StarTrek.com has confirmed the passing of actress Grace Lee Whitney. She is reported to have passed away in her home in California at age 85.
Up until this unfortunate news, she was regarded as the oldest supporting or lead cast member from the first season of “Star Trek,” where she appeared in the first eight episodes. Although her role was eventually written out of the show, she was brought back as Yeoman Janice Rand in the motion picture continuations Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Star Trek: The Search for Spock, Star Trek: The Voyage Home, Star Trek: The Undiscovered Country and Star Trek: Of Gods and Men.
The majority of Grace Lee Whitney’s pre-Star Trek career was spent in the western genre. She occasionally dipped into horror and scifi with a cameo in House of Wax and guest spots on “The Outer Limits,” “Bewitched” and “Batman.”
All of us here at HorrorSociety.com send our condolences to her family, friends and fans.
R.I.P. Grace Lee Whitney
April 1, 1930 – May 1, 2015
