Nichelle Nichols, an actor and a civil rights activist best known for her iconic role as communications officer Lt. Uhura on the original Star Trek series, died Saturday in New Mexico at the age of 89, USA Today reports.
Nichols frequently recounted how Star Trek was a series that featured people of diverse races, ethnicities and backgrounds working in harmony, a challenge in the turbulent 1960s marked by the Civil Rights movement and the Vietnam War. After frustration with the limited action of her character on the show–her characteristic move was touching her ear to convey she was listening to a message which she then repeated for the crew–Nichols said she met with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who encouraged her to continue because she was a model for young Black people–particularly girls.
Later in the series, Nichols shared the first interracial kiss–with Captain James T. Kirk, portrayed by William Shatner–ever shown on a primetime American television show. Besides her appearances in various part of the Star Trek franchise, Nichols also did significant voice acting for shows, including The Simpsons, and she was a supporter of NASA exploratory missions.