today at age 89.

For today, my heart is heavy and my eyes shining like the stars you now rest among.

My dearest friend".

William Shatner, who's the oldest living human to travel into space, tweeted: "I am so sorry to hear about the passing of Nichelle.

She was a beautiful woman and played an admirable character that did so much for redefining social issues, both here in the US and throughout the world.

I will certainly miss herm sending my love and condolences to her family, Bill". 

Walter Koenig tweeted: "I will continue to share the memories I and Nichelle had whilst filming the original show and the movies, we will miss you".

Shatner, Koenig, and Takai are now the last living members of the main cast of the original Star Trek show and movies.