There are many American actresses, but only a few of them can leave a mark on the hearts of the people. Nichelle Nichols playboy was one of them. She was more than an American actress. Nichelle Nichols was also a singer and dancer. She was famous for her role in Star Trek, where she portrayed Uhura. However, there is so much more to this American personality, so keep reading.
Nichelle Nichols playboy: About her early life
Nichelle Nichols, also known as Grace Dell Nichols, was the third child out of six. She took birth on December 28, 1932, in Robbins, Chicago. Her father, Samuel Earl, was a factory worker, and her mother, Lishia Nichols, was a homemaker. Later, the family moved to Woodlawn.
Nichelle Nichols did her high schooling at Englewood High School and graduated in 1951. She even studied in NYC and LA.
Her skyrocketing career
Nichelle Nichols made her appearance in Kicks and Co., which was a 1961 musical by Oscar Brown. She even played Hazel Sharpe, which was a satire of Playboy magazine. Later, Hugh Hefner booked her for the Chicago Playboy Club. Nichelle Nichols also played the role of Carmen. However, between all the acting and singing career options, she even did modeling work.
In 1967, she appeared on the cover of Ebony magazine. She toured in different countries as a singer with Duke Ellington as well as the Lionel Hampton bands. Nichelle did many things before being cast in the Star Trek show.
Nichelle Nichols’ role in Star Trek
On Star Trek, a TV series, Nichelle Nichols was one of the first black women to appear. She played the role of a bridge officer, but soon she wanted to leave the show. But her conversation with Martin Luther King Jr. allowed her to change her mind. At the end of the first season, she was offered a role on Broadway. But an incident with Martin Luther King Jr., where he told her that he was his greatest fan, changed her mind.
Martin Luther King Jr. told her that Star Trek was the only show he and his wife watched. Further, after confessing that she was leaving the show, he made her understand that this role is not just a black or female one. He encouraged her to be on the show and continue, as it was an important role for young children and women in the country.
Also, after the cancellation of the series in 1969, Nichelle Nichols offered her voice of Uhura in the animated series Star Trek. She even starred in six Star Trek films.
Nichelle Nichols’ acting and music career
Nichelle Nichols appeared in many small TV and film roles. For her work in this field, she received prestigious awards. However, when it comes to her music career, she released two music albums. In 1967, Down to Earth was released, and in 1991, Out of This World was released. Even as Uhura, Nichelle Nichols sang some songs in Star Trek.
Nichelle Nichols: Her personal life
In the autobiography of Nichelle Nichols, she wrote that she was involved with the creator of Star Trek romantically. But she clarified that the affair ended before Star Trek began, and after releasing that, Gene was involved with Majel Hudec.
Nichelle Nichols married twice. Initially, she married Foster Johnson. They got married in 1951 and got divorced the same year. From her first marriage, she had one child, Kyle Johnson. Later, Nichelle married Duke Mondy but got divorced in 1971.
Nichelle Nichols Playboy’s NASA stint
Surprisingly, Nichelle Nichols did some volunteering with NASA. Her work was related to the recruitment of female personnel for the space agency. She formed a fine affiliation between NASA and a company called Women in Motion to get the work done. Luckily, the program was successful, and she attained recognition as well.
She even managed to fly aboard NASA’s SOFIA Boeing 747SP in 2015. In 1976, she was a guest at the Jet Propulsion Lab in California. She did a lot of work with NASA that’s especially highlighted in the documentary Woman in Motion, which’s all about her life.
Nichelle Nichols: lifetime recognition
In 1982, Robert A. Heinlein dedicated the novel Friday to Nichelle Nichols. Also, Asteroid 68410 Nichols is named in honor of Nichelle Nichols.
In 1992, she got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This was because of her contribution to TV. In 1999, she got the Goldene Kamera Award, and in 2010, she got an honorary degree from LA Mission College.
Nichelle Nichols also got the Life Career Award in 2016 from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Films.
Nichelle Nichols: Her health and death
In 2015, she suffered from a mild stroke in her LA home. She was admitted to a hospital, and after the confirmation of the stroke, Nichelle Nichols began her inpatient therapy. However, she was diagnosed with dementia in 2018, which made her announce her retirement from convention appearances.
Nichelle Nichols died of a natural cause in Silver City in July 2022. She was 89 years old when she died.
Final Thoughts
Nichelle Nichols did great work throughout her life. She was highly acclaimed for her versatility and personality. She did not just act and sing but also a lot of other things in her long career. From featuring in the Star Trek Original series to becoming a part of NASA programs to making an appearance in Kicks and Co. to trying her hands in the singing field, she wore many hats and consistently worked hard until her last breath.
