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Passing of Star Trek’s "First Lady"
Majel Barrett-Roddenberry

Actress Majel Barrett Roddenberry, beloved star of sci-fi phenomenon Star Trek passed away after a short battle with Leukemia, on Thursday, December 18, 2008, surrounded by family and friends in her Bel-Air home.

Majel had a recurring role in the original "Star Trek" as Nurse Chapel.

Barrett first appeared in Star Trek (The Original Series) first pilot which aired in 1964. Her role as the Enterprise’s first officer (referred to simply as "Number One") did not fair well with NBC execs, who could not see a woman in leadership, and was later changed to Leonard Nimoy as Mr. Spock. When the series was retooled, Barrett eventually returned in a new role as the blonde Nurse Chapel.

Barrett’s adored flamboyant role as Betazoid royalty and "Lwaxana Troi" and telepathic mother of Counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) on Star Trek: The Next Generation demonstrated her compassion, creativity, and comfort with bearing-it-all.  She is also the voice of the USS Enterprise computer in Star Trek: TNG, ST: Deep Space Nine, and ST: Voyager.

It was the love affair between her and her "Imzadi," 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 soulmate, his partner, and his creative muse. Majel helped Gene expand the Star Trek film, even after his passing. Majel brought two more of Gene’s visions to life: Earth: Final Conflict, and Andromeda (hand-picking stars Kevin Sorbo and Lexa Doig).

Before "Trek," Barrett had roles on several television shows, including "The Lucy Show," "Bonanza," "Leave it to Beaver" and "The Untouchables." She also appeared in 1958’s "The Black Orchid," 1963’s "The Quick and the Dead," and 1966’s "A Guide for the Married Man."

MOVIE PREMIER: Stargate Continuum

I had the privilege of seeing Stargate CONTINUUM movie premiere on the flight deck of the USS Midway aircraft carrier museum Thursday night… seated in the 300-person audience with the cast, producer and director.

In conjunction with San Diego’s annual Comic-Con, the event opened with Red Carpet media interviews amidst the aircraft on deck. Richard Dean Anderson (MacGyver) and Ben Browder commented the felt right at home. TV Guide and Sci-Fi Channel reporters and numerous others were present. (Red Carpet photo: Richard Dean Anderson with Martin Wood.)

Also invited to attend the VIP Party in the Hangar Bay following the premier, I had great conversations with the stars.

The movie is available Tuesday on DVD on BluRay.

Ben Browder being interviewed by TV Guide.