Grace Dell "Nichelle" Nichols was an American actress, voice actress, singer, and dancer, who, among other roles, was best known for her role as Nyota Uhura in the Star Trek franchise. Her Disney roles included Diane Maza in the animated TV series Gargoyles, the Chief in Buzz Lightyear of Star Command, Amelia Brooks in the 2002 comedy film Snow Dogs, and Deejay DeVine in an episode of the ABC sitcom Downward Dog.
Nichols was born in Robbins, Illinois, graduated from Englewood High School in 1951 and studied dance at the Chicago Ballet Academy. As a dancer, Nichols toured bands led by the likes of Duke Ellington and Lionel Hampton as appeared as a dancer in the 1959 film version of Porgy and Bess. She later transitioned into acting and singing in shows on stage and screen as well as occasional modeling for magazines.
Having worked with Gene Rodenberry on The Lieutenant, she was cast in Star Trek in 1966 which made her one of first Black women featured in a major television series in the United States. At the end of the first season, Nichols was tempted to leave for another opportunity, however, a conversation with Martin Luther King, Jr. over the importance of her representing people of color and being treated as equals on screen convinced her to remain on the show until its cancellation in 1969. She would continue the role in films and video games within the franchise.
Her other television credits included Batman: The Animated Series, Spider-Man: The Animated Series, Futurama, The Simpsons, Heroes, and The Young and the Restless. She also appeared in feature films, such as Are We There Yet?, Scooby-Doo! Curse of the Lake Monster, and Sharknado 5: Global Swarming.
In addition to acting, she also volunteered her time to promote NASA's programs from 1977 to 2015, as well as recruiting diverse astronauts, including women and ethnic minorities.
Nichols died of heart failure at the age of 89 in Silver City, New Mexico, on July 30, 2022, 4 months before her 90th birthday.
