Nichelle Nichols’ ‘Star Trek’ Family Mourns Her Death: “Her Light Will Keep Shining”

Hollywood is mourning Nichelle Nichols, the Star Trek actress who died at age 89 on Saturday (July 30). Nichols, whose death by natural causes was confirmed by her son, Kyle Johnson, was best known for playing Nyota Uhuru in the first Star Trek series, and reprised the role in subsequent films.

Shortly after the news of Nichols’ death broke, her co-stars and admirers mourned her death of Twitter, where they shared memories and praise for the late actress. After Star Trek stars like LeVar Burton, Kate Mulgrew and George Takei posted their own kind words for Nichols, more of the Star Trek family followed suit.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds actress Melissa Navia wrote, “✨Nichelle Nichols✨ Her light will keep shining. Brighter & stronger than ever. All the rest to her now and peace to her family. Cannot wait for the celebration of her life that is to come and all the stories that those who knew her best will share.”

Celia Rose Gooding, another Star Trek: Strange New Worlds star, shared, “She made room for so many of us. She was the reminder that not only can we reach the stars, but our influence is essential to their survival. Forget shaking the table, she built it! #RIPNichelleNichols 🕊✨🖖🏾”

The official Star Trek Twitter account also posted a tribute to Nichols, writing, “We’re deeply saddened to report the passing of Nichelle Nichols – a trailblazer, an inspiration, and so much more. She will be deeply missed.”

Stars outside of the Star Trek franchise remembered Nichols, too. Jason Alexander professed his love for the series, writing in his Twitter tribute to Nichols, “My love for the original Star Trek is profound. Nichelle Nichols was a ground-breaker and a glorious ambassador for her show, her role and science all her life. And a truly lovely person. May she have a wonderful adventure to the final frontier. #ripnichellenichols.”

And W. Kamau Bell, who hosts CNN’s United Shades of America, posted a clip from his series featuring a story about Nichols.

Seth MacFarlane, Family Guy creator, also wrote a tribute to Nichols praising her “charm and magnetism.”

Nichols even got a shout-out from NASA, which shared a photo of her in a NASA space suit with the message, “We celebrate the life of Nichelle Nichols, Star Trek actor, trailblazer, and role model, who symbolized to so many what was possible. She partnered with us to recruit some of the first women and minority astronauts, and inspired generations to reach for the stars.”

Check out more tributes to Nichols below, including messages from Stacey Abrams, Colman Domingo and more: