Oh No! Popular Star Trek Actress Nichelle Nichols Down With Stroke

 
Nichelle Nichols, best known for her role as Lieutenant Uhura in TV's Star Trek, has suffered a stroke.
"Last night while at her home in LA, Nichelle Nichols suffered from a mild stroke," her agent Zach McGinnis wrote on Facebook.

"She is currently undergoing testing to determine how severe the stroke was. Please keep her in your thoughts."

The 82-year-old was handpicked by Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry to appear in the original 1960s TV series.

Her casting as fourth in command of the USS Enterprise broke many racial barriers, with Nichols becoming the first black woman to share a kiss with a white man (William Shatner) on US television in 1966.


Up until that point, African-American actresses had typically been cast in servile roles, playing housekeepers or maids. Fans of her Star Trek role reportedly included Dr Martin Luther King.

In an updated post on Facebook, McGinnis reported that Nichols was "awake, eating, in good spirits and able to have full conversations."

"Her right side has shown minor signs or mobility loss but she is not showing any signs of paralyses."
"We greatly appreciate all of the love and support her fans are showing at this time."