Nichelle Nichols, whose portrayal of Lieutenant Uhura in the 1960s sci-fi TV series "Star Trek" and subsequent movies broke colour barriers and helped redefine roles for Black actors, has died at age 89.
Nichols, whose fans included Martin Luther King Jr. and a young Barack Obama, "succumbed to natural causes and passed away" on Saturday night, her son, Kyle Johnson, wrote on Facebook.
"Her light, however, like the ancient galaxies now being seen for the first time, will remain for us and future generations to enjoy, learn from and draw inspiration," Johnson wrote.
Nichols appeared in six "Star Trek" films ending with Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country in 1991.
Sci-fi film 'Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die' warns of AI, with a comic twist
FBI increasing reward for information in Guthrie case to $100,000
Berlin Film Festival kicks off with nod to new voices from Michelle Yeoh
Dawson's Creek star James Van Der Beek dies at 48
Jonas Brothers, NE-YO to perform at OFFLIMITS festival
