Rest in Peace, Yeoman Rand
Actress Grace Lee Whitney has died. She was 85, and passed away at her home in Coarsegold, CA, from natural causes last Friday.
While the name may not be familiar, you probably recognize one of her roles. She was the actress who portrayed Yeoman Janice Rand on the original Star Trek series.
Ms. Whitney apparently developed a serious alcohol problem during her life, but eventually kicked it. After she had, an individual named Nimoy helped her resurrect her acting career. She afterwards appeared in several of the later Star Trek movies.
No, this isn’t really a normal TAH story. But since many of our readers are Star Trek fans, I thought I’d put this article up anyway.
Rest in peace, Ms. Whitney.
Category: Blue Skies
Fair winds and following seas, Ms. Whitney
Another person that was helped out by Leonard Nimoy when she was down on her luck… and she tried to help others out with their problems with alcohol. Those eight episodes she did were a bridge that she could reach out to fans who had the same problem she did and be a role model for them.
Rest in peace, Ms. Whitney/Yeoman Rand
Loved seeing her on that show. Here’s a signed photo from 1971. A true beauty. Your “Five year mission Yeoman Rand” has become and eternal one. Rest In Peace now Ms. Whitney. Thank you for all the great shows.
http://static.wixstatic.com/media/b0bc8d_dc936d0cd02e494d9427df2f4c4acef3.jpg?dn=grace70.jpg
I clicked and I loved!
The two latest Star Trek movies are a testament to those that worked to make it the institution that it is.
Yeoman Rand had a part in that history and upheld her mission to the end.
To that I say:
As you sailors say, “Fair Winds and Following Seas”
Or, as us old grunts say, “hoo-aah”.
Actually Hondo, I see these reminders as total TAH stories. Each Star Trek episode had meaning and substance during a time in US history where much was questioned: civil rights, US involvement in Viet Nam, Cold War etc …). The escape was soothing for adults and us much younger ones then.
In fact, this is why such a short series (2 years I think) went on to make so many great movies.
Kinda like MASH in the the opposite. A 12 year series, covering a 3 year period and only 1 movie!
But what do I know!
The original series ran for 3 years, MCPO – 1966-1969. Otherwise, IMO you’re dead on target. Like many of us, it was truly a Cold War creature – and it showed, bigtime.
Believe it or not, the MP company I was assigned to the C/O forbade watching “MASH” though he never issused any NJP’s for it. He’d been infantry in Vietnam and seeing the way soldiers were depicted pissed him off to no end.
Earth to the Almighty…
One to beam up.