Met her about 20 years ago at a signing affair. She was absolutely wonderful to talk with. I had a crush on her, as many other guys like myself did, and I told her so. She was so sweet and accommodating with her time. I was truly sad when she passed, but at least I have the memories of our conversation, and her autographed picture of course.
Had the privilege of meeting her at an SF Trek convention a couple of years before she passed. I was late for a photo op and thought i missed my chance. She was gracious enough to come back to the photo area, ice cream cone in hand, and took the photo with me. I'll never forget it. RIP, Grace.
I had the good fortune to know the lady, briefly, in her final years. Don't cry for her. She died clean, strong and happy. She won her battle. Sometimes, there IS a happy ending.
It’s hard to believe,that these actresses get a happy ending?But,I think 🤔 this is great!Yeah,I think she was great as Janice Rand,the yeoman in Star Trek.I remember seeing her in the Star Trek,the motion picture movie.🎥 It was made in 1979,when I was in High School.🏫 I knew someone who had an addiction to alcohol.🥃 My mom’s friend!I really don’t think that he ever recovered from this terriable illness?Star Trek is still a beloved show to me!Live long and prosper!😊👽🎃👍🤖💄👩🚀😊
Grace Lee Whitney was a lovely lady. It's a shame they let her go after season 1, but as everyone knows, Hollywood can be a cruel place. I'm happy she was able to turn her life around after so many difficult years. RIP Grace.
@@mattosullivan9687 not according to Nimoy's memoirs and not according to Nichols either. She arrived to one film day horribly hung over...her last. That was the week after she was told they were writing her out by "The Executive" and then he locked his door and said "Let's discuss it...." then assaulted her (Labor Day break right after the Miri wrap party). GR lied about more than he ever told truth. He always blamed the Network Brass for his own mistakes or them trying to save him from himself. Shatner backed up the story flippantly...but GR was his benefactor as Randy Playboy Kirk was GR fantasy self. The original cast formula was Gunsmoke crossed with 12 O'clock High. Rand was Miss Kitty. Gene Coon came in to rework the cast into Bonanza crossed with Daniel Boone (Spock is Mingo) as those were NBC dramas. Bonanza Boys didn't have steady girlfriends.
She was a beautiful woman and talented as well with all the TV shows that she appeared on. It's sad that she had faced two traumatic experiences and had gone on to deal with it through alcohol and drugs. I had read about how Leonard Nimoy got her into a rehab program but also pushed to get her into the Star Trek movies as well. He was such a good friend to his fellow cast members of Star Trek but especially came through for Lee in more ways than one. I'm glad that she had lived a happier life in the end and will always remember her as the beautiful Yeoman Janice Rand.
I met Grace Lee Whitney at a Star Trek convention, probably close to 20 years ago. She was absolutely wonderful and personable. She had come to know Jesus and she was just fantastic. God Bless this lady!
I'm so glad Grace Lee Whitney was able to bounce back from all the misery she had gone through. It's not easy to go through addiction, get assaulted at the risk of your own life and so much more but this woman not only did just that, she persevered ! I'm glad to hear she continued onward in life, media and more with the love of her son n the fans who adored her! ❤
I met Grace at a convention in Dallas in 1979 or 80 can't remember when I was in middle school. She gave me a black and white photo and signed it right there and then gave me a hug and a card for the official Grace Lee Whitney Fan Club for Life. It's framed on the wall in my office - What a great lady
Yes, I am a 60s Star Trek fan. I’m glad that she got her life straightened out and came back to Star Trek. It would not have been the same Star Trek without Her and we know she’s in heaven now
I met Grace in Fresno during her 1998 book tour. Along with her autobiography, she signed a VHS copy of "Miri," an ST episode where she has a major role. My wife framed the tape and and it hangs in my office. I later learned she and my brother, who also lived in Coarsegold, went to the same church. He told me her house was a museum of Trek culture. In Feb. 2015 I saw her on TV paying tribute to Leonard Nimoy after he passed away. I was shocked to learn of her death only three months later.
Leonard Nimoy was a real hero that came to the aid of other cast members as well. He was ready to walk out on the animated Star Trek when the network planned on having Nichelle Nichols and George Takei voiced by less expensive voice actors. William Shatner must have really done something big to piss him off in his last years of life.
@@FactsVerse Well that's a tall order as I am a fan from the original airing in the 60s. But at the moment I'll say Galileo 7. It had a cool shuttlecraft, fighting off huge monsters and Spock trying to save everyone as best he could under the circumstances-Oh and SCOTTY! Scotty did save the day after all
@@4thdoctor284 - Scotty was all shade-tree mechanic and put in a new alternator or something, and away they went (then fired the 'flare')! Hail to Lt Cdr Goodwrench!
She was gorgeous. I wasn’t around in the 60s when TOS was on but when I rewatched the series from the beginning I genuinely felt a sense of loss when she wasn’t on the show any more.
I met Grace Lee Whitney (she went by just "Whitney" at the end of her life) and she was a wise and kind woman who said to me once when I was down and out, "Hope is a rope." Meaning of course that when one is struggling sometimes hope is the only thing one can cling to, which is very true. She was an angel and an inspiration, a beautiful soul who cared about the least of us. God bless her and may her rest be blissful. Fresno and Coarsegold loves Whitney.
Thankfully, Whitney lasted long enough to appear in one of the finest moments of the series. This was in "Balance Of Terror", where the Enterprise is staring death in the face ... as a shot from a Romulan ship - one powerful enough to incinerate a star base with two shots - comes towards the Enterprise, and our heroes can't outrun it ... or even shoot it down. With only seconds left before the shot impacts the ship, Kirk and Rand put their arms around each other, and even then, Kirk can't even tell her how he feels without putting her in a bad position. The entire episode was a gem; small wonder the Romulans remained relevant long after the first season.
She was a serious cutie on that show. Couldn't take my eyes off that face. It never occurred to me that she was there as Kirk's love interest, as I found out years later. Then she went missing. So sad.
You're an inspiration to us all. While I was never homeless, I defeated alcoholism almost 19 years ago and drug addiction 8 years ago. I wasn't aware Lenny was such a positive influence on your life and a good friend. I'll never forget your time on the original series, which I watched at the young age of 11. Grace, may you RIP in God's loving hands
I was in love with Janice Rand when I first watched Star Trek and had always wondered why she was gone after only a few episodes. She was also in a fan episodes of Star Trek Phase II along with George Takei
Always thought her character had so many options in the plots of the shows. I didn’t see her as ‘Kirks’ on board love interest, more crew with benefits. Her character was essential to the Charlie X story line - and could’ve been for many more. Her character was dutiful, but didn’t take shit off any one. Lovely memories
Yes I remember her very well. Like any other boy becoming of age I had a crush on her. I was so saddened over her death. To this day she is and still is a very beautiful woman,I love her so much.
Yes, I remember Grace Lee Whitney. She was sooo beautiful in the 1st Season & then she was gone, until the Star Trek movies started coming out. What a babe. I miss her even now.
Absolutely, we feel the same way! Thank you for sharing your sentiments and for watching our content. Which episode of the show appealed to you the most?
I'm a big fan of the whole Star Trek "Universe". When we finally got access to Netflix, I started re-watching all of the Star Trek Series. Loved the escapism it gave me. Relief from my daily struggles w/work mostly.
We always liked grace. Lee Whitney he was really a beautiful lady. It’s too bad that she got messed up. It’s great that Leonard Nimoy helped her to get back and thank the Lord she Got saved and got her life back on track way to go Mr. Spock and I hope she lives long and prosper’s
Yes I think she was a very beautiful lady I love the original Star Trek I don't really care about the ones after but some way there's just nothing like the original!
I had the good fortune to meet Grace decades ago. I remember her as a classy, wonderful,. bright and special lady of both strength and courage. When she left us, her talents were certainly needed elsewhere.
Yes I was a fan of hers when I used to watch TOS in my younger days and I always wondered what happened to her caricator after the first season and why she wasn't in the other's back then and I did notice all of her cameos in the various Startrek films,Now I know thank you very much indeed!,👌.
Life long fan of the original star trek, starting at age 6. Even as a child, her blond hair and beautiful face caught my attention - probably one of my first crushes. Always wondered why she was dropped from the show, and what she went on to do with her life. Thanks for putting this together.
In the entire ST Universe Grace Lee Whitney was the most beautiful of them all. Not until becoming a born again Christian did she put her troubles behind and shine. Leonard Nimoy was the George Harrison of Hollywood. Both are greatly missed.
Grace Lee mostly had cameo roles in STMP,Star Trek III & IV although she fortunately had more of a role in Star Trek VI & Flashback. I felt she should have had more screen time in the Original Movies. I am glad Nemoy helped her get help & she got saved!
Grace is probably one of the big reasons why I became interested in blonde women. On that first season of Star Trek, I just thought she was an incredibly beautiful woman, and I was only child when I watched the series. Rest in peace Grace, and may God hold you close forever. ✝
Absolutely! Her character was a major presence even if given minimal time. But, I wasn’t aware of her story and this is heartbreaking! I’m glad she found solace and purpose through Christ. She is permanently a part of Star Trek cannon!
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@Facts Verse She overcame her addiction and trauma and in the end, she was vindicated despite her many obstacles. For me and my own experiences in Hollywood, she was right in how the industry works. It's not about WHAT you know but WHO. She told me to be careful and to LISTEN to your inner voice if something doesn't feel right. I'm grateful for her advice.
Whitney/Rand should be a new character in Strange New Worlds in honor of Gracie Lee Whitney. I always loved her character when I was a child and wondered why she disappeared.
Thank you very much. I always liked her and her character on Star Trek. I missed her when she was gone. So sorry she had such trouble. RIp grace. Amen 💖🙏
Grace was my first on screen crush. I remember watching Star Trek on TV as early as 1972 when I was 4 years old. I remember thinking how pretty she was.
All the original cast contributed something very unique to Star Trek, in their own way they all stood out. Grace Lee Whitney as Janice Rand is no exception, she was fantastic!
I need and spoke at length with Gracie Lee Whitney. And she has been very public about what happened to her and she wrote a book about it so its not so secret. She was a wonderful lady and all the money she earned from the book and Star Trek conventions went to funding a half way house for trouble women who were dealing with drug and alcohol addiction.
I think that Grace Lee Whitney's appearance on THE OUTER LIMITS can be found in the DVD version of the show. Any story of failure and recovery is inspiring. Whitney's is certainly one that we should all remember.
In the 80ies I got hooked up with a local Star Trek Fan Club. One of the women in the club liked to sew and was into dragons about as much as she was into Star Trek and one day I jokingly said We should combine your love of Dragons and Star Trek and make a new series called Star Dragon or Dragon Trek. Within days she was making stuffed dragon toy dolls dressed in Original Star Trek uniforms and I was carving Phasers and Tricorders out of balsa for them to hold and designing a unique dragon insignia for the uniforms. I even worked on a Dragonized U.S.S. Enterprise. Although nothing ever came of our idea, I understand that sometime later the woman attended a Con where Grace was appearing and the woman gave her one of the Star Dragon dolls we had made. I understand that when she appeared on a national TV show sometime later, she proudly showed the doll to the people watching what a fan had made and gave her.
I was a fan of Janice Rand, both as a child and as an adult. When I was a kid I think I could sense compassion in her, which is something children instinctively look for in adults. As an adult I saw the strength and courage Janice Rand had, and how well Grace portrayed the character. Where the studio execs clearly wanted a ditzy blonde, they got someone much more competent and professional.
@@FactsVerse There are so many that I'm not sure I can choose but, when I want something fun, I'll frequently put on Shore Leave, I Mudd, or The Trouble With Tribbles.
Bravo to Leonard Nimoy. People on a downward spiral need support to recover. Thankfully Grace Lee got the last laugh and enjoyed her post original series years along with rest of the cast. Very courageous and inspiring 🖖
I met Grace Lee Whitney in Burbank at an affair promoting the movie "Star Trek: Insurrection." I received an autographed copy of her autobiography, "The Longest Trek," and given that Whitney was adopted, when I later met a niece who'd been given up for adoption and reunited with my family, I brought my copy of Whitney's book to show my niece. I'd told Whitney that when I was a kid I read a newspaper article on her, and was broken-hearted when I'd read that she was married. "Oh not any more!" she said, LOL. Something about her behavior suggested an inner strength, like an iron bar that supported her from within, a testament to her spiritual faith. She'd overcome alcoholism, and could see the signs in others who had problems. Gene Roddenberry was walking with a limp, and she said to him, "You've got Jake leg!" referring to a kind of nerve damage caused by alcohol. Then he wound up in a wheelchair, then a casket. Roger C. Carmel had addiction problems and sought her help, but passed away before she could help. Her character of Janice Rand on "Star Trek" was kind of vindicated when she became Captain Hikaru Sulu's First Mate on board the U.S.S. Excelsior in a "Star Trek" movie.
We're very happy to know that you had a chance to meet Grace and an autograph too! Thank you so much for sharing your life story. What other types of video would you like to see?
While I wasn't a big fan of Grace Lee Whitney, at first; I did come to appreciate her (Her hairdo, lack of makeup, and seemingly severe attitude (?), had something to do, with this, though). I would point out, it was 1966, and My Family was still watching a Black, and White, TV. The Networks had just begun broadcasting, in Color, and NBC had first, used the "Peacock" to advertise, this. She only appeared in about one-third of the episodes, in the First Season; and I do think She got a "raw deal", as did many actors, in the pilots, and the series. (Andrea Dromm never had a chance, and Laurel Goodwin (Yeoman J. M. Colt, in the first pilot), also never got a chance, nor did Bruce Hyde (Lieutenant Kevin Riley). NBC, and "Hollywood Politics", had a lot to do, with that; and I wouldn't be surprised, if a "Studio Assault", and William Shatner's ego, had something to do, with Whitney's Firing (note, I am NOT accusing Shatner, himself; of the assault, and Hollywood is well-known, for The "Casting Couch"). Roddenberry also fought hard for The Show, and Cast, as detailed in "The Making of Star Trek". Leonard Nimoy was nearly dropped from the Show, as were Nichelle Nichols (Black), and George Takei (Japanese). Roddenberry fought hard, to keep both Nimoy (This is a "Space Opera" after all); and Majel Barrett was demoted, from "Number One" (Commander), to Nurse Chapel ("I think I'll wait until the 23rd Century, to try a strong female character, again." quipped Roddenberry). Doctor Boyce was another casualty, although I did think He was a little old, considering the rigors of interstellar space (He could have been brought back, as a guest star; and maybe, He was). NBC was afraid having a black, in the Crew, would hurt persuading affiliates in The South, from carrying The Program, and Sulu's heritage was changed to half-Filipino, to mollify Asian feelings, and help sales, there. Leonard Nimoy should be recognized for standing by Whitney, rescuing her, and pushing Paramount to hire Her, back. I was disappointed, by his apparently unquestioning support of Israel, however (What would Spock, say?). Another character that I thought was "underused", was Dr. M' Benga; McCoy's Assistant, and an expert, on Vulcan Medicine. He appeared in only two episodes ("A Private Little War", and "That Which Survives"); and was the central figure, in a "short story", or "short novel"; about several mysterious deaths, aboard The Enterprise (although He was not REALLY involved; I don't want to give The Plot, away!). I shouldn't have forgotten Lloyd Haynes (Lieutenant Alden, in the first pilot, and the Star, of "Room 222", with cute Karen Valentine, as a co-star). Haynes was probably "dropped", for being Black.
I remember her doing a starring role on an episode of "Death Valley Days", playing the owner of a saloon who goes looking for gold. She did a damn good job carrying that story and shows what an enormous potential she had as an actress.
I was 9 yrs old when Star Trek 's 1st episode aired. I was an enamored and faithful fan. Yeoman Rand appeared in 8 episodes of season 1 of TOS. I had no idea. She so much filled my Star Trek memories.
