'Star Trek' Alum Whoopi Goldberg Pays Tribute to Nichelle Nichols: She 'Inspired Me'

Mar. 15, 2025

Whoopi Goldberghas paid tribute to the life and legacy of her friend Nichelle Nichols, whodiedthis weekend at age 89.

Goldberg, 66, shared on Monday’s episode ofThe View: “Nichele Nichols was a trailblazer, a heroine, and an extraordinary woman — somebody who inspired millions and millions of people, but who inspired me because I explained when I went to get my gig atStar Trekthat Nichelle was the first Black person I’d ever seen who made it to the future.”

Goldberg continued, “She was head of communications. And this show and this woman was the one beacon that said, ‘Yes, we’ll be there.’ And it just made me feel like that was an amazing thing. She helped propel other women to go into space. She was extraordinary and I was lucky enough to spend time with her over the years.”

Goldberg concluded, “She was my friend. She’ll be missed.”

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Nichols broke barriers in her acting career, becoming one of the first Black woman to play a major role on primetime television as Nyota Uhura in the 1960sStar Trekseries. She’s even credited with having the first interracial kiss on American television, which she shared with her white costarWilliam Shatner.

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Varietyreported that the late actress died on Saturday in Silver City, New Mexico.

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Goldberg had a deep love for Nichols. Because of Nichols' historic role inStar Trek, Goldberg — who went on to play Guinan inStar Trek: The Next Generation— was determined to be a part of the iconic franchise as well.

RELATED GALLERY:Nichelle Nichols' Life in Photos

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In 2018, Nichols recalled a time when Goldberg’s agent reached out to series writer and producer Gene Roddenberry about getting her on the show. The details of the meeting were later relayed to Nichols, but the conversation surrounded how Nichols influenced Goldberg.

“This is [what] Gene told me. [Whoopi] said, ‘It’s all Nichelle Nichols’ fault,'” Nichols recalled toMAKERS. “[Whoopi] said, ‘Well, when she first came on the screen, I was 9 years old. I thought she was the most beautiful thing that ever happened on television or anywhere else. And she was a Black woman playing in the future and I knew we had a future.'”

source: people.com