Nichelle Nichols famously played Nyota Uhura throughout the original “Star Trek” series’ three season broadcast run and in six subsequent films. Her presence on the show was one of the earliest examples of a Black woman playing a competent character in a leadership role on a major television show. If that wasn’t enough, she made television history by sharing one of the first major interracial kisses with her c0-star William Shatner in 1968.

Her role on the show earned her a fan in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who famously dissuaded her from leaving the show by telling her how important her role was for the civil rights movement. “For the first time on television, we will be seen as we should be seen every day,” King told her. “As intelligent, quality, beautiful, people who can sing dance, and can go to space, who are professors, lawyers.” He added that the science fiction nature of the show made it even more necessary for her to stay, because creator Gene Roddenberry could theoretically replace the character with a member of any race in the galaxy. “If you leave, that door can be closed because your role is not a Black role, and is not a female role, he can fill it with anybody even an alien,” he said. Related Remembering Kirstie Alley Going Vulcan for ‘Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan’ George Takei Speaks Out on ‘Star Trek’ Feud with William Shatner: He’s a ‘Cantankerous Old Man’ Related Growing Number of Contenders Makes 2023 Best International Feature Race Less Predictable The 13 Best Slasher Movies Ever Made, from ‘Candyman’ to ‘Psycho’
Nichols ultimately decided to stay on “Star Trek,” and King was not the only fan who was glad to see her stick around. Famous fans and former colleagues came out in droves on Sunday to express their condolences and pay tribute to the incredible life that Nichols lived. Keep reading for a roundup of social media tributes to Nichols’ death from major figures in the “Star Trek” universe and other famous Trekkies.

— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) July 31, 2022

— LeVar Burton (@levarburton) July 31, 2022

— JJ Abrams (@jjabrams) July 31, 2022

— Alex Kurtzman (@Alex_Kurtzman) July 31, 2022

— NASA (@NASA) July 31, 2022

— Colman Domingo (@colmandomingo) July 31, 2022

— Stacey Abrams (@staceyabrams) July 31, 2022

— Stephen King (@StephenKing) July 31, 2022

— Wilson Cruz (@wcruz73) July 31, 2022

— Adam Nimoy (@adam_nimoy) July 31, 2022 Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.