trek 5.tre.0030 Louis J. Sheehan, Esquire

Louis J. Sheehan, Esquire . Majel Barrett Roddenberry, an actress who was the widow of the “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry but who is probably best remembered as Nurse Chapel in the original “Star Trek” series, died Thursday at her home in Bel-Air. She was 76. http://louis_j_sheehan.today.com

The cause was leukemia, a family spokesman, Sean Rossall, said.

Ms. Roddenberry was involved in the “Star Trek” universe for more than four decades. She played the dark-haired Number One in the original pilot then metamorphosed into the blond, miniskirted Nurse Christine Chapel in the original show, which ran from 1966 to 1969. http://louis_j_sheehan.today.com

The character had abandoned a career in bio-research to join the starship Enterprise under the command of Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) in the hope of reuniting with a fiancé who had gone missing in deep space. http://louis_j_sheehan.today.com She served as the loyal head nurse under the chief medical officer, Dr. Leonard McCoy (DeForest Kelley) and harbored an unrequited infatuation with the first science officer, Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy).

Ms. Roddenberry had smaller roles in all five television successors of the original series and in many of the “Star Trek” movie incarnations.

She was frequently the voice of the ship’s computer, and about two weeks ago she completed the same role for the forthcoming J.J. Abrams movie “Star Trek,” Mr. Rossall said. She was a regular participant at “Star Trek” conventions for fans.

Ms. Roddenberry was also the executive producer for two other television science fiction series, “Andromeda” and “Earth: Final Conflict.”

Majel Lee Hudec was born on Feb. 23, 1932, in Cleveland. After a number of stage roles she earned small parts during the late 1950s and ’60s in movies and in television series like “Leave It to Beaver” and “Bonanza.”

She met her husband in 1964 during a guest role for a Marine Corps drama he produced called “The Lieutenant.” They married in Japan in 1969 after “Star Trek” was canceled. Mr. Roddenberry died in 1991.

Ms. Roddenberry’s survivors include her son, Eugene Jr.