Nichelle Nichols made a bold move with her role in Star Trek. Hers was one of the first female black characters to appear on American TV in a role other than that of a servant. What Nichelle achieved in Star Trek was so groundbreaking that, when she decided to leave the show, Martin Luther King, Jr. approached her personally and asked her to consider staying on.
While Nichols did eventually move on from the show, she didn’t let Martin Luther King Jr. down. With the civil rights movement still at the forefront of her mind, Nichelle commenced work with NASA, taking part in a recruitment program designed to encourage both minority and female personnel to become part of the space program. When she wasn’t hard at work being a complete legend, Nichelle pursued her passion for music and released two studio albums. She passed away in the summer of 2022.
James Doohan as Montgomery ‘Scotty’ Scott
The character responsible for a phrase that became so widely known it even has its own Wikipedia entry: “Beam me up, Scotty.” The funny thing is, while this phrase is indelibly connected to Star Trek in the minds of basically all humans, it was never actually said in any Star Trek episode or movie. While that may be so, Scotty was a vital part of the crew (and did do a lot of beaming up in his time).
Played by Canadian actor, James Doohan, Scotty’s character had a wonderful impact on viewers. Many were inspired to follow in his footsteps and pursue careers in engineering and related technical fields. Doohan, on the other hand, didn’t enjoy such career success. He struggled to find roles outside of Star Trek, and so forged a life for himself within the franchise. In 2005 he sadly passed away, leaving Scotty behind.
Terry Farrell as Jadzia Dax
Jadzia Dax has got to be one of the coolest character creations of the Star Trek franchise. The beautiful science officer is a union of two separate consciousnesses. Her outer form is the host, a young female of the Trill species. Melded to her is a wise and ancient symbiont. The two are harmoniously merged with a personality reflective of each of their existences and access to the knowledge of both.
When it was time for Farrell to leave the show, at the close of season six, the writers came up with a brilliant way to execute it. The host was killed off, leaving Farrell free to go, while the symbiont was saved and transferred into a new host. This maneuver allowed actress, Nicole DeBoer, to seamlessly take over as host while Terry Farrell, who was fired from the show, retired from the spotlight.
Robin Curtis as Lt. Saavik
Robin Curtis made her debut in "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock." She was cast as a replacement for the late Kirstie Alley, taking over the role of Saavik, the Vulcan Lieutenant. While she received a lukewarm reception from hardcore Trekkies, Curtis reprised her role in "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home."
Curtis enjoyed a solid career in the dramatic arts, appearing in films, on television, and in theater productions all through the 80s and 90s. By 1999 though, Curtis was ready for a change and retired from acting before seeing in the new millennium. While she still makes appearances at conventions, Curtis shifted her attention to real estate.
Colm Meaney as Miles O’Brien
Meaney’s Star Trek appearance was a brief yet pivotal one. He appeared in the 1987 pilot for "Star Trek: The Next Generation." The episode was titled, “Encounter at Farpoint,” and Meaney’s character had the dashing title of “unnamed helm officer.” While it was a humble kicking-off point, Meaney’s character was given more and more play until he finally won the right to have a real name: Miles O’Brien.
Meaney enjoyed a long run as the transporter chief, sticking it out until 1993, when he jumped ship from "The Next Generation" to take on a more prominent role in the spin-off series, "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine." Meaney stayed loyal to his new show until the last ever episode aired in 1999. By then, his face had become so familiar he had no trouble landing major roles in film and television.