Another Death

Majel Barrett Roddenberry, wife of Star Trek creator Gene Rodenberry, passed away early morning on December 18th after a short battle with Leukemia in her Bel-Air home, surrounded by family and friends. Roddenberry was 76 years old. She began her acting career in the 1950's with roles in such popular shows as "Leave it to Beaver," "Bonanza" and "The Lucy Show; but it was her numerous roles in the legendary Star Trek franchise that fans came to know and love her. Roddenberry had featured roles in almost every Star Trek television and film entity and became an iconic figure within the fan community.

Her roles included Nurse Chapel in Star Trek: The Original Series, Lt. M'ress in Star Trek: The Animated Series, Lwaxana Troi in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine, and the voice of the USS Enterprise computer in almost every incarnation of the series. However, it was the love affair between her and the late Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry that earned her the title "The First Lady of Star Trek." Over the course of their more then quarter-century love affair, she became not only Gene's partner, but also his creative muse. Majel helped Gene expand the Star Trek universe and was an integral part of its continued legacy after his death, working on Earth: Final Conflict and Andromeda.

I also found out that she is going to be the voice of the computer one last time in the new Star Trek movie out next year.

It is reported that she passed away peacefully, surrounded by her son Rod Roddenberry and family friends.

While I never had the pleasure of meeting her, I did meet their son (did an interview with him at the SDCC) and my condolences go out to him as the only surviving member of the Rodenberry family.