Takei played Sulu in the original “Star Trek” series alongside Nichols. “For today, my heart is heavy, my eyes shining like the stars you now rest among, my dearest friend.” Uhura of the USS Enterprise, and who passed today at age 89,” George Takei wrote on Twitter. “I shall have more to say about the trailblazing, incomparable Nichelle Nichols, who shared the bridge with us as Lt. It also earned her accolades for breaking stereotypes that had limited Black women to acting roles as servants and included an interracial onscreen kiss with co-star William Shatner that was unheard of at the time. Uhura earned Nichols a lifelong position of honor with the series’ rabid fans, known as Trekkers and Trekkies. “Hers was a life well lived and as such a model for us all.” 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 on her official Facebook page Sunday. “Last night, my mother, Nichelle Nichols, succumbed to natural causes and passed away. Her son Kyle Johnson said Nichols died Saturday in Silver City, New Mexico. Uhura on the original “Star Trek” television series, has died at the age of 89.

Nichelle Nichols, who broke barriers for Black women in Hollywood when she played communications officer Lt.

Beyond uhura