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'Star Trek' Veteran Majel Roddenberry Dies At 76
cbs2chicago.com ^ | 12/19/2008 | Staff

Posted on 12/19/2008 7:16:46 AM PST by Red Badger

Majel Barrett Roddenberry, "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry's widow who nurtured the legacy of the seminal science fiction TV series after his death, has died. She was 76. Roddenberry died of leukemia Thursday morning at her home in Bel-Air, said Sean Rossall, a family spokesman.

At Roddenberry's side were family friends and her son, Eugene Roddenberry Jr.

Roddenberry was involved in the "Star Trek" universe for more than four decades. She played the dark-haired Number One in the original pilot but metamorphosed into the blond, miniskirted Nurse Christine Chapel in the original 1966-69 show. She had smaller roles in all five of its television successors and many of the "Star Trek" movie incarnations, although she had little involvement in the productions.

She frequently was the voice of the ship's computer, and about two weeks ago she completed the same role for the upcoming J.J. Abrams movie "Star Trek," Rossall said.

Roddenberry also helped keep the franchise alive by inspiring fans and attended a major "Star Trek" convention each year, Rossall said.

"I think `Star Trek' will always be her legacy," Rossall said.

"Star Trek" and its successors often focused on political and philosophical issues of the day. Roddenberry and her husband, who died in 1991, believed in creating "thoughtful entertainment" and were proud of the show and the passionate devotion of its fans, Rossall said.

"My mother truly acknowledged and appreciated the fact that `Star Trek' fans played a vital role in keeping the Roddenberry dream alive for the past 42 years. It was her love for the fans, and their love in return, that kept her going for so long after my father passed away," her son said in a statement on the official Roddenberry Web site.

Born Majel Lee Hudec on Feb. 23, 1932, in Cleveland, she began taking acting classes as a child. She had some stage roles, then in the late 1950s and 1960s had bit parts in a few movies and small roles in TV series, including "Leave It to Beaver" and "Bonanza."

She met her husband in 1964 during a guest role for a Marine Corps drama he produced called "The Lieutenant." That same year, she was cast in the pilot for the "Star Trek" series as the no-nonsense second-in-command. The pilot did not appeal to NBC executives and a second pilot was made, although parts of the original later showed up in a two-part episode called "The Menagerie."

The couple married in Japan in 1969 after "Star Trek" was canceled. After her husband's death, Roddenberry continued her involvement with the "Star Trek" franchise.

She also was the executive producer for two other TV science fiction series, "Andromeda" and "Earth: Final Conflict."


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: hollywood; hudec; majelbarrett; nursechapel; obituary; roddenberry; scifi; shatner; startrek
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To: LiberConservative

LOL! I didn’t mean to post it at 50% of the page. I wanted it to post at 50% of the regular size. One of those days.


21 posted on 12/19/2008 7:41:26 AM PST by Jemian (PAM of JT~~ The more I git to know some people, the better I laik ma dawg!)
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To: Jemian

She was a Space Yenta.


22 posted on 12/19/2008 7:42:09 AM PST by massgopguy (I owe everything to George Bailey)
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To: Red Badger

RIP Nurse Chapel


23 posted on 12/19/2008 7:42:18 AM PST by bamahead (Few men desire liberty; most men wish only for a just master. -- Sallust)
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To: Vermont Lt

I think Takaei is so nasty because he had/has a crush on Shatner (who was, and remains blatantly heterosexual).

Hell hath no fury like a homo scorned.


24 posted on 12/19/2008 7:44:44 AM PST by MeanWestTexan (Beware Obama's Reichstag fire.)
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To: DGHoodini

you can watch them on fancast.com too


25 posted on 12/19/2008 7:45:48 AM PST by united1000
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To: Red Badger

Oh man...Thanks for the memories...God Bless.


26 posted on 12/19/2008 7:54:24 AM PST by Dallas59 (Not My President)
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To: wk4bush2004
OH NO!!!!!!!! This is terrible! She was a FABULOUS actress! I really liked her role as Luwaxanna Troi in TNG! I haven’t seen much of TOS, so I haven’t seen much of her as Nurse Chapel (but she made a cameo in TMP as ‘Dr. Chapel’). This is definitely tragic. My condolences to her family and to all the other Star Trek fans. May she R.I.P. She will be missed!

If you wish to acquaint yourself with TOS, you can go to this web site and view every episode of the original for FREE!:) Link to fancast

Just a thought and I am NOT associated in any way to the web site, just a place I enjoy going to quite often, they have other old series also, including the original "Lost in Space".

27 posted on 12/19/2008 7:59:12 AM PST by calex59
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To: MeanWestTexan

Just a guy has a crush on Captain Kirk doesn’t mean he’s gay...


28 posted on 12/19/2008 8:00:03 AM PST by gridlock (QUESTION AUTHORITY)
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To: Apple Blossom

29 posted on 12/19/2008 8:07:00 AM PST by bmwcyle (McCain had no honor when he failed to defend Sarah Palin, Leno was not enough)
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To: Red Badger
A friend of mine told me about this yesterday. Sad. Rest well, Majel.
30 posted on 12/19/2008 8:08:20 AM PST by Army Air Corps (Four fried chickens and a coke)
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To: Red Badger
Loved the show. The first Hope and Change for the future. Very entertaining even if goofy at times. RIP
31 posted on 12/19/2008 8:10:26 AM PST by DejaJude (Proud denizen of the fighting fringe and an Arizona zealot.)
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To: MeanWestTexan
I think Takaei is so nasty because he had/has a crush on Shatner (who was, and remains blatantly heterosexual).

Think this scene had anything to do with it?

Note: This was from the episode titled "What Are Little Girls Made Of?" - the only episode with a plot that was built around the Christine Chaple character (more or less).

32 posted on 12/19/2008 8:19:17 AM PST by Charles Martel (Liberals are the crab grass in the lawn of life.)
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To: Red Badger
Majel also had an amazing one-shot guest appearance on the series Babylon 5 as a Centauri fortune teller/seer.
33 posted on 12/19/2008 8:22:44 AM PST by kevkrom (Merry Christmas!)
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To: Charles Martel

Lol


34 posted on 12/19/2008 8:23:16 AM PST by dangerdoc (dangerdoc (not actually dangerous any more))
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To: Vermont Lt

I second that notion........ He’s a disgrace to all things Trek.


35 posted on 12/19/2008 8:32:11 AM PST by pctech
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To: mommya
Beam her up Scotty. RIP

Amen.

36 posted on 12/19/2008 8:34:18 AM PST by radiohead (All I really need to know I learned from Star Trek.)
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To: Charles Martel

George called that prop “Dear Will” and kept it in his dressing room.

Wonder why?


37 posted on 12/19/2008 8:34:41 AM PST by MeanWestTexan (Beware Obama's Reichstag fire.)
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To: LiberConservative
I almost forgot how “gifted” she was.

Indeed. Have you ever seen the original Trek blooper reel? The clip of Majel Barrett and DeForest Kelly tumbling around Sickbay might well be the best part. The good doctor was holding onto Nurse Chapel with both hands.

38 posted on 12/19/2008 8:35:31 AM PST by Charles Martel (Liberals are the crab grass in the lawn of life.)
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To: Charles Martel

So, Shatner is now doing Priceline AND commercials for E.D.?

Has he no shame?


39 posted on 12/19/2008 8:57:16 AM PST by Slyfox
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To: Red Badger

Nurse Chapel! I had no idea she was Rodenberry’s wife! Rest in Peace.


40 posted on 12/19/2008 9:14:44 AM PST by brytlea (You can fool enough of the people enough of the time.)
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