'Star Trek' actor Nichelle Nichols dies at 89

Nichelle Nichols, whose portrayal of Lieutenant Uhura in the 1960s sci-fi TV series "Star Trek" and subsequent movies broke colour barriers and helped redefine roles for Black actors, has died at age 89.

Nichols, whose fans included Martin Luther King Jr. and a young Barack Obama, "succumbed to natural causes and passed away" on Saturday night, her son, Kyle Johnson, wrote on Facebook.

"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.

Nichols appeared in six "Star Trek" films ending with Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country in 1991.