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Majel Barret-Roddenberry, RIP

The LA Times [1]Majel Barrett Roddenberry / Feb. 23, 1932 - December 18, 2008 [2] is reporting:

Majel Barrett Roddenberry, the widow of “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry and an actress whose longtime association with the “Star Trek” franchise included playing Nurse Christine Chapel in the original series, died early Thursday morning. She was 76.

Roddenberry died at her home in Bel-Air after a battle with leukemia, said family spokesman Sean Rossall.

As she told the Buffalo City News in 1998, “It’s been a hell of a ride.”

Indeed it has. They say behind every great man there’s a woman. I’ll admit to often having wondered to what extend Roddenberry’s post series work was quietly directed by Majel.

Addendum:  (David L)

I am both old enough to have watched Star Trek when it fist came out,  back in the Middle Ages, and am a recovering Trekkie.    Star Trek was one of the few series to have gotten two pilot episodes.    Gene Roddenbery first version featured Jeffery Hunter as Captain Christopher Pike, the first and the best.  His executive officer was female and went the sexy title of  Number One.    NBC liked Captain Pike but disliiked about everything else about the pilot.   So NBC gave Roddenbery a chance to shoot a new pilot.

For second pilot, Hunter became unavailable.    While Hunter did not return, Leonard Nimoy’s chacter, somebody naned Spock did, and the actress who played Captain Pike’s executive officer came back as Nurse Chapel, from executive officer to nurse.    From her role as Number One in the first pilot, Majel Barrett Roddenberry, appeared in every incarnation and reincarnation of Sar Trek.   She was the voice of the computer for the entire  long  run of  the Star Trek francise.

So who says you can’t get ahead by marrying the boss?   The computer will never sound the same, or right, again.