Robbins, Illinois (December 28, 1932 -July 30, 2022) age 89 yrs

Nichelle Nichols was born Grace Del Nichols. She was one of 10 children born to parents Lishia and Samuel Nichols in Robbins, Illinois, a Chicago suburb. She was a singer and dancer before turning to acting and finding fame in her groundbreaking role of Lt. Nyota Uhura in the Star Trek (1966) series. She always wanted to sing, dance, act, and write. This desire persisted even though no one else in her family followed any of those tracks. Her father, however, can tap dance. He not only became mayor of their town, Robbins, IL, but also a magistrate. On stage, Nichelle was twice nominated for the Sarah Siddons Award as Best Actress of the Year. On film, she danced with Sammy Davis, Jr. in Porgy and Bess, and opposite James Garner in Mister Budwig (1965). Soon after the Star Trek television series ended, she underwent a total change. She played a blousey madam. Next, she co-starred with Lynn Redgrave in Antony and Cleopatra.