Majel Barrett Roddenberry of ‘Star Trek’ Honored
Majel Barrett Roddenberry in costume as empath Lwaxana Troi, pictured with husband and 'Star Trek' creator Gene Roddenberry
Wife of creator contributed to series’ legacy
By Matthew B. Zeidman
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Today) 1/5/09 – Majel Barrett Roddenberry, the late wife of the creator of “Star Trek,” who embraced and took part in her husband’s creative vision, was honored in a memorial service held Sunday.
The event took place at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, commemorating the life of Roddenberry, 76, who succumbed to cancer on Dec. 18 and was buried at the Los Angeles memorial park.
Roddenberry frequently appeared in various roles on the original 1960s TV series and in its countless TV and film spinoffs, including the starship Enterprise’s first officer in the shelved pilot whose footage was utilized later in the show, as well as the legendary vessel’s Nurse Chapel in future episodes.
Roddenberry also gave a voice to countless computer systems throughout the entire history of “Star Trek,” including the upcoming big-screen prequel, and gave empathic diplomat Lwaxana Troi a flamboyant flair on “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.”
Over the years, she was a frequent speaker at conventions attended by fans of the series and often mingled with vendors and aficionados afterward.
Roddenberry’s husband, sci-fi luminary Gene Roddenberry, died of heart failure in 1991 at the age of 70. She is survived by their son, Eugene Wesley Roddenberry, Jr.