Nichelle Nichols, groundbreaking 'Star Trek' star and activist, dead at 89

Nichols in 2017 at the ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ premiere — Cr: Mark Davis © 2017 CBS Interactive. All Rights Reserved.

Nichelle Nichols, one of the original cast members of Star Trek, has passed away at age 89, according to a Facebook post by her son, Kyle Johnson.

“I regret to inform you that a great light in the firmament no longer shines for us as it has for so many years,” he began. “Last night, my mother, Nichelle Nichols, succumbed to natural causes and passed away.”

He added, “Her light however, like the ancient galaxies now being seen for the first time,