Trailblazing actress Nichelle Nichols has died.
Her son announced news of her death on Instagram, saying she died from natural causes.
Nichols played Uhura in "Star Trek: The Original Series." At the time, she was one of the first African American women to play a major role in a television series.
"Hers was a life well lived and as such a model for us all," her son said.
Nichols' acting career spanned decades. She is listed in credits from the 1960s to 2021, and some films are still in pre-production, IMBD reports.
Nichols was 89 years old. Services will be for family members and close friends, her son said.
President Biden released the following statement on the passing of Nichelle Nichols:
In Nichelle Nichols, our nation has lost a trailblazer of stage and screen who redefined what is possible for Black Americans and women.
A daughter of a working-class family from Illinois, she first honed her craft as an actor and singer in Chicago before touring the country and the world performing with the likes of Duke Ellington and giving life to the words of James Baldwin.
During the height of the Civil Rights Movement, she shattered stereotypes to become the first Black woman to act in a major role on a primetime television show with her groundbreaking portrayal of Lt. Uhura in the original Star Trek. With a defining dignity and authority, she helped tell a central story that reimagined scientific pursuits and discoveries. And she continued this legacy by going on to work with NASA to empower generations of Americans from every background to reach for the stars and beyond.
Our nation is forever indebted to inspiring artists like Nichelle Nichols, who show us a future where unity, dignity, and respect are cornerstones of every society.
