While many of us are celebrating Star Wars Day — May the Fourth be with you! — some of us are sad over in Trekkie land. Grace Lee Whitney, who played Yeoman Janice Rand on Star Trek: The Original Series, passed away at the age of 85 this past Friday.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Whitney’s role as Rand throughout the first season of Star Trek: TOS had become so involved with Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) that producers worried about Kirk looking like a philanderer while romancing the alien females of the universe. Whitney recalled in a 2011 interview that the producers said, “Uh-oh, they’re getting too close. This is getting too hot.” As a result, Yeoman Rand suddenly disappeared after the first season when Whitney was released from her contract.
Because Kirk’s gotta get his Kirk on, and that stallion cannot be tamed. Especially not in the first season.
Whitney would come back to make appearances as Janice Rand in four Star Trek movies and an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Outside of Star Trek, she appeared on Broadway and several over TV shows including Batman, The Outer Limits, and Bewitched. She was also the inspiration for the mermaid in the logo for Chicken of the Sea tuna fish, in case that ever comes up at trivia night.
Despite having her character written off so abruptly (and experiencing a sexual assault by a Desilu executive), Whitney truly took pride in her role as Janice Rand, who was promoted from Yeoman to Chief Petty Officer for her first three movie appearances and lieutenant for her final one. She appeared at many Star Trek events and titled her 1998 autobiography The Longest Trek: My Tour of the Galaxy.
William Shatner had this to say on Twitter:
Condolences to the family of Grace. She was a constant shining smile over the years every time our paths crossed.
— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) May 4, 2015
Clearly Grace Lee Whitney was and always shall be a friend.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