Yes I remember her and I like the fact that Star Trek Voyager brought her back in for certain episode was think it was a two-part episode actually and I love the fact that we got to see her and they did this out of respect because of the fact of not just what happened to her but also the fact that she's the one who got punished because she didn't want to give in to the corporate bastards High rep and he must have been afraid that she would have gotten them into trouble so that's why they fired her in the first place, maybe somebody heard something and they were worried that if she made a complaint that person would come to her assistance and they'd get into a hell of a lot more trouble why fire her otherwise.
I met her once when we both lived in the same coarsegold community. She had a gorgeous Great Dane and I got the opportunity to meet her when she was out walking him. She was very polite but just a touch aloof. Richard Kiel (Jaws) also lived there but I only got a glimpse of him once iirc.
I remember her personally. When I was just a kid in late 60's living in southern California my grandparents went to the same church she went to and they became friends. Her and her husband visited my grandparents now and then with her 2 kids and their dogs, 2 big great danes. I also remember her husband, Jack with that big handle bar mustache. He was a very jolly soul, always laughing. Thanks for this video.
Grace was born in 1930 and was 36 years old when Star Trek premiered in 1966. i was 14 and thought she was gorgeous. I had no idea she was old enough to be my mother (my mother was just 2 years older). She looked much younger and played a character who would have been maybe 22-23.
1:55 Who was it? I want to know. I had no idea. A major tragedy. This needs to be addressed, even though both are gone. I grew up loving this show, and where I'm not really a fan anymore this disturbs me to no end. Trek and the Enterprise were close to being sacred. I can't believe this happened.
I always thought the assault was a factor in her termination. How ironic that the "Bad Capt. Kirk" in a Season One episode was attempting to do the same thing to Whitney's character, Janice Rand. Without emotional support, she pursued relief in unconstructive ways, but she got on a better path and then tried to assist others.
There was a pattern of assaults / lechery on TOS. Terri Garr also experienced it - and would have nothing to do with Star Trek afterward. There are hints that is was Roddenberry but I guess we'll never know.
Rand was fantasy or actually raped/assaulted several times in the few episodes she was in. It was obvious one person in editorial control had a sick thing for her. She only filmed episodes till Labor Day 1966, so she was written out in the midst of the first 13 episode pkg. She was told she'd be written out right after the Miri summer wrap party (an episode with her kids on set along with Shatner's)...then the Executive locked his door to "negotiate" the decision. She refused him coitus, but did oral then screamed to be let out. Her last episode was the following week to film the walkoff scene at 5:50 here, as Barbara Anderson was the first girl du jour actress. That was the only filming where she arrived hung over with a distressed face....all for a 60 second bridge walkoff scene. I don't think Nimoy ever forgave them for what they did to her.
@S Tho So gross - the disgusting fiend that forced himself on her. He needs a thorough beating. But those elitists are always protected from retribution....always
I had heard many years ago she was fired from Star Trek due to her alcoholism. But, if indeed Gene Roddenberry did just write her out that's disappointing to learn. My first kid crush was Janice Rand! I was glad to see her in the movie cameos.
I have always been a fan of Sci-fi films, since Flash Gordon, Buck Rogers (Actor Buster Crabbe) I watched these movies on T.V. as a kid. When Star Trek came to T.V. I found it "Fascinating", and when Whitney came on the show I fell in love with Janice Rand !!
My Favorite Trek of the 60's Trek Ladies, I always wondered why she went after Series one, Dumb Mistake IMHO Too Glade to see she found Happiness in Her life.
I suspect being sexually assaulted was a bigger blow then being kicked off Star Trek by the execs. Many women have had their lives ruined by sexual assault.
I noticed and do remember her on the show. I didn't know all of the struggles. That's sad but uplifting to know that she bounced back from it all. I think I noticed in the first or second Star Trek movie a shot of her looking on at a space port or something.
Definitely the hottest female crew member on the Enterprise. Sounds like she didn't play the 'casting couch' game. At least she had her integrity intact. Leonard Nimoy has always been a class act, whether in or out of character.
