Nichelle Nichols
The actress who played Uhura.
Grace Dell "Nichelle" Nichols (December 28, 1932 - July 30, 2022) was an American actress, singer and dancer. Her portrayal of Uhura in Star Trek and its films was groundbreaking for African American actresses on American television.
Quick Facts
- Birth name
- Grace Dell Nichols
- Born
- 28 December 1932
- Birthplace
- Robbins, Illinois, U.S.
- Died
- 30 July 2022
- Place of death
- Silver City, New Mexico, U.S.
- Occupation
- Actress
- singer
- dancer
- Years active
- 1959–2020
- Credits
- Nyota Uhura in Star Trek
Lore & Background
From 1977 to 2015 she volunteered to promote NASA and recruit diverse astronauts, including some of the first women and ethnic minority astronauts.
Born in Robbins, Illinois, near Chicago, she studied dance at the Chicago Ballet Academy from the age of 12. She began as a singer and dancer in Chicago, toured with the bands of Duke Ellington and Lionel Hampton, and in 1959 was the principal dancer in the film of Porgy and Bess.
More in People & Notable Figures
Elsewhere in Star Trek
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