Majel Barrett Roddenberry widow of Gene Roddenberry, died today at her home in Bel Air, California.

http://www.trektoday.com/news/181208_01.shtml

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Wow. I actually got meet and talk to her fairly extensively back when Generations was in production. This was back in my journalist days, and she was a guest at an upcoming convention. A very gracious, funny, patient and entertaining lady. We did a phone interview, and got a photo of her for my paper. A week or so later, she was at another convention in the area, and I got to take a copy of the paper in which the photo was printed, and she got a big kick out of that (there was an interesting juxtaposition in a headline for an unrelated story near her photo she found hilarious -- something about a fat cattle show, IIRC).

Apparently, she completed her voice work for the new film, so we have one more performance for which we can look forward.

Qapla'

SSB

Wow, so very very sad. She seemed, immortal some how.

RIP. :(

:(

http://www.wordforge.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=3578&d=1229657956

http://www.wordforge.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=3576&d=1229657928

Apparently, she completed her voice work for the new film, so we have one more performance for which we can look forward.

Yes, she completed her work about two weeks ago, before they announced she'd be doing the computer voice. It'll be a nice homage'.

Very sad.

I always felt that a real opportunity was stollen from her (and us!) when NBC execs made Gene drop her/her character Number One from Trek due to pure pre-sexual revolution sexual bias against women in serious roles. It's ironic somehow that she was employed by every incarnation of the show, but never in a major part. Always a handmade, never a bride. Yet, her light spirit always seemed to come through even in her voice-over work.

She will be missed by many, and I will personally miss the sound of her voice.

John O.

Always a handmade, ....
John O.

She was hand made?? Perfect for this forum.

R.i.p. :(

She was hand made?? Perfect for this forum.

But was she hand made by a handmaid?
And where's the bride's maid?

Majel Roddenberry, widow of 'Star Trek' creator, dies at 76.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/sns-ap-obit-roddenberry,0,7599206.story
By ROBERT JABLON | Associated Press Writer 5:15 PM CST, December 18, 2008 LOS ANGELES (AP) — Majel Barrett Roddenberry, "Star Trek" (http://www.chicagotribune.com/topic/entertainment/movies/star-trek-%28movie%29-ENMV000104.topic) creator Gene Roddenberry (http://www.chicagotribune.com/topic/entertainment/gene-roddenberry-PECLB003563.topic)'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 (http://www.chicagotribune.com/topic/entertainment/j.j.-abrams-PECLB005325.topic) 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 (http://www.chicagotribune.com/topic/economy-business-finance/media/television-industry/nbc-ORCRP004494.topic) 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."

Heard about this early yesterday. Made for a sad Friday. Rest in peace.

Heiki -

Look a couple of threads up.....we've got a discussion in progress:

http://www.hobbytalk.com/bbs1/showthread.php?t=238719

Bryan